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Arizona Amateur Radio Club "DeVry" hamfest on Saturday (11 April)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 08 Apr '15

08 Apr '15

Hi! I will have an AMSAT table at the Arizona Amateur Radio Club's "April Hamfest at DeVry", located at the DeVry University campus on Dunlap Avenue between 19th Avenue and the I-17 freeway in Phoenix. This is a half-day hamfest, officially starting at 6am (1300 UTC) and running until 12 noon (1900 UTC). More information about the hamfest can be found at: http://www.w7io.org/main/hamfest.html This hamfest is usually the last hamfest in the Phoenix area before the summertime heat comes here. During the hamfest, WD9EWK will be on satellite passes for on-air demonstrations. Please call if you hear me on any passes during the morning, and be a part of the demonstrations. The hamfest site is in grid DM33. After the hamfest, I will upload QSOs to Logbook of the World, and - on request - I would be happy to send a QSL card to confirm QSOs. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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Re; 9
by James Hickox 08 Apr '15

08 Apr '15

referral link http://serefmeselesiizle.info/bgy/ Sent: 4/8/2015 6:41:40 AM >From James Hickox

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ISS SSTV April 11 - Again!
by Clint Bradford 07 Apr '15

07 Apr '15

Do not forget next weekend's planned transmitted SSTV images from the ISS project! At 25W or so, you will he hearing the ISS from very low elevations as you record the 183-second broadcasted images. Recording and decoding these can be as easy as holding your HT's spear close to your iOS device! Details at ... http://amsat-uk.org/2015/03/31/iss-sstv/ Clint K6LCS

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Mystery Solved - Pass From The Past
by Bryan Green 07 Apr '15

07 Apr '15

Mystery solved: The "ARLKnnn Keplerian data" e-mails from the ARRL contain the wrong data for AO-73. Those e-mails identify AO-73 as object number 39445 and contain the data for that object. AO-73's object number is actually 39444. Object 39445 is HINCUBE, which I gather was launched at the same time as AO-73. The ARRL archive of these e-mails have apparently had it misidentified since it appeared. http://www.arrl.org/w1aw-bulletins-archive-keplerian AMSAT's Keplerian data identify AO-73 as the correct object. Now contacting the ARRL to resolve future transmissions with corrected data. -- bag Bryan KL7CN/W6

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AMSAT Awards Update
by Bruce 07 Apr '15

07 Apr '15

Here are the awards that have been submitted thus far in 2015. Here are our latest inductions into some of the AMSAT awards community. The following have entered into the Satellite Communicators Club for making their first satellite QSO. Nicolas Romero, KG5BON Steve Kristoff, AI9IN Hope Lea, KM4IPF Faith Hannah Lea, WA4BBC Zechariah Lea, WX4TVJ To see all the awards visit http://www.amsat.org or http://www.amsatnet.com/awards.html Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes

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KM4IPF (Hope – 8 Years Old) FM26 "Expedition"
by James Lea - WX4TV 07 Apr '15

07 Apr '15

I’m not sure if FM26 is a rare grid square, but Hope will be on SO-50 this afternoon from the oceanfront in Virginia Beach, VA (FM26) from 20:28 UTC – 20:38 UTC. She will be taking the Arrow antenna, FT60 (receiver) and UV5R (transmitter) to Rudy Inlet in Virginia Beach. Our home QTH is in FM16 and this is her first “expedition.” She is especially excited to try to work the station in Haiti, since I was there for about 2 months after the earthquake in 2010. We are planning a trip to Hatteras Island, NC (FM25) later this month and will post it once we know the date and time. Hope is still learning how to handle QSO’s, so if you work her, please give her time to respond back to you. I have to tell her the call sign of the station she works and she takes a couple of seconds to process it before keying the mic. 73, James

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Did Anyone Record the SO-50 Pass?
by James Lea - WX4TV 07 Apr '15

07 Apr '15

Good Morning, Did anyone record the SO-50 pass over CONUS at 0625 Z this morning? I’m still working out the bugs to hear the downlink with the Baofeng UV5R we are using for receive and it would be helpful to hear our signal from the satellite. Thanks, James, WX4TV

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Orbital Debrief
by Paul Stoetzer 07 Apr '15

07 Apr '15

Good evening, By now I hope every AMSAT-NA member has had a chance to read the first version of my Orbital Debrief column in the January/February AMSAT Journal. I would appreciate any feedback on this first edition! If you are not an AMSAT-NA member, you are missing out. Please join AMSAT-NA today. As designed, the column relies on input from satellite operators. If you go on a grid expedition, work a new DX station, have a good story about satellite operating, or receive a unique QSL card, please submit any notes and photos for publication to n8hm(a)arrl.net. Also, I would like to get some data from as many operators as well. I would like to put together a picture of what is possible on the LEO satellites. I have not decided exactly how I will present this data, but I would like to receive a list of the following data (from LEO satellites only) from as many operators as possible: 1. Grids worked / grids confirmed 2. Grid fields worked / grid fields confirmed 3. U. S. states worked / U. S. states confirmed 4. Canadian call areas worked / Canadian call areas confirmed 5. DXCCs worked / DXCCs confirmed 6. CQ zones worked / CQ zones confirmed 7. Continents worked / continents confirmed The "Upcoming Satellite Operations" page on the AMSAT website (http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=3921) is designed as a real-time companion to the column, and as mentioned in a previous post, I encourage all satellite operators to bookmark it and check it regularly. Thank you in advance for your suggestions and submissions and I hope you enjoy the column! 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM

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Upcoming Satellite Operations
by Paul Stoetzer 07 Apr '15

07 Apr '15

Good morning, A new page listing upcoming satellite operations is now live on the AMSAT website. The direct link is: http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=3921 It is also accessible from the "Satellite Info" drop down menu at the top of the website. Check it out today as there are some good operations coming up this weekend! Please forward any submissions or corrections to n8hm(a)arrl.net 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM

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Pass From The Past, continued
by Bryan Green 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

Hello, all: THIS IS A LONG POST ABOUT MY QUEST TO RESURRECT SOME OLD PASS DATA. PLEASE EXCUSE IT IF IT IS NOT OF INTEREST TO YOU. Long story, but I have some interesting results and a theory: 1. My MP3 file is timestamped UTC as created at January 29, 2015 at 05:19. Here is some indication of that: > ls -la * -rwxrwxrwx@ 1 bag staff 14289701 Jan 29 05:19 20150130T0519Z KL7CN_W6 CM98fn AO-73.mp3 2. My notes indicate that the pass occurred from 21:18 - 21:31 LOCAL time for me on January 28. This corresponds with the MP3 file timestamp, since at that time my local time was 8 hours behind UTC. 3. I have this file that I received from AMSAT by e-mail on January 23, 2015. I stripped it down to the satellite of interest: > cat AMSAT-20150123.tle AO-73 1 39445U 13066AF 15030.17519879 .00004024 00000-0 52953-3 0 3695 2 39445 097.7494 097.9267 0060013 224.4600 135.1787 14.79459520 62573 4. I have this QTH file defined: > cat KL7CN_W6-CM98fn.qth KL7CN/W6 38.573201 121.529596 7 5. With all that in mind, here is what I ran: predict -t AMSAT-20150123.tle -q KL7CN_W6-CM98fn.qth -p AO-73 `date -u +"%s" --date="2015-01-29 05:00:00"` 6. Here is what I get. I call this FINDING OF INTEREST #1: 1422509554 Thu 29Jan15 05:32:34 0 168 104 14 116 2987 6243 1422509643 Thu 29Jan15 05:34:03 6 168 108 19 117 2376 6243 1422509732 Thu 29Jan15 05:35:32 15 169 112 25 119 1777 6243 1422509819 Thu 29Jan15 05:36:59 29 170 116 30 120 1224 6243 1422509898 Thu 29Jan15 05:38:18 54 175 119 35 121 815 6243 1422509952 Thu 29Jan15 05:39:12 82 211 121 38 122 683 6243 1422509966 Thu 29Jan15 05:39:26 84 288 122 39 122 682 6243 1422509977 Thu 29Jan15 05:39:37 79 320 122 39 122 690 6243 1422509996 Thu 29Jan15 05:39:56 68 334 123 41 123 726 6243 1422510031 Thu 29Jan15 05:40:31 51 341 125 43 123 847 6243 1422510088 Thu 29Jan15 05:41:28 32 344 127 46 125 1143 6243 1422510165 Thu 29Jan15 05:42:45 18 346 131 51 126 1620 6243 1422510251 Thu 29Jan15 05:44:11 9 347 134 56 129 2192 6243 1422510341 Thu 29Jan15 05:45:41 2 347 138 61 132 2799 6243 1422510374 Thu 29Jan15 05:46:14 0 348 140 63 133 3029 6243 NOTE: predict indicates that the AOS is 05:32. I went with predict because it is old and very well know. I get very similar results with Orbitron and Nova for Windows, with a start time of 05:32. I get these results even when I set the PC internal clock back to January 29. 7. Here is FINDING OF INTEREST #2: Using GoSatWatch (my go-to prediction software in the field) and using the Keps from TODAY, I get an AOS of 05:16. (It is understandably a bit off due to the Keps being a little off.) This agrees with my extemporaneous notes and the timestamp of the MP3 file. 8. Here is FINDING OF INTEREST #3: David G0MRF very kindly provided this information using Keps from mid-March and Nova. It CONFIRMS my notes and MP3 file timestamp. I am not able to reproduce it. Here is a link to an annotated screen capture: http://screencast.com/t/76mfu9HLi 9. These results are inconclusive. I would LOVE to get predict to work properly with my observations. 10. My best theory: Daylight savings time confuses most satellite prediction software. GoSatWatch knows how to handle it. I wish I knew how to reproduce David's results with Nova. And I wish I could just get predict to work properly. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance and 73! -- bag Bryan KL7CN/W6

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Re: [amsat-bb] ISS Contacts
by AJ9N＠aol.com 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

Hi all, ARISS school contacts are performed on confidential uplink frequencies and all use the public downlink of 145.8 MHz. We incorporate multiple sets of confidential uplink frequencies just in case the primary is experiencing QRM. For obvious reasons, that is as much as I am going to tell you about the uplinks. The public uplink frequencies that are posted are for general contacts. We have had interference in the past that was accidental, some flat out deliberate, and some that would be considered deliberate. In some parts of the world, the 2m band is being illegally used by taxi cabs and who knows what else. Over the course of the years, we have had to move our uplink frequencies around due to the continued interference. Don't forget that the ISS can hear a lot more than those of us on earth. So what you may think is not a problem locally, could be a big time issue for the crew. Your footprint radius may be 100 km or so; theirs is about 2400 km. They sort of have a really nice antenna height. As for possible Field Day operation by the crew, that is anyone's guess. We tell the crew the dates and times and it is up to them to decide whether to participate or not. We can not make them participate. The only thing we can suggest is to listen and if you hear the ISS on during FD, then go for it. The same goes for just general listening. If you hear them, then go for it. You do need to be aware of the FM capture effect and do make use of Doppler correction. For the ARISS school contacts, we present a proposed list of times for the schools to prioritize so that we can give them to the ISS planners and hopefully have one get scheduled. Those times are in the 08:00 to 19:30 UTC timeframe. So that will give you an idea of when someone could possibly be on. Hope this helps a bit. Just remember that ham radio is only a guest on the ISS. 73, Charlie AJ9N One of the ARISS mentors In a message dated 4/6/2015 2:00:39 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time, dan(a)post.com writes: Info on frequencies here. http://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html I think they also have a backup frequency that is not published. They have had interference on both uplink and downlink in the past possibly accidentally. The exact time of school contacts and normal downlink frequency is usually very well advertised in the country where the contact will take place. Sometimes, including one recent contact in Italy they actually re-attempted the contact at the next pass 90 minutes later as there was interference. They try throw lots of power and gain on the uplink in an attempt to drown out any accidental or low power interference. On 06/04/2015, Daniel Estévez <daniel(a)destevez.net> wrote: > El 06/04/15 a las 17:12, John Brier escribió: > >> fwiw, I do know not to interrupt during scheduled ARISS contacts. I >> was telling someone else who responded to me that it was a good thing >> they don't publish the uplink frequencies not only so people don't >> intentionally try to take advantage of the situation, but also so >> ignorant (and excitedly blind people like me) don't interfere. > > Sorry if this has been asked before, but are not the uplink frequencies > 145.20 for region 1 and 144.49 for regions 2 and 3? Or do they use > different uplink frequencies for scheduled contacts? _______________________________________________ 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://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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KLM Satellite antennas
by Jerry Ehlers 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

I have a pair of the best satellite antennas for sale. They are the 435-40CX with switcher and original manual The other is the 2M - 22C with no switcher original manual both for $250.00 Prefer to pick up if possible in Dubuque, Iowa If I have to arrange shipping it would be in the lower 48 only Payment by US Postal Money Order

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Re: [amsat-bb] ISS SSTV April 11 - Again!
by Clint Bradford 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

When I ran passes for me in DM13 Riverside CA, there were only four passes ... if you have set your prediction program to 10 degrees or min altitude, set it down to 5 or so ... I was copying the Kenwood's ~25W transmissions at 3 and 4 degrees lazt SSTV project! Clint On April 6, 2015, at 13:46, Randy Hall <listk7age(a)gmail.com> wrote: Clint If I have done my predictions correctly, I don't think there are any North American passes. I think it may only be on April 11 from 10:00 to 21:00 UTC. When I changed my PC clock to April 11, passes between those times were over Europe and Russia. Did I screw up? Randy, K7AGE On Sun, Apr 5, 2015 at 10:15 AM, Clint Bradford <clintbradford(a)mac.com> wrote: Do not forget next weekend's planned transmitted SSTV images from the ISS project! At 25W or so, you will he hearing the ISS from very low elevations as you record the 183-second broadcasted images. Recording and decoding these can be as easy as holding your HT's spear close to your iOS device! Details at ... http://amsat-uk.org/2015/03/31/iss-sstv/ Clint K6LCS _______________________________________________ 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://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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ISS Contacts
by Clint Bradford 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

>> ... I am again disappointed to learn that random unscheduled contacts are still uncommon ... Well, the astronauts are quite busy up there ... (grin) That is what makes the scheduled amateur radio time so exciting - like last Field Day when we were able to make voice contacts ... Heck, I used just two Watts and a handheld tape measure beam for my contact ... http://www.work-sat.com/ISS-062814.html And, of course, monitoring hams should never try to interrupt or contact during any of the scheduled ARISS contacts. Watch issfanclub.com, amsat-uk.org, and amsat.org for announcements of possible "windows" of opportunities! Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.iss-flabob.com

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FUNcube-1 Mode change
by Graham Shirville 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

Hi All, Just to report that, towards the end of the 20:15 UTC pass over Europe, FUNcube-1 was returned to autonomous eclipse switching mode. This means -educational mode when in sunlight and amateur mode when in eclipse. We plan to return the spacecraft to continuous amateur mode again on Friday evening. 73 Graham G3VZV – for the FUNcube Ops Team

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Another DireWolf question
by Steve Kristoff 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

Seems like most folks suggest using the VOX setup for my Yaesu-Signalink-USB/Windows set-up. Next question: The Dire Wolf manual talks about setting up virtual COM ports, particularly 3 and 4. Has someone done this? What exactly does that do? Besides having the Windows operating system, the Direwolf is running under APRSIS-32. (Man, I could sure use a local Elmer!) Steve AI9IN EM79 Oldenburg IN

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Re: [amsat-bb] Friday night presentation in Long Beach - report
by Paul - K6HR 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

I was there also! Great presentation!! Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S® III mini, an AT&T 4G LTE smartphone <div>-------- Original message --------</div><div>From: "Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)" <amsat-bb(a)wd9ewk.net> </div><div>Date:04/06/2015 9:04 AM (GMT-08:00) </div><div>To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org </div><div>Subject: [amsat-bb] Friday night presentation in Long Beach - report </div><div> </div>Hi! Last Friday evening, I gave a presentation at the monthly meeting of the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach in southern California. This is the club that operates the W6RO station aboard the Queen Mary. This had been in the works for a little while, and I thank Endaf Buckley KG6FIY for the invitation to speak at his club. Before the meeting, there were passes of FO-29 and SO-50 passing by the west coast. Endaf ensured that the club members were aware of this, if they wanted to see a demonstration of both FM and SSB satellite operating. There was a nice crowd that greeted me when I arrived, and I was able to chat with them as I set up my portable station outside. I was able to log one QSO on FO-29, with Frank K6FW, followed by seven QSOs on SO-50. My presentation was not the "how to work satellites" type of presentation, but a combination of a history lesson - history, as it relates to amateur satellites - and talking about the Fox project and its satellites. I had done some reading about our satellites from the 1960s and 1970s for an presentation I gave in February, and incorporated bits from that in the presentation on Friday evening. I think there were 30 to 40 people in the crowd, including some satellite operators who drove varying distances to be in the crowd - Jim KQ6EA, Tom WA0POD, Mike AI6GS, Chris KA6WNK, plus Endaf KG6FIY who is also on the satellites from Long Beach. Thanks to the ARALB for an enjoyable evening, and thanks to the 8 stations who worked me from Long Beach before the meeting. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK _______________________________________________ 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://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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73 on 73 Awards #15-18
by Paul Stoetzer 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

Good afternoon, Four more 73 on 73 Awards have been issued since my last update. Congratulations to the following operators for working 73 different stations on AO-73 since September 1, 2014: #15 - Jesús Mª Alcain Rodriguez, EA2AWD #16 - David Bowman, G0MRF #17 - Istok Kapov, 9A2KI #18 - Jonas Duda, LY3QA For more information on the award see http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/73-on-73-award/ 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM

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France (IN94) on AO-07B
by Michel F6GLJ 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

Hello every boby, I'll be on AO-07 between 17:23 and 17:41 UTC. Good footprint for qso between France and Brazil, north east of USA and Canada. I hope meet you. 73 qro de Michel F6GLJ

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DireWolf config file question
by KO6TZ BOB 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

Steve, Dire Wolf like the AGW-PE has the capability to be used as a dual-port TNC. You can connect two radios on different bands at different baud rates to the stereo sound card in a desk-top computer. Using this configuration I have configured the first port to the "left" channel S/C and key via the RTS lead from the COM port. The second port is on the "right" channel S/C and keyed via the DTR lead of the COM port. The reference to a suitable interface can be a reed relay or an optoisolator (4N25). Simply connect the RTS or DTR lead thru the windings of the relay or thru the optoisolator. Detailed schematics of these circuits should be an easy search on the WEB. I have used this configuration to digi 300 baud APRS traffic from 30m to the local 2meter 1200 baud APRS network . I mentioned 'desk-top computer', this is because many laptops do not have stereo line-in jacks, just mono. BOB KO6TZ I'm trying to set up the config file in Direwolf. The radio is a Yaesu FT290RII and the interface is a Signalink USB. The Direwolf manual says this about setting up the PTT configuration: # # If not using a VOX circuit, the transmitter Push to Talk (PTT) # control is usually wired to a serial port with a suitable interface circuit. # DON'T connect it directly! # # For the PTT command, specify the device and either RTS or DTR. # RTS or DTR may be preceded by "-" to invert the signal. # #PTT COM1 RTS #PTT COM1 -DTR #PTT /dev/ttyUSB0 RTS Unfortunately, I don't know what that means. Anybody know which one I should use? Any hints, tips, suggestions would be much appreciated. Steve Kristoff AI9IN EM79ji Oldenburg IN skristof at etczone.com

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Friday night presentation in Long Beach - report
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

Hi! Last Friday evening, I gave a presentation at the monthly meeting of the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach in southern California. This is the club that operates the W6RO station aboard the Queen Mary. This had been in the works for a little while, and I thank Endaf Buckley KG6FIY for the invitation to speak at his club. Before the meeting, there were passes of FO-29 and SO-50 passing by the west coast. Endaf ensured that the club members were aware of this, if they wanted to see a demonstration of both FM and SSB satellite operating. There was a nice crowd that greeted me when I arrived, and I was able to chat with them as I set up my portable station outside. I was able to log one QSO on FO-29, with Frank K6FW, followed by seven QSOs on SO-50. My presentation was not the "how to work satellites" type of presentation, but a combination of a history lesson - history, as it relates to amateur satellites - and talking about the Fox project and its satellites. I had done some reading about our satellites from the 1960s and 1970s for an presentation I gave in February, and incorporated bits from that in the presentation on Friday evening. I think there were 30 to 40 people in the crowd, including some satellite operators who drove varying distances to be in the crowd - Jim KQ6EA, Tom WA0POD, Mike AI6GS, Chris KA6WNK, plus Endaf KG6FIY who is also on the satellites from Long Beach. Thanks to the ARALB for an enjoyable evening, and thanks to the 8 stations who worked me from Long Beach before the meeting. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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DireWolf config file question
by Steve Kristoff 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

I'm trying to set up the config file in Direwolf. The radio is a Yaesu FT290RII and the interface is a Signalink USB. The Direwolf manual says this about setting up the PTT configuration: # # If not using a VOX circuit, the transmitter Push to Talk (PTT) # control is usually wired to a serial port with a suitable interface circuit. # DON'T connect it directly! # # For the PTT command, specify the device and either RTS or DTR. # RTS or DTR may be preceded by "-" to invert the signal. # #PTT COM1 RTS #PTT COM1 -DTR #PTT /dev/ttyUSB0 RTS Unfortunately, I don't know what that means. Anybody know which one I should use? Any hints, tips, suggestions would be much appreciated. Steve Kristoff AI9IN EM79ji Oldenburg IN skristof(a)etczone.com

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Question on G-5500 Control box
by W4CX 06 Apr '15

06 Apr '15

When setting the AZ and EL full scale adjustment on the back of my G-5500, I accidentally disturbed the other pots labeled "Out Voltage Adj". The instruction manual doesn't mention these pots and the schematic looks like they set the voltage for the DIN connector feeding my LVB tracker. Looking for advice on how to (re)set these pots correctly. Thanks in advance. Darrell W4CX

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photos from UT1FG/MM
by John Papay 05 Apr '15

05 Apr '15

Yuri sent some photos of the pilot that gets on the ship out in the ocean and takes it into the Columbia River. They are on my website at: http://www.papays.com/sat There is also a grid map showing grids that several stations have worked him in. He will leave port late Easter Sunday evening or early the next morning. It will take about 6 hours to get out into the ocean and he hopes to be on the satellites Monday afternoon. He may run the -126deg grid line south for several grids. 73, John K8YSE

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Lost my SatPC32 Registration Code???
by Jacob Tennant 05 Apr '15

05 Apr '15

My trusty desktop computer has died due to hard drive failure and my saved copy of the Sat32PC registration code is not where I thought it was so I have a smqll question. 1. Is the a file in the current installation that I could copy over to a new installation in lieu of the registration code? Using a external hard drive adapter I can see some of my files, just can't boot from the drive) 2. I figure if I call/email AMSAT that they would send it to me. Jacob Tennant WF8S

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Memphis Hamfest
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 05 Apr '15

05 Apr '15

Made a typo on the web site should have read www.starcommgroup.org sorry going blind here WA4HFN Damon em55

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ISS Voice Reception Videos, and Trying To Make Contact
by John Brier 05 Apr '15

05 Apr '15

Hi folks, A year ago I recorded what has become a relatively popular video on YouTube of a conversation between a Virginia school and Astronaut Mike Hopkins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_SvIVRv-Ok I thought it wasn't common for the ISS to become active for unscheduled contacts, but today I am learning that is not true, they are randomly on the air. My first attempt at contacting them was an early morning pass on April 1st (5:30am local, 0930 UTC). I recorded a woman in the ISS talking about floating in space and such, but I had some interference/intermod and was never able to make contact. Any idea who this is? Does anyone know who she was talking to? It seemed like a conversation with only one other person. Man I wish I could have been that person! haha. Any other advice on making contact would be appreciated. I will be trying to make contact again this evening. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlQlYfInMS4 John Brier, KG4AKV, Raleigh, North Carolina

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Memphis Hamfest Home of the 5 in em55 award
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 05 Apr '15

05 Apr '15

Star Comm Group will setup and promote Amsat at the Memphis Free fest 11 April 2015 WA4NVM Rick and WA4HFN Damon will be manning the booth . We were hoping for a good satellite pass ,but I don't think there will be one . We plan on having a station setup anyway. www.statcommgroup.org WA4HFN Damon em55

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ANS-095 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 05 Apr '15

05 Apr '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-095 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 Plans Dayton Rollout for 2015 "Getting Started" Satellite Book * TAPR/AMSAT Joint Hamvention Banquet Will be on May 15 * March/April Edition of the AMSAT Journal Sent to Printers * LibreCube Open Source CubeSat Projects * AMSAT-SM Announces Committee for 2015-2016 * ISS Slow Scan TV Expected Weekend of April 11 * GRACE mission P-PODs including Fox-1A were integrated in the NPSCuL * Wisconsin Balloon Launch Includes 2M Voice Beacon * Student Spaceflight Experiments Program -- Mission 9 to the International Space Station * 21st Century Teacher Academy * US ARISS School Proposal Window Closes in 10 Days * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-095.01 ANS-095 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 095.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE April 5, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-095.01 AMSAT Plans Dayton Rollout for 2015 "Getting Started" Satellite Book Gould Smith's book, "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites", is being updated to tell you all about how you can get ready to operate through the Fox-1 satellites launching later this year. Additional chapters in the book tell you about tracking software, orbital mechanics, antennas, radios, Doppler tuning, and operating techniques. Chapters are also being added to tell you about the new satellites soon becoming available for amateur radio. Going beyond brief descriptions in hamfest flyers, this book will provide a complete reference for new satellite users to assemble a basic station and to make your first satellite contacts. Also this book you will teach you how to incrementally upgrade your initial FM satellite station, time and budget permitting, to include automated tracking as well as operating through the CW/SSB linear passband satellites. A companion Fox-1A reference sheet is also being planned for release at Dayton. This will be made available for AMSAT's FieldOps team for distribution at hamfests and satellite operating demonstrations. Watch for the 2015 "Getting Started With Amateur Satellites" book and reference sheet at the AMSAT booth at the Dayton Hamvention. The book will also be available in the AMSAT Store shortly after Dayton: http://store.amsat.org/catalog/ [ANS thanks the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- TAPR/AMSAT Joint Hamvention Banquet Will be on May 15 Join us at the Dayton Hamvention this year for the TAPR/AMSAT Banquet on Friday evening, May 15. Doors open at 1830 for a cash bar, with buffet dinner served at 1900. Reservations must be made in advance in the AMSAT Store: http://store.amsat.org/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=88 with the cost of $35 per person. Tickets will not be sold at Dayton. Tickets purchased online may be picked up at the AMSAT booth (433- 435, 444-446). Orders must be placed by 1800 EDT, Tuesday, May 12th. No exceptions. Come hungry and loosen your belt a notch. The dinner menu includes: + Choice of entree: o Prime Rib of Beef o Chicken Piccata with Lemon Caper Sauce o Medallions of Grilled Pork Tenderloin + Fresh Mashed Potatoes + Wild Rice Pilaf with Pecans and Apricots + Fresh Garden Tossed Salad + Rolls + Assorted Cakes and Cheesecakes + Coffee and Ice Tea + There will be a cash bar serving beer, wine, and mixed drinks. Watch for the upcoming announcement of this year's after dinner speaker. The dinner will be held at: Jefferson Room The Kohler Presidential Banquet Center 4548 Presidential Way Kettering, OH 45429 [ANS thanks the AMSAT Dayton Hamvention Posse for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- March/April Edition of the AMSAT Journal Sent to Printers March/April edition of the AMSAT Journal was sent to the printers March 31. Editor JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM, Would like to thank Bernhard, VA6BMJ; Douglas, KA2UPW/5; James, K3JPH; and Joe, KB6IGK, for their help on getting this issue ready. Contents include + AMSAT Announcements - Board of Directors Nominations Notice + Apogee View Barry Baines, WD4ASW + Amateur Satellites at Anchorage Engineer's Week Craig Bledsoe. KL4E + Pairing SDR dongles with smaller Windows 8.1 tablets Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK + The Gizmo Revisited Art Payne VE3NGF + AMSAT Field Day + The Satellite Attitude Manipulating System (SAMS) Prototype Mark Spencer WA8SME + AMSAT Nets Keith Pugh W5IU + IARU: 29 MHz Uplinks Ray Soifer W2RS + AMSAT Engineering Update Jerry Buxton NØJY + ARISS SSTV Results + AMSAT at the HamCation + AMSAT and University of Iowa Partner on Scientific Payload for Fox-1D + Orbital Debrief for March/April 2015 Paul Stoetzer N8HM + Minutes of the 2014 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Meeting [ANS thanks JoAnne K9JKM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- LibreCube Open Source CubeSat Projects Those of you interested in open source may want to have a look at www.librecube.net where you will find a number of common CubeSat products available for you. You may freely modify, produce, improve, and share them. Please read the included license files for details. They are hosted by LibreCube, a non-profit initiative that has the objective to promote open source CubeSat design and foster collaboration among the CubeSat community. Your Feedback is most welcome. [ANS thanks LibreCube and the CubeSat mailing list for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT-SM Announces Committee for 2015-2016 AMSAT-SM Committee for 2015-2016 has been announced Chairman Hakan - SM7WSJ Secretary Lars - SM0TGU Treasurer Kim - SM1TDX. At the moment AMSAT-SM has 148 members but only a few are active via satellite. But, we are still alive and we are very active with news on our website and Twitter. AMSAT-SM is the Swedish section of AMSAT with aprox 150 members (2015). One of our objectives is to inform Swedish hams about the fun with amateur satellites! Not many SM hams are active via satellite at the moment. With the help from our swedish webpage and HF-net we hope that more swedish hams should be using amateur satellites. The AMSAT-SM annual meeting is held every spring. We run a HF-net on 80 meters every Sunday with lots of news about satellites and space. AMSAT-SM website http://www.amsat.se/ English language website http://www.amsat.se/english-info/ AMSAT-SM is using the Internet homepage for members information and news. You can find articles, news, links and lots of more information about satellites. The large main page is only in Swedish because there are allready a lot of good sites about amateur satellites in english. We provide the following information: FAQ and technical page New amateur satellites update Latest telemetry from several microsats A news service on the homepage called e-Journal Active on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube. See links on right frame on webpage. AMSAT-SM has a mailing list (just like the AMSAT-BB list) that was started in 1998. Most of the mail are in swedish, but you are welcome to subscribe. Send an e-mail to: amsat-sm-subscribe(a)yahoogroups.co.uk Contact: You can reach AMSAT-SM at: AMSAT-SM c/o Lars Thunberg Revirvägen 17 192 73 Sollentuna Sweden E-mail: info at amsat.se English website http://www.amsat.se/english-info/ [ANS thanks Lars Thunberg SM0TGU and AMSAT-SM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ISS Slow Scan TV Expected Weekend of April 11 In commemoration of the 54th anniversary of the first human spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin which took place on April 12, 1961, the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) announced that SSTV activity will take place from the ISS. As with similar to events this past winter the images can be captured on 145.800 MHz FM using SSTV mode PD180. Those capturing images are encouraged to upload them to http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/submit.php Uploaded images may be viewed at http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/ Please be advised that situational demands on crew time could result in postponement or cancellation of any ARISS activity. Please pay attention to the possibility of any change in scheduling. [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- GRACE mission P-PODs including Fox-1A were integrated in the NPSCuL UPDATE - The P-PODs were delivered to Naval Postgraduate School this week and have been integrated in the NPSCuL. The video linked below was provided to all of the GRACE mission CubeSat teams by Justin Foley of Cal Poly. Justin says "A few years back we put together a video that outlines the process we go through to get CubeSats on the Atlas V. This video follows the payload we put on NROL-36, aka OUTSat, which launched from VAFB and carried 11 cubes. The process is very similar to what your satellites are going through now." https://youtu.be/6OMT493w29M Photos of the P-POD integration in the Cal Poly clean room, which is where this video begins the story, can be viewed at http://www.amsat.org/. The last two CubeSats were integrated in their P-POD March 26. All of the P-PODs then head up to the Naval Postgraduate School next week for integration in the NPSCuL and acceptance testing, and then be sent on to Vandenberg (cue video) - [ANS Thanks to Justin D. Foley for the YouTube video link and AMSAT for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Wisconsin Balloon Launch Includes 2M Voice Beacon Wisconsin HAB is doing our second launch, which is participating as part of the Global Balloon Space Challenge. Date: 4/18/2015 Time: 8:00 AM CDT Setup, 9:00 AM CDT Launch If you want to see it in person, EVERYONE is welcome to stop out and watch. It's at a park so there's lots of room. Join us! Highland Village Park, located at 755 N Park St, Highland, WI 53543 (about 1 hour West of Madison, WI) If you can't make it in-person, watch it LIVE on YouTube. That's right, we will be streaming LIVE on YouTube @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvs2jdcJdek If you're into amateur radio, you can monitor our chase & tracking at FM38 http://www.fm38.org/tiki-index.php. Additionally, we will be transmitting a voice beacon on 146.430 MHz and using Simplex @ 146.550 Mhz during the recovery effort. If you are a visual person and want to follow the balloon via Google Maps, you can visit http://aprs.fi/. Additionally, we will be updating Facebook and tweeting @WisconsinHAB https://twitter.com/WisconsinHAB/ [ANS thanks Wisconsin High Altitude Ballooning and the Balloon_Sked at yahoogroups.com mailing list for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Student Spaceflight Experiments Program -- Mission 9 to the International Space Station The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education and the Arthur C. Clarke Institute for Space Education, in partnership with NanoRacks LLC, announce an authentic science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, opportunity for school districts across the U.S. and space station partner nations. The newest flight opportunity, Mission 9 to the International Space Station, or ISS, gives students across a community the ability to design and propose real experiments to fly in low-Earth orbit on the ISS. This opportunity is part of the Student Spaceflight Experiments Program, or SSEP. Each participating community will receive a real microgravity research minilaboratory capable of supporting a single microgravity experiment and all launch services to fly the minilab to the space station in spring 2016 and return it to Earth. An experiment design competition in each community -- engaging typically 300+ students -- allows student teams to design and propose real experiments vying for their community's reserved minilab. Content resources for teachers and students support foundational instruction on science in microgravity and experimental design. Additional SSEP programming leverages the experiment design competition to engage the community, embracing a learning community model for STEM education. This competition is open to students in grades 5-12 and college. Informal education groups and organizations are also encouraged to participate. Interested communities must inquire about the program no later than April 30, 2015. The National Center for Earth and Space Science Education is available to help interested communities in the U.S. secure the needed funding. To learn more about this opportunity, visit the SSEP Mission 9 to International Space Station National Announcement of Opportunity at http://tinyurl.com/ANS095-New-Flight-Opp. SSEP is enabled through a strategic partnership with NanoRacks LLC working with NASA under a Space Act Agreement as part of the utilization of the International Space Station as a national laboratory. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space (http://www.iss-casis.org/) is a national partner on SSEP. To view a list of all SSEP national partners, visit http://ssep.ncesse.org/national-partners/. If you have any questions about this opportunity, please email SSEP National Program Director Jeff Goldstein at jeffgoldstein(a)ncesse.org. [ANS thanks NASA Education Express Message -- April 2, 2015 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 21st Century Teacher Academy The 21st Century Teacher Academy, or 21CTA, is a unique educator professional development workshop opportunity for K-12 educators. The workshop is designed to immerse teachers in the best practices and methodologies to develope and implement real-world, project based learning, or PBL, curriculum using NASA's missions. 21CTA is sponsored by the Office of Education and Public Outreach at NASA's Ames Research Center, and funded by NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate. 21CTA is a two-week workshop held July 8-22, 2015. The workshop will be led by content experts, PBL experts, technical subject matter experts and a master teacher. The workshop will take place at NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. Attendees will receive a $4,500 stipend. Teacher teams are highly encouraged! Applications are due April 30, 2015. Interested K-12 educators should apply through NASA's One-Stop Shopping Initiative website at http://go.nasa.gov/1ECJ0kz. If you have questions about the 21st Century Teacher Academy, please email ARC-TeacherAcademy(a)mail.nasa.gov. [ANS thanks NASA Education Express Message -- April 2, 2015 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- US ARISS School Proposal Window Closes in 10 Days ARISS is now accepting proposals for U.S. schools wishing to schedule contacts between their students and the International Space Station for the next cycle. Details on submitting proposals can be found below in the attached ARRL News Release. Message to US Educators Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals Proposal Window February 15 - April 15, 2015 The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between *January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2016*. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2015. Proposal information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. The Opportunity Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students and educators to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session. An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in contact dates and times. Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA. More Information Interested parties can find more information about the program at www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS. For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information Sessions go to www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. Please direct any questions to ariss at arrl.org. [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between CEPES, Jodoigne, Belgium and Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti IZØUDF using NA1SS The contact began 04-01 09:20 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via K6DUE. ARISS Mentor was ON4WF. + A Successful contact was made between Mimar Sinan Özel Okullari, Istanbul, Turkey and Samantha Cristoforetti IZØUDF using NA1SS The contact began 04-01 09:20 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via K6DUE. ARISS Mentor was ON4WF. >From 2015-05-11 to 2015-06-14, there will be no US Operational Segment (USOS) hams on board ISS. So any schools contacts during this period will be conducted by the ARISS Russia team. [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over Links to ISS and SSTV Related Links as Reported by AMSAT-UK.ORG ISS Fan Club - Tracking / Predictions http://www.issfanclub.com/ Free MMSSTV Slow Scan TV software http://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmsstv.php iOS SSTV App https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sstv/id387910013 For more on Slow Scan Television SSTV, see this article SSTV - The Basics http://www.essexham.co.uk/sstv-the-basics How to be successful with the ISS Slow Scan Television (SSTV) imaging system http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/howtoisssstv.html IZ8BLY Vox Recoder, enables you to record the signals from the ISS on 145.800 MHz while you're away at work http://antoninoporcino.xoom.it/VoxRecorder/ ARISS Slow Scan TV (SSTV) Blog and Gallery http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.co.uk/ Information on the MAI-75 SSTV experiment http://www.energia.ru/eng/iss/researches/education-26.html Video showing reception of SSTV using the FUNcube Dongle Pro SDR and SDR-RADIO going into Virtual Audio Cable (VAC) then to MMSSTV software https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6MOrX9iZCk ISS SSTV received online with SUWS WebSDR http://amsat-uk.org/2014/09/06/iss-sstv-on-suws-websdr/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK 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, EMike McCardel, KC8YLD kc8yld at amsat dot org

1 0

Rare FT-3000M for sale!
by Stefan Wagener 03 Apr '15

03 Apr '15

I am selling a Yaesu FT-3000M mobile Yaesu radio. This is the full duplex 70W version with 2m TX and 70 RX. Great SO-50 mobile radio. Comes in original box, with manual. mic, mounting bracket, screws etc. Looks like new but is used! Will consider any reasonable offers. Shipping is $50 to the US. Paypal or MO okay. 73, Stefan VE4NSA

1 0

IC-910H for sale.
by Tom Lubbers K8TL 03 Apr '15

03 Apr '15

My IC-9100 should be delivered any day now. To make room I'll have to sell the old IC-910. The 910 has the 1.2 GHz module and the UT 106 DSP unit. Of course there is the power chord and manual. Will sell to first REASONABLE offer. If none will list on e-bay next week. Contact off page k8tl(a)amsat.org. Reason for switching, I won the 9100!! PS got my K1N satellite QSL yesterday. Tom K8TL

1 0

Loss of 3400-3410 MHz in Australia
by M5AKA 03 Apr '15

03 Apr '15

It appears that Australian amateurs will lose access to the 3400-3410 MHz Region 2/3 Amateur Satellite Service allocation. See the ACMA documents referred to at http://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2015/20150314-2/index.php Can any Australian amateurs confirm my interpretation of this ? 73 Trevor M5AKA

1 0

Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 10, Issue 100
by Joes Ham Mail 02 Apr '15

02 Apr '15

K1N confirmation N5JF Thanks to the K1N group for operating satellites on their expedition Sent from my iPhone > On Apr 1, 2015, at 2:17 PM, amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org wrote: > > Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to > amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > amsat-bb-owner(a)amsat.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: M2 leo pack antenna (Rich/wa4bue) > 2. Simple setup for SO50 (Clint Bradford) > 3. Icom IC-471A repairs (James Hickox) > 4. ISS SSTV + AESP-14 Deployment Video (M5AKA) > 5. Fwd: Amateur Radio Roundtable (wa4hfn(a)comcast.net) > 6. K1N FO-29 Confirmed (K3SV) > 7. Re: K1N FO-29 Confirmed (John Geiger) > 8. LVBTracker issue and minor SatPC32 glitch (kb2m(a)arrl.net) > 9. Re: K1N FO-29 Confirmed (Paul Stoetzer) > 10. Re: LVBTracker issue and minor SatPC32 glitch (Kevin Schuchmann) > 11. Re: LVBTracker issue and minor SatPC32 glitch (kb2m(a)arrl.net) > 12. AMSAT/satellite presentation in Long Beach CA, Friday (3 > April) evening (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) > 13. WD9EWK road trip, Friday through Sunday (3-5 April) > (Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK)) > 14. New RS sat? (Andrew Glasbrenner) > 15. Re: New RS sat? (Paul Stoetzer) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2015 14:00:21 -0400 > From: "Rich/wa4bue" <richard.siff(a)verizon.net> > To: <kk5do(a)arrl.net>, "amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] M2 leo pack antenna > Message-ID: <0F95B43B46CC442993278AD7ED5E7039@RichardPC> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=iso-8859-1; > reply-type=response > > I am happy to hear how good they are. Certainly a big savings over the > smaller antennas and they do the job. > > R > W4BUE > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Bruce" <kk5do(a)arrl.net> > To: "amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Monday, March 30, 2015 12:56 PM > Subject: [amsat-bb] M2 leo pack antenna > > >> We used my M2 Leo Pack antenna at the Houston Hamfest Saturday and they >> worked great from AOS to LOS on both passes. Both antennas use 'N' >> connectors. >> >> If you are going to build them, I would suggest installing the driven >> elements last, do not use the push retainers on those two until you are >> all done building the antenna. I built mine and messed up 2 of the push >> retainers. I think there were 1 extra in each of the 2m and 70cm antennas >> but I pushed a little too hard and the elements were no longer centered. >> You cannot back them up. You have to replace them. M2 does not ship one or >> two of them, I had to purchase a package of 50 just to get 2 of them. >> Cost... $13. I reckon if anyone else makes an oops, I can drop a few in >> the U.S. mail to you. >> >> Just a heads up. They will be shipping out the last of the AMSAT orders >> that have been waiting to ship... 5 going out in today's UPS delivery. >> They will have some packaged and on the shelf ready to ship for those that >> are ready to order now. No waiting. >> >> 73...bruce >> >> -- >> >> Bruce Paige, KK5DO >> AMSAT Director Contests and Awards >> ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE >> Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* >> Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com >> Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes >> Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News >> http://www.arrl.org >> >> AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2015 15:11:46 -0700 > From: Clint Bradford <clintbradford(a)mac.com> > To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Simple setup for SO50 > Message-ID: <C989E34D-8CE0-4F9F-8642-E0DBA2E7B35A(a)mac.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii > > Luciano - AMSAT-NA's new FOX-1A is going to actually be EASIER > to work with portable/minimum equipment! Engineers have promised > about a 6db INCREASE in its 2M downlink as compared to our recent > FM voice birds with their 440 downlinks! > > THANKS for the video! Keep up the wonderful work! > > Clint K6LCS > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 16:28:12 +0000 (UTC) > From: James Hickox <jameshickox(a)sbcglobal.net> > To: "amsat-bb(a)amsat.org" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Icom IC-471A repairs > Message-ID: > <1003344502.989429.1427819292292.JavaMail.yahoo(a)mail.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Hello,I have a -471a that is deaf and dumb.? memories work, sound comes from speaker, squelch works, but will only hear HT signal when placed close to printed circuit board wen case is off.? Will go into transmit mode, but no power output noted.? Please let me know what might be the possible fixes, and is there is anyone within a couple of hundred miles of Abilene, Texas who will be willing to assist with repairs or who do it for a fee. > Thanks, > James, AA5AO > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 16:26:22 +0000 (UTC) > From: M5AKA <m5aka(a)yahoo.co.uk> > To: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: [amsat-bb] ISS SSTV + AESP-14 Deployment Video > Message-ID: > <918485003.3269103.1427819182049.JavaMail.yahoo(a)mail.yahoo.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > ISS Slow Scan TV Active on Weekend of April 11 > http://amsat-uk.org/2015/03/31/iss-sstv/ > > Video of AESP-14 CubeSat deployment from ISS > http://amsat-uk.org/2015/03/30/video-of-aesp-14-cubesat-deployment-from-iss/ > > The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has published an article explaining to schools and other organisations what amateur radio is and how it work. Read How to ?Make That Call': #TalkToTim on the ISS > https://space.blog.gov.uk/2015/03/27/how-to-make-that-call-talktotim-on-the… > > Astronaut issues challenge for UK students to ?make that call? > http://amsat-uk.org/2015/03/20/astronaut-issues-challenge-for-uk-students-t… > > > ---- > 73 Trevor M5AKA > AMSAT-UK http://amsat-uk.org/ > Facebook https://www.facebook.com/amsatuk > Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK > ---- > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 5 > Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 16:41:05 +0000 (UTC) > From: wa4hfn(a)comcast.net > To: AMSAT <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Cc: "gol, Grid" <starcom-bb(a)star-com.net> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Fwd: Amateur Radio Roundtable > Message-ID: > <291407767.17988872.1427820065271.JavaMail.zimbra(a)comcast.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 > > > > ----- Forwarded Message ----- > From: "W5KUB Broadcast" <wa5kub.video9(a)gmail.com> > To: "Tom Medlin" <wa5kub.video9(a)gmail.com> > Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 11:38:14 AM > Subject: Amateur Radio Roundtable > > Reminder - Amateur Radio Roundtable, a live weekly ham radio webcast can be > seen at W5KUB. <http://w5kub.com/>*com* every Tuesday night at 8:00 PM CDT > (0100 UTC Wednesday). > > > > The show covers all aspects of ham radio; such as, balloon launches, > Satellite, go-kits, emergency communications, SDR, digital modes, DXing, > home brewing, and much more. This week?s guests include: > > > > Russ Woodman, K5TUX, discussing Linux and open source for ham radio > > Brian Schell, KD8OTD, author, discussing D-star and Echolink for beginners > > Glen Popiel, KW5GP, author of the book ?Arduino for Ham Radio? > > > > To watch Amateur Radio Roundtable go to W5KUB.com, click on Live Events and > sign in with your existing User Name and Password. If you don?t have a user > name and password, just enter your call or name, leave the password blank > and hit sign in. > > > > We need your help with topics. If you have a specific subject that you > would like to present in a future show, send an email to tom(a)W5KUB.com. > > > > Join us for fun and interesting ham radio discussions. We?ll see you on > the webcast! > > > > Tom Medlin, W5KUB > > > > > > To follow our webcasts and to discuss ham radio, please join our Facebook > group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/w5kub/. > > > > You are receiving this message because you joined W5KUB.com. If you would > like to be removed from these mailings, please click Reply and type ' > *Remove*' in the subject line. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 6 > Date: Tue, 31 Mar 2015 14:14:30 -0400 > From: K3SV <k3sv(a)pa.net> > To: Amsat <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: [amsat-bb] K1N FO-29 Confirmed > Message-ID: <75D42421-D8BD-437E-BDB7-13A3F9C32B66(a)pa.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Whoop whoop! >

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Re; 1
by James Hickox 02 Apr '15

02 Apr '15

referral http://isenosimao.com/cs/ Sent: 4/2/2015 12:17:23 PM >From James Hickox

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Re: [amsat-bb] 92
by James Hickox 02 Apr '15

02 Apr '15

referral link http://anorifugu.com/cjh/ Sent: 4/2/2015 11:22:19 AM >From James Hickox

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Re: [amsat-bb] A pass from the past
by Richard Tejera 02 Apr '15

02 Apr '15

Celestial does have an archive of old data that can used to recreate past dates. http://www.celestrak.com/NORAD/archives/ 73 Rick K7TEJ On April 1, 2015, at 20:54, Pavel Milanes Costa <co7wt(a)frcuba.co.cu> wrote: Get gpredict for (windows/linux) it has a nice time controlling feature, and of course you want to use a "updated" tle for that (past) day. Just ask the list members for a tle set for a date, I'm also one of those the get it weekly via email since ever... 73 El 01/04/15 a las 17:17, Bryan Green escribió: > Hello, all! > > Long story short: > > I have handwritten notes and a recording from a past AO-73 pass. > > My notes are dated that the pass was from 05:18Z - 05:31Z on 2015-01-29. > > My recording indicates that the start was at 05:19Z on 2015-01-29. (I have the clock on the MP3 device set to UTC). > > I have a spreadsheet of every pass I've tracked since the beginning of the year, and I'm going back to update the AOS, Max, and LOS azimuths, since I didn't start recording those until February. > > Here's what I did: > > Fed the AMSAT TLE file from 2015-01-30 into Orbitron. > > It predicts AO-73 AOS at 05:32Z, and LOS at 05:39Z > > Got the old-school predict program, fed it the same file, and got exactly the same results. > > How can I best simulate an orbit prediction from the past? > > I have SatPC32 but I don't understand how to use it to get a pass prediction. > > Thanks in advance for the help! > > -- bag > > Bryan KL7CN/W6 > _______________________________________________ > 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://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: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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A pass from the past
by Bryan Green 02 Apr '15

02 Apr '15

Hello, all! Long story short: I have handwritten notes and a recording from a past AO-73 pass. My notes are dated that the pass was from 05:18Z - 05:31Z on 2015-01-29. My recording indicates that the start was at 05:19Z on 2015-01-29. (I have the clock on the MP3 device set to UTC). I have a spreadsheet of every pass I've tracked since the beginning of the year, and I'm going back to update the AOS, Max, and LOS azimuths, since I didn't start recording those until February. Here's what I did: Fed the AMSAT TLE file from 2015-01-30 into Orbitron. It predicts AO-73 AOS at 05:32Z, and LOS at 05:39Z Got the old-school predict program, fed it the same file, and got exactly the same results. How can I best simulate an orbit prediction from the past? I have SatPC32 but I don't understand how to use it to get a pass prediction. Thanks in advance for the help! -- bag Bryan KL7CN/W6

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K1N FO-29 confirmed N5JF
by Joes Ham Mail 02 Apr '15

02 Apr '15

Thanks to the K1N group for satellite operations Sent from my iPhone

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Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 10, Issue 100
by Wayne Estes 02 Apr '15

02 Apr '15

Jeff KB2M wrote: If I run SatPC32 before I turn on the radio I get a SatPC32 error that could be a little easier to resolve then it is. Wayne W9AE replies: Maybe you could solve that problem by disabling the CAT "activate at start" function. But then you require one more click to get CAT started. Or maybe it's an Icom CAT quirk I know nothing about. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik

2 1

M2 LEO pack antennas in stock
by Andrew Glasbrenner 02 Apr '15

02 Apr '15

M2 has let us know they now have nine LEO pack antennas in stock ready to ship. Get special member pricing and free US shipping here at http://store.amsat.org/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=123 73, Drew KO4MA

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Re: [amsat-bb] A pass from the past
by Bryan Green 01 Apr '15

01 Apr '15

Hi, David! I do gave the data as E-mailed to me each week from AMSAT via ARRL. I have an archive. When I tried as you suggested, neither Orbitron nor predict showed the time I observed -- they both have it coming over at about 05:34Z. They appeared to use current keps. Sent from my iPhone > On Apr 1, 2015, at 15:50, David G0MRF <g0mrf(a)aol.com> wrote: > > If I understand you correctly, you need to predict where the satellite was a couple of months ago. > > To do that you need a set of keps from a date close to the one you are looking to predict. > At present AO-73 shifts about 4 minutes over a period of 1 month, so you need to be within 1 week to get reasonable accuracy. > > I believe Celestrak or possibly the AMSAT archive may have this data.....but it's not very often used. > > Regards > > David > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Bryan Green <bryan(a)kl7cn.net> > To: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Wed, 1 Apr 2015 22:24 > Subject: [amsat-bb] A pass from the past > > Hello, all! > > Long story short: > > I have handwritten notes and a recording > from a past AO-73 pass. > > My notes are dated that the pass was from 05:18Z - > 05:31Z on 2015-01-29. > > My recording indicates that the start was at 05:19Z on > 2015-01-29. (I have the clock on the MP3 device set to UTC). > > I have a > spreadsheet of every pass I've tracked since the beginning of the year, and I'm > going back to update the AOS, Max, and LOS azimuths, since I didn't start > recording those until February. > > Here's what I did: > > Fed the AMSAT TLE file > from 2015-01-30 into Orbitron. > > It predicts AO-73 AOS at 05:32Z, and LOS at > 05:39Z > > Got the old-school predict program, fed it the same file, and got > exactly the same results. > > How can I best simulate an orbit prediction from > the past? > > I have SatPC32 but I don't understand how to use it to get a pass > prediction. > > Thanks in advance for the help! > > -- bag > > Bryan > KL7CN/W6 > _______________________________________________ > 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://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Office Closed
by Martha 01 Apr '15

01 Apr '15

The AMSAT office will be closed until April 14th. I will not have access to email or phone. Please contact me on April 14th -- 73- Martha (AMSAT's only employee)

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New RS sat?
by Andrew Glasbrenner 01 Apr '15

01 Apr '15

http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/kosmos-2491.htm There may be a new RS sat up there after the most recent Rokot launch. I doubt it has anything close to a transponder, but it might be a good beacon.... 73, Drew KO4MA

3 2

WD9EWK road trip, Friday through Sunday (3-5 April)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 01 Apr '15

01 Apr '15

Hi! I just posted a message about a presentation I will give in southern California on Friday evening. In addition to that presentation, I am planning a road trip that will cover a total of almost 1000 miles in 3 days - including my drive to that presentation. Since I have operated from some of the rarely-heard grids along the I-10 freeway between Phoenix and Los Angeles recently, I'm not planning to stop and work passes on Friday morning and early afternoon. If there are grids along that route that someone needs, I might be able to make a stop - if there are satellites passing by during that time. The presentation I'm giving will be in Signal Hill CA, near Long Beach in grid DM03, where I will be on the air for two passes that evening. After the presentation, sometime on Saturday, I will head up the I-15 freeway to Las Vegas. I don't know exactly when I will start driving up there. I-15 passes through grids DM14, DM15, DM25, and DM26 on the way up there. I will keep track of passes, and try to work them during this drive. While in Las Vegas, I plan on operating from the DM25/DM26 grid boundary, which passes through the south end of the Las Vegas area. I did this on a couple of road trips back in 2008 and 2009, and - according to the satellite view from Google Maps - the spot I used then is still available. I may operate from this spot Saturday night and/or Sunday morning. Depending on when I leave Las Vegas Sunday morning, I may be able to stop at the DM25/DM35 grid boundary in Kingman, Arizona. I may not try to work every possible pass on Sunday, since I need to get back home and then get ready for another workweek, but I will keep track of the available passes. As with my other road trips, I make use of APRS and Twitter to show where I'm located and for updates. For APRS, I use WD9EWK-9 as my call sign, and that would be visible at (among other sites): http://aprs.fi/WD9EWK-9 My @WD9EWK Twitter feed will have updates, and occasional photos, of my activities. If you don't use Twitter, you can still see my tweets in a web browser at: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK QSOs made during this road trip - including those from the demonstrations on Friday evening - will be uploaded to Logbook of the World. In addition to that, I am happy to confirm QSOs by QSL card. Since I'm operating away from home, I don't normally ask for cards or an SASE when I confirm these QSOs. Just e-mail me with the QSO details, and I'll send you a card if the QSO is in my log. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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AMSAT/satellite presentation in Long Beach CA, Friday (3 April) evening
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 01 Apr '15

01 Apr '15

Hi! On Friday, I will be in Long Beach to give a presentation about amateur satellites and AMSAT for the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach, during their regular monthly meeting at 7pm. I thank Endaf Buckley KG6FIY and the club for inviting me to give this presentation. Information about the club, and the meeting site, is at: http://www.aralb.org/ Before the meeting, I am planning to do demonstrations during FO-29 and SO-50 passes. There is an FO-29 pass around 6.06pm (0106 UTC), followed by an SO-50 pass around 6.20pm (0120 UTC). The footprint during the FO-29 pass covers the west coast, and for the SO-50 pass the satellite will swing around from the southwest to the north. If you hear WD9EWK on either of these passes, please call and join in the fun. The meeting site is in grid DM03. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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LVBTracker issue and minor SatPC32 glitch
by kb2m＠arrl.net 01 Apr '15

01 Apr '15

Does anyone have this issue, I have to turn my sat system on in a certain sequence. 1. Turn on the LVBTracker. 2. Turn on the 9100. 3. Start SatPC32. Today I had a visitor in my shack who turned the Yaesu 5500 on first causing the LVB issue, so don't just say 'don't do that' J. If I turn on the 9100 before the LVBTracker I get a memory error on the LVBTracker and have to do a re-calibrate, a real pain if you're trying to work a bird that's already up. If I run SatPC32 before I turn on the radio I get a SatPC32 error that could be a little easier to resolve then it is. I would like to see a de-select, select sequence of the cat control to acquire the radio instead of a SatPC32 reboot, sometimes with a task manager assist in Win7 to halt the rotor serverSDX. I have no idea what would cause the LVB to behave in this manner. Anyone have the LVB issue? Any solutions? 73 Jeff kb2m

2 2

K1N FO-29 Confirmed
by K3SV 31 Mar '15

31 Mar '15

Whoop whoop! Sent from my iPad

3 2

Fwd: Amateur Radio Roundtable
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 31 Mar '15

31 Mar '15

----- Forwarded Message ----- From: "W5KUB Broadcast" <wa5kub.video9(a)gmail.com> To: "Tom Medlin" <wa5kub.video9(a)gmail.com> Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2015 11:38:14 AM Subject: Amateur Radio Roundtable Reminder - Amateur Radio Roundtable, a live weekly ham radio webcast can be seen at W5KUB. <http://w5kub.com/>*com* every Tuesday night at 8:00 PM CDT (0100 UTC Wednesday). The show covers all aspects of ham radio; such as, balloon launches, Satellite, go-kits, emergency communications, SDR, digital modes, DXing, home brewing, and much more. This week’s guests include: Russ Woodman, K5TUX, discussing Linux and open source for ham radio Brian Schell, KD8OTD, author, discussing D-star and Echolink for beginners Glen Popiel, KW5GP, author of the book “Arduino for Ham Radio” To watch Amateur Radio Roundtable go to W5KUB.com, click on Live Events and sign in with your existing User Name and Password. If you don’t have a user name and password, just enter your call or name, leave the password blank and hit sign in. We need your help with topics. If you have a specific subject that you would like to present in a future show, send an email to tom(a)W5KUB.com. Join us for fun and interesting ham radio discussions. We’ll see you on the webcast! Tom Medlin, W5KUB To follow our webcasts and to discuss ham radio, please join our Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/w5kub/. You are receiving this message because you joined W5KUB.com. If you would like to be removed from these mailings, please click Reply and type ' *Remove*' in the subject line.

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Icom IC-471A repairs
by James Hickox 31 Mar '15

31 Mar '15

Hello,I have a -471a that is deaf and dumb. memories work, sound comes from speaker, squelch works, but will only hear HT signal when placed close to printed circuit board wen case is off. Will go into transmit mode, but no power output noted. Please let me know what might be the possible fixes, and is there is anyone within a couple of hundred miles of Abilene, Texas who will be willing to assist with repairs or who do it for a fee. Thanks, James, AA5AO

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ISS SSTV + AESP-14 Deployment Video
by M5AKA 31 Mar '15

31 Mar '15

ISS Slow Scan TV Active on Weekend of April 11 http://amsat-uk.org/2015/03/31/iss-sstv/ Video of AESP-14 CubeSat deployment from ISS http://amsat-uk.org/2015/03/30/video-of-aesp-14-cubesat-deployment-from-iss/ The UK Space Agency (UKSA) has published an article explaining to schools and other organisations what amateur radio is and how it work. Read How to ‘Make That Call': #TalkToTim on the ISS https://space.blog.gov.uk/2015/03/27/how-to-make-that-call-talktotim-on-the… Astronaut issues challenge for UK students to “make that call” http://amsat-uk.org/2015/03/20/astronaut-issues-challenge-for-uk-students-t… ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://amsat-uk.org/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/amsatuk Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK ----

1 0

Simple setup for SO50
by Clint Bradford 30 Mar '15

30 Mar '15

Luciano - AMSAT-NA's new FOX-1A is going to actually be EASIER to work with portable/minimum equipment! Engineers have promised about a 6db INCREASE in its 2M downlink as compared to our recent FM voice birds with their 440 downlinks! THANKS for the video! Keep up the wonderful work! Clint K6LCS

1 0

M2 leo pack antenna
by Bruce 30 Mar '15

30 Mar '15

We used my M2 Leo Pack antenna at the Houston Hamfest Saturday and they worked great from AOS to LOS on both passes. Both antennas use 'N' connectors. If you are going to build them, I would suggest installing the driven elements last, do not use the push retainers on those two until you are all done building the antenna. I built mine and messed up 2 of the push retainers. I think there were 1 extra in each of the 2m and 70cm antennas but I pushed a little too hard and the elements were no longer centered. You cannot back them up. You have to replace them. M2 does not ship one or two of them, I had to purchase a package of 50 just to get 2 of them. Cost... $13. I reckon if anyone else makes an oops, I can drop a few in the U.S. mail to you. Just a heads up. They will be shipping out the last of the AMSAT orders that have been waiting to ship... 5 going out in today's UPS delivery. They will have some packaged and on the shelf ready to ship for those that are ready to order now. No waiting. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0100z on Echolink - Conference *AMSAT* Also live streaming MP3 at http://www.amsatnet.com Podcast at http://www.amsatnet.com/podcast.xml or iTunes Latest satellite news on the ARRL Audio News http://www.arrl.org AMSAT on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/amsat

2 1

AMSAT's "new" FM satellite flyer
by Clint Bradford 30 Mar '15

30 Mar '15

Patrick, your emory is a little hazy regarding the history of this publication. As an AMSAT area coordinator, and with AMSAT-NA's blessings, I released the AMSAT-approved "Work AO-51" tutorial on September 3, 2007, to the world. That grew to "Work Satellites With Your HT" tutorial I produced in January, 2008 - again with AMSAT-NA's blessings. Then other variants began to appear ... BUT THE BOTTOM LINE - in my mind - is getting the information out. And as accurately and timely as possible. Over the years, my tutorial has been revised / amended / improved more than 20 times - to keep up with changes and new info. No problem ... ancient history, actually, in the scheme of things. Many thousands of my tutorials have been downloaded and handed to convention attendees and club members, and I hope the AMSAT-NA download page gets promoted with updated and current info for all, too. Clint Bradford K6LCS http://www.work-sat.com

2 1

Simple setup for SO50
by PY5LF 30 Mar '15

30 Mar '15

Hi Take a look on this video where PT9BM works many stations on SO50 using a simple UV5R and a Nagoya antenna . <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=697NY-Y3C3I&feature=youtu.be> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=697NY-Y3C3I&feature=youtu.be So , you no need to spend a lot of $ to try sat contacts . 73 PY5LF Luciano Fabricio Curitiba-PR-BR GG54jm http://www.qrz.com/db/PY5LF

1 0

Getting Ready for Fox-1A - Correction
by Clint Bradford 30 Mar '15

30 Mar '15

Tentative launch date the 27th of August - not the 25th. Clint

1 0

AMSAT's "new" FM satellite flyer
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 30 Mar '15

30 Mar '15

Hi! One of the items in yesterday's ANS bulletin described a flyer that is now available from AMSAT's web site, available at: http://www.amsat.org --> Satellite Info --> Station and Operating Hints. (or at the direct link is http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=2144 ) I am not the only author of these flyers. Back in 2008, Gould Smith WA4SXM asked Tim Lilley N3TL and me to work with him on the original version of this flyer for use by AMSAT's Area Coordinators. Gould and Tim were most helpful in this project, and I thank them for their contributions. Over the next 6+ years, this flyer has been revised several times. Until AMSAT's old web site was shut down a couple of years ago, updated versions were available in a special section of that site used by Area Coordinators. With the changes related to the web site in the past couple of years, that private area for Area Coordinators has not been recreated, and we're taking the opportunity to make the flyer available to everyone. This is probably long overdue, as the information has been available in many places (including AMSAT's "Getting Started with Amateur Satellites" books, available at AMSAT booths/tables and from AMSAT's online store). Since I live in Arizona, with many hamfests in close proximity to the Mexican border, many Mexican hams come up to these hamfests. I asked a couple of friends, Larry Teran KI6YAA and Alex Pereida XE2BSS/N2IX, to translate this flyer into Spanish in 2011, which was a great help. My grasp of Spanish is OK (some of you hear me speaking Spanish when I work stations in Mexico and central America), but I was not comfortable translating the flyer by myself. After Larry and Alex did the initial Spanish translation in 2011, I have been able to update the Spanish version as the English version was updated. A separate flyer is already in the works for the Fox-1A satellite, which will be available before the satellite's scheduled launch date in late August. Between content for the AMSAT web site and articles in upcoming issues of the AMSAT Journal, there will be lots of information about Fox-1A available. Once we see how well Fox-1A works, that information will be incorporated in both the English and Spanish versions of this flyer, and posted on the AMSAT web site. We're starting to take advantage of how easy it is to make documents available on the AMSAT web site, using the WordPress content management system. This has been done with many documents related to the Fox project already, and we will continue to do this in the future. If anyone wishes to translate this flyer into other languages, that would be great. Please e-mail me directly, so we can discuss this in more detail. Any additional translations will be posted on the AMSAT web site, along with the existing English and Spanish versions. Thanks, and 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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WD9EWK's road trip to DM51/DM52 & DM52/DM53 - report
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 30 Mar '15

30 Mar '15

Hi again! After yesterday's hamfest in Tucson, I made a detour to the southeast, so I could stop and operate from 3 different rarely-heard grids in that part of Arizona, before heading home. I made a change to the plans I had posted on this list last week, but was able to make many contacts from the two different places I operated from. My first stop yesterday was the DM51bx/DM52ba grid boundary, west of US-191 and south of I-10 in Cochise County. This is location I usually visit once or twice a year, usually after hamfests in this part of Arizona. The spot I use is just over an hour's drive from the hamfest site, about 80 miles east of Tucson. After I found the exact spot and the obligatory photos of my station with a GPS receiver in the picture, I worked two AO-7 passes and an FO-29 pass. I logged 14 QSOs on these 3 passes, even after I stopped working the second AO-7 pass around the midpoint. My change in plans turned out to be a good thing. When I stopped working the second AO-7 pass, I had about an hour and 40 minutes to cover the 70 miles to the second stop on this quick road trip - the DM52ax/DM53aa grid boundary. This spot is along US-70, northwest of the town of Safford in Graham County. In the past, I once made this drive in 80 minutes, in between a couple of AO-51 passes. I wasn't interested in setting any land speed records, but I ended up making the drive in 85 minutes. A larger part of US-191 between I-10 and Safford had been upgraded to a divided highway with a 65mph speed limit - and I took advantage of that. I found the exact spot next to US-70, set up my radio on the spot, and had 10 minutes to spare before the first of the two SO-50 passes. I had used my GPS to find the exact spot on the grid boundary, placed my radio on the spot, and took the obligatory photos after the first of the two passes I worked. Each of the SO-50 passes had a lot of stations. Even with the crowds, I was able to hand out QSOs with DM52 and DM53 to 13 stations on each of the passes. Of these two grids, DM53 is the rarer of the two - a two-hour drive from either Phoenix or Tucson, away from I-10 through this part of Arizona. I had last operated from DM53 in 2011, and I think KL7R has been in this area recently. Someone always needs either - or both - of these grids, so it is fun to make the drive and put these grids into lots of logs. All of my QSOs from Saturday, between the hamfest and other stops I made during the day, are in Logbook of the World. Within minutes after I uploaded these contacts, almost half of them were confirmed. Some of these QSLs were with relatively new satellite operators. It's nice to see more satellite operators using LOTW. If you worked WD9EWK and would like a QSL card, I still print and mail QSL cards. Just e-mail me directly with the QSO details, and I will check my log. If you're in the log, I will be happy to send you a QSL card. These locations are outside my 200km limit for the satellite VUCC award, so I don't seek cards for QSOs I make from those locations. There is no need to first send me your QSL card and/or SASE to get my QSL card. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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Tucson (Arizona) hamfest on 28 March - report
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 30 Mar '15

30 Mar '15

Hi! I had an AMSAT table at yesterday's Radio Society of Tucson hamfest in Tucson, Arizona. A great turnout, larger than last year's crowd, and good weather helped make this a nice place to spend the morning. During the morning, there was a lot of traffic around my AMSAT table. Between the demonstrations that always draw crowds and more talk about the upcoming Fox-1 satellites, there was a lot of interest in this corner of ham radio. After talking about the Fox project for many years, it has been nice to attach some launch dates to a couple of the satellites. As I did a week ago at another hamfest in Scottsdale AZ, there was interest in using the USB SDR dongles with the small Windows tablets. I was on a few passes during the hamfest - a couple of AO-73 passes; and one pass each of AO-7, FO-29, and the ISS. I logged a couple of QSOs on the FO-29 pass just after 1330 UTC, and a few more on the AO-73 pass around 1740 UTC. Among the QSOs on the later AO-73 pass, I worked Andy W5ACM and Bruce KK5DO, who were at the Greater Houston Hamfest representing AMSAT. Thanks to them, and everyone else, who worked WD9EWK during the demonstrations. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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For Sale - Yaesu FT-847 w/accessories & Smartuner - SGC-230
by K5AXW 29 Mar '15

29 Mar '15

For Sale - Very nice Yaesu FT-847 all band/mode TX/RX tracking transceiver. Radio comes with original box, manual, DC power cord and hand mic. Installed are the INRAD 2.1 KHz SSB, Collins 2.5 KHz and 500 Hz CW mechanical filters, ready for full duplex cross-band operation. Mobile mounting bracket MB-66 included. The TX is opened up to cover 60 meters and MARS frequencies. Power switch replaced and upgraded. Also included is the MD-100 desk mic, home brew data adapter for PSK/RTTY/data use and a serial CAT cable for radio control & satellite Doppler tracking. $1150 shipped Continental U.S. Separately for an all-in-one type station, a companion SGC Model SGC-230 "Smartuner" with original box, manual, extra control cable and a type 43 toroid core for $375 but will sell both the FT-847 & SG-230 for $1450 shipped Continental U.S. All of my contact info is on QRZ. Please respond off the list. Thanks. 73, Bill K5AXW Austin, TX

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AO-73 telemetry reception
by Steve Kristoff 29 Mar '15

29 Mar '15

I would like to receive the telemetry from AO-73. I have the FUN-Cube Dashboard running. I can hear the telemetry signal on my Yaesu FT290RII set on USB and run through a Signalink USB to my computer. The antenna is a 5/8 wave ground plane on top of my 2 story house. I can get ground based APRS. I can receive ISS APRS and packet. Occasionally I can even hit AO-07 in mode A. I have received the AO-73 telemetry once, but nothing since. Do I need to use a directional antenna? Maybe it's because I'm only home at night and weekends and the telemetry is at 30 mW during those times? Would a pre-amp help? All helpful thoughts and ideas are very welcome! Steve Kristoff AI9IN EM79ji Oldenburg IN skristof(a)etczone.com

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Getting Ready for FOX-1A
by Clint Bradford 29 Mar '15

29 Mar '15

August is only getting closer ... (grin). AMSAT-NA hopes to launch FOX-1A on August 25, 2015. Here are the frequencies to program into your handheld - it is the "reverse" of what we are used to with, say, SO-50: The downlink will be on 2M, and the uplink on 440. This is great for portable ops - we should achieve about a 6db INCREASE in downlink signal strength! Two docs have the freqs for you to program into your HTs - http://work-sat.com/Home.html --- the Tutorial has SO-50 and FOX-1A freqs for you. http://work-sat.com/FUNDRAISING.html --- here's just the freq list, and AMSAT-NA's article on "How to Work" FOX-1A. My demo radios are already programmed ... (grin) Clint Bradford K6LCS

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AO73 Telemetry Reception
by Clint Bradford 29 Mar '15

29 Mar '15

Since you are successful with other birds, it may be the times you are working '73 are when it is in its 30mW mode. And even a modest beam points its way will out-perform the vertical. Heck, we heard it on its 30mW mode at the Palm Springs HamFest a couple Saturdays ago with just a tape measure beam. Clint http://www.work-sat.com

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AMSAT FieldOps Team SO-50 Operating Guide is Available
by Clint Bradford 29 Mar '15

29 Mar '15

I hope AMSAT-NA doesn't wait 12 years after launch of FOX-1A, too, to highlight how to work it ... I started getting folks excited about it several months ago ... Sorry ... Guess we should all be pleased that updates to the site are occurring! Clint Bradford

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ANS-088 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 29 Mar '15

29 Mar '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-088 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 FieldOps Team SO-50 Operating Guide is Available * AMSAT Hotel Room Reservations for Dayton Hamvention * AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention -- Call for volunteers * ARISS School Proposal Window, for US, Remains Open Through April 15 * Tim Peake and ARISS - GB1SS Listening and Standing By * Mark T. Vande Hei, KG5GNP, New Astronaut Ham * Satellite operation from Isle of Mull * Vote to Name the Next United Launch Alliance Rocket SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-088.01 ANS-088 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 088.01 From AMSAT HQ Kensington, MD. March 29, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-088.01 AMSAT FieldOps Team SO-50 Operating Guide is Available AMSAT's Director of Field Operations, Patrick Stoddard, WD9EWK says the FieldOps team is working to make how-to-operate-satellites information readily available on the web. Based on a hamfest handout designed and written by Patrick, "Getting Started with the FM Satellites", is available for download. Patrick shows the basic equipment and techniques to learn successful operating on the satellites. This guide also gives specific information on how to operate via SO-50, the only currently available FM satellite at the moment. Patrick's guide is posted at: http://www.amsat.org --> Satellite Info --> Station and Operating Hints. The direct link is http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=2144 where you'll find the link "Operating FM Satellites" (and a link to the Spanish version also). [ANS thanks the AMSAT FieldOps Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT Hotel Room Reservations for Dayton Hamvention Once again, this year, as in previous years AMSAT has reserved a block of rooms for the Dayton Hamvention at the Country Inn & Suites in Fairborn, Ohio. The cost is $109 per night. The cutoff date for reservations is April 12. First priority will be given to AMSAT members assisting with the booth operations, satellite operating demonstrations, and the AMSAT Forum presentations. Call Martha at the AMSAT office at 301-822-4376 to give her your arrival/departure dates and your credit card information. [ANS thanks Martha at the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention -- Call for volunteers Last year, we had 52 people assist with the AMSAT booth at the Dayton. It was the efforts of those volunteers that made the 2014 Dayton Hamvention a success for AMSAT. The interaction with AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers, and builders makes the whole experience a lot of fun. The 2015 Hamvention is May 15-17. Would you consider helping AMSAT at Dayton this year? Whether you're available for only a couple of hours or if you can spend the entire weekend with us, your help would be greatly appreciated. Please send an e-mail to Steve, n9ip at amsat.org if you can help. [ANS thanks AMSAT's Hamvention Chairman Steve Belter, N9IP for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS School Proposal Window, for US, Remains Open Through April 15 ARISS is now accepting proposals for U.S. schools wishing to schedule contacts between their students and the International Space Station for the next cycle. Details on submitting proposals can be found below in the attached ARRL News Release. Message to US Educators Amateur Radio on the International Space Station Contact Opportunity Call for Proposals Proposal Window February 15 - April 15, 2015 The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program is seeking formal and informal education institutions and organizations, individually or working together, to host an Amateur Radio contact with a crew member on board the ISS. ARISS anticipates that the contact would be held between *January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2016*. Crew scheduling and ISS orbits will determine the exact contact dates. To maximize these radio contact opportunities, ARISS is looking for organizations that will draw large numbers of participants and integrate the contact into a well-developed education plan. The deadline to submit a proposal is April 15, 2015. Proposal information and documents can be found at www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. The Opportunity Crew members aboard the International Space Station will participate in scheduled Amateur Radio contacts. These radio contacts are approximately 10 minutes in length and allow students and educators to interact with the astronauts through a question-and-answer session. An ARISS contact is a voice-only communication opportunity via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station and classrooms and communities. ARISS contacts afford education audiences the opportunity to learn firsthand from astronauts what it is like to live and work in space and to learn about space research conducted on the ISS. Students also will have an opportunity to learn about satellite communication, wireless technology, and radio science. Because of the nature of human spaceflight and the complexity of scheduling activities aboard the ISS, organizations must demonstrate flexibility to accommodate changes in contact dates and times. Amateur Radio organizations around the world, NASA, and space agencies in Russia, Canada, Japan and Europe sponsor this educational opportunity by providing the equipment and operational support to enable direct communication between crew on the ISS and students around the world via Amateur Radio. In the US, the program is managed by AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation) and ARRL (American Radio Relay League) in partnership with NASA. More Information Interested parties can find more information about the program at www.ariss.org and www.arrl.org/ARISS. For proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information Sessions go to www.arrl.org/hosting-an-ariss-contact. Please direct any questions to ariss at arrl dot org. [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Tim Peake and ARISS - GB1SS Listening and Standing By The UK Space Agency has launched a new programme, targeted at students, for the Tim Peake “Principia” mission to the ISS later this year. This is the result of nearly a nearly a years’ worth of effort, working with the UKSA to find a way to bring space to the students and enthuse the next generation of scientists, engineers technicians and mathematicians. The programme is a joint effort between ARISS, UKSA, RSGB, ESERO in the UK and ESA to raise awareness in Space, Amateur Radio and STEM subjects in general. The basis behind the programme is that schools/educational establishments offer a two day Space STEM event where space can be explored within the confines of the UK National Curriculum. Schools/establishments that are successful in applying for such a two day event will then also take part in an ARISS scheduled contact with Tim on the ISS as he orbits above the UK. Many different aspects of Amateur Radio are being promoted from amateur radio in general to the amateur satellite service, data from orbiting spacecraft (FUNcube and with luck the first of the Fox satellites) to the latest equipment on the ISS, the HAMVideo system assuming all goes to plan with the upcoming testing. ARISS UK mentors will assist the schools, provide all the necessary RF equipment and will, with our colleagues in the BATC, live web stream the contacts. We are also promoting this as an opportunity for a suitably licensed student to be in charge of the transmitter for the actual contact itself and to host the call to the ISS. Our national society, the Radio Society of Great Britain, will be working with the selected schools and interested students to ensure that the students that wish to obtain their own license can do so. Tim will be making use of the GB1SS call sign that has been granted by Ofcom, the spectrum regulator in the UK. Tim Peake recently also recorded a short video and you can see this at http://www.amsat-uk.org/ along with the contents of the UKSA press release. Tim is extremely enthusiastic and is looking forward to using the amateur radio equipment whilst he is on orbit. The Tim Peake ESERO resource page is at http://www.esero.org.uk/timpeake The announcements with the guide, application form, press releases and a downloadable copy of the video are at http://tinyurl.com/ariss-timpeake The RSGB announcement is at http://rsgb.org/main/blog/news/gb2rs/headlines/2015/03/20/g3rjv-wins- prestigious-technical-award/ [ANS thanks Ciaran, M0XTD, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark T. Vande Hei, KG5GNP, New Astronaut Ham Mark T. Vande Hei attended license classes on March 11 and 12 and passed the Technician exam on March 13. His callsign, KG5GNP, appeared in the FCC database on March 24. Vande Hei was selected in June 2009 as a member of the 20th NASA astronaut class. He completed astronaut candidate training in June 2011 and is now qualified for future flight assignment. From June 2012 to May 2013, he served as the Astronaut Office's Director of Operations in Russia. He currently works in the Astronaut Office's CAPCOM Branch. He reported to the Johnson Space Center in July 2006 to serve as a Capsule Communicator (CAPCOM) in the Mission Control Center, Houston. He served as an International Space Station CAPCOM for Expeditions 15 to 20 and STS-122, 123, 124, 126 and 127. Vande Hei was a member of the 18th NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) expedition that spent nine days living and conducting research 62 feet below the surface in Florida International University's Aquarius Reef Base undersea research habitat off the coast of Key Largo, Fla. They investigated tools, techniques and technologies that will benefit spacefarers aboard future International Space Station and long-duration exploration missions. "NEEMO 18 was a fantastic opportunity for me to participate in the development of technologies and techniques for future exploration," said Vande Hei. "That by itself would have been plenty, but on top of that I got to experience life in an environment that most of us don't get to experience as well as enjoy the company of some fantastic teammates, both on the crew and in the ground control and support team." [ANS thanks Kenneth N5VHO , ARISS and NASA for the above information.] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite operation from Isle of Mull Ten members of the Camb-Hams are returning to Grasspoint IO76EJ on Mull (IOTA EU-008) from May 15-21, 2015 as GS3PYE/P. They will be QRV with multiple stations on HF on 3.5-28MHz SSB, CW, RTTY and PSK with dipoles and verticals and up to 400W if necessary. VHF activity will be on 50MHz, 70MHz and 144MHz, all bands QRO with sizeable antennas. VHF will be mainly QRV using JT6m or ISCAT on 50MHz, FSK441 on 70MHz and FSK441 and JT65b (for EME) on 144MHz, but SSB and CW is also possible, especially in any sporadic E propagation openings. Other modes by agreement. Satellite operations on 2m & 70cm will use an Icom IC-910 and X-Quad antennas mounted on a fully automatic AZ/EL tracking system. If internet connectivity allows, the VHF operators will monitor ON4KST Chat for terrestrial activity and N0UK JT65 chat for EME. You can submit your VHF sked requests online here: http://tiny.cc/gs3pyesked The team will be QRV in the 80m CW CC event on the 21st and in the 144MHz contest on the 16th and 17th. They may do very short side trips to Iona and the Treshnish Islands and will announce these nearer the time on the website. Please QSL only via OQRS on ClubLog for direct or bureau cards. Do not send any cards direct or via the bureau. For the latest info see http://dx.camb-hams.com/ http://twitter.com/g3pye http://facebook.com/CambHams http://youtube.com/CambHams [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Vote to Name the Next United Launch Alliance Rocket United Launch Alliance (ULA), is asking America to help name its next rocket, calling on citizens to play a role in the future of space launch by voting for the name of the new rocket that will be responsible for the majority of the nation's future space launches. For the next two weeks, the public can vote for its favorite rocket name - Eagle, Freedom, GalaxyOne, Vulcan or Zeus - with the results being announced on April 13 along with the design and components of ULA's innovative, next- generation rocket. The top three names were selected from more than 400 names submitted by ULA's 3,400 employees and space enthusiasts earlier this year. ULA employees - rocket scientists, engineers and patriots - will design and build this rocket with the first flight expected in 2019. In order to vote for America's next rocket, voters can visit the website from March 23 to April 6: http://bit.ly/rocketvote. Voters can also text 22333 to submit a vote for their favorite name. The following key can be used to text a vote: . ULA1 for "Eagle" . ULA2 for "Freedom" . ULA3 for "GalaxyOne" . ULA4 for "Vulcan" . ULA5 for "Zeus" (Text and data rates may apply.) [ANS thanks the United Launch Alliance 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, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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UT1FG/MM Status
by John Papay 28 Mar '15

28 Mar '15

Yuri is at anchor in the Columbia River. He expects to go into Longview on 2April and leave port on 5April. I'm not sure if he will operate while at anchor. He will be mailing some qsl cards. 73, John K8YSE

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WD9EWK @ DM51/52 now
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 28 Mar '15

28 Mar '15

Hi! I am on the DM51/DM52 line in southeastern Arizona, looking to work some AO-7 & FO-29 passes over the next couple of hours. I am thinking of moving north to DM53, or maybe the DM52/DM53 line, for passes starting with SO-50 at 0025 UTC. I am posting updates on my Twitter feed http://twitter.com/WD9EWK and my location is visible on APRS http://aprs.fi/WD9EWK-9 Hope to work lots of stations out here today! 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

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France (IN94) on FO29
by Michel F6GLJ 28 Mar '15

28 Mar '15

Hello. I'll be on FO-29 from 18:21 to 18:31 TU. Good footprint for qso between France and north east of USA and east of Canada. 73 qro de Michel F6GLJ

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southern california amsat nets
by Eric Fort 28 Mar '15

28 Mar '15

http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/nets.php shows there to be an AMSAT net on 147.33 pl 131.8 at 1900 local Tuesdays. I tuned in from DM14gk and wasable to hit the repeater just fine but it seems no net to be found. What's up? is there or is there not an AMSAT net on K6BB/R and if so when? Eric

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SATPC32 Help needed
by wa7eth＠frontier.com 28 Mar '15

28 Mar '15

Somehow I have managed to clobber my SATPC32 application. I am tracking FO-29, SO-50, ISS, AO-7, and AO-73. The application "appears" to be tracking FO-29, AO-7, and AO-73 accurately (not sure, however) but I am positive it is not tracking the ISS or SO-50 accurately. The footprints are entirely different than what I show using other tracking websites. Any suggestions would be most appreciated as I need to get SATPC working with my FT-847. Thanks in advance and you are welcome to contact me off the BB at wa7eth(a)frontier.com.73'..Ed WA7ETH

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Skype and Cell Phones
by Clint Bradford 28 Mar '15

28 Mar '15

I have experienced the phenomenon at conferences ... Gordon West reported the phenomenon this week on Ham Nation: Using WiFi devices while using WiFi for a Skype conversation can "interact" with each other - and cause Skype to drop out. Clint Bradford

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Battleship Iowa WILL Be On Satellite for Field Day 2014
by Jim Jerzycke 28 Mar '15

28 Mar '15

OK, everybody, we have approval to overnight and operate Field Day from the Battleship Iowa! I'll be operating as NI6BB from the aft deck using the same gear I've used for the K6AA FD operations I've done in the past. We're in DM03ur, and I will personally QSL 100% to all operators I work, so here's a chance to not only get DM03, but also a nice NI6BB card. I'll be setting up my sat station in the back yard in the next week or two to make sure everything works, so DM03 will be activated then, too. 73, and hope to work many of you on Field Day! 73, Jim KQ6EA

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Re: [amsat-bb] Whole Orbit Data
by Joe Fitzgerald 27 Mar '15

27 Mar '15

Dave, Whole Orbit Data refers to data collected on board the spacecraft for an entire orbit and downloaded later. This is said to distinguish from telemetry data received in real time - covering only that portion of the orbit in range of the ground station. This lets controllers know what happened while the spacecraft was out of communication, e.g. over the South Pacific. -Joe KM1P

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Whole Orbit Data
by Dave Marthouse 27 Mar '15

27 Mar '15

I've heard the term talked about over the years. I know it refers to satellite telemetry. What exactly is whole orbit data? -- Dave Marthouse N2AAM dmarthouse(a)gmail.com

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Weekend rover activity: KG5CCI/P, EM3x grids
by Clayton Coleman 27 Mar '15

27 Mar '15

As seen on his Twitter feed earlier today, KG5CCI has announced plans to visit some grids in the upper EM3x field over the weekend and operate satellites: EM36 AO73 03-29-15 1619Z EM37 FO29 03-29-15 2052Z EM38 FO29 03-29-15 2237Z EM38 SO50 03-29-15 2313Z EM38 SO50 03-30-15 0152Z EM37 FO29 3-30-15 1959Z EM36 FO29 3-30-15 2142Z EM35 SO50 3-30-15 2338Z He stated some of these were work-schedule-dependent. Good luck & 73 Clayton W5PFG

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Skype and Cell Phones
by Clint Bradford 27 Mar '15

27 Mar '15

>> ... if Skype is on I can not post to the LIVE OSCAR status page ... Possibly your computer/tablet is using WiFi, and a cell phone in the house is "competing" with it ... Clint K6LCS

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Skype Interference?
by Clint Bradford 27 Mar '15

27 Mar '15

>> ... if Skype is on I can not post to the LIVE OSCAR status page ... Possibly your computer/tablet is using WiFi, and a cell phone in the house is "competing" with it ... Clint K6LCS

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France (IN94) on FO-29
by Michel F6GLJ 26 Mar '15

26 Mar '15

Hello. I'll be on FO-29 for next pass (to 18:27 from 18:35), good footprint for north east of USA and Canada. 73 qro de Michel F6GLJ

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Re: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 + DST
by Wayne Estes 26 Mar '15

26 Mar '15

Sorry about the nonsensical subject line on the previous message. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik

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Re: [amsat-bb] AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 10, Issue 96
by Wayne Estes 26 Mar '15

26 Mar '15

W4CX wrote: It appears to me that either SatPC32 does not handle Daylight Savings Time correctly or I missed a setting somewhere. My passes show to be an hour late, when compared with HamRadioDeluxe. If I disable DST on my Win7 OS, the tracks are in agreement. I'm running V12.8c. What am I missing? W9AE replies: The most likely explanation is that you changed the UTC Offset (in the SatPC32 Observer Setup menu) from "auto" to your local time zone. You probably set the UTC Offset to UTC-5, which makes the time one hour off during Daylight Savings Time. If you manually set the UTC Offset, you will need to set it to UTC-4 during daylight savings and UTC-5 during standard time. It's best to use the default UTC Offset of "auto". Then SatPC32 obtains the UTC Offset from the Windows operating system, which automatically adjusts when Daylight Savings comes and goes. Go into the Observer Setup menu and enter "auto" (without quotes) for the Offset. For this to work correctly, your time zone must be correct in the Windows Date and Time control panel. I know the "auto" UTC Offset feature well because I requested it many years ago after having the same problem you reported. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik

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Oscar status page
by Terry 26 Mar '15

26 Mar '15

Has anyone had any trouble with the Live OSCAR Satellite Status Page at http://oscar.dcarr.org/index.php? Every time I try to post to it it tells me I did not select a satellite or status report. (which I did). It was working fine for me a week ago. Terry Halladey AF7W - EL98ol --- This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. http://www.avast.com

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SatPC32 + DST
by W4CX 26 Mar '15

26 Mar '15

Apologies if this is not the correct forum for SatPC32 questions. It appears to me that either SatPC32 does not handle Daylight Savings Time correctly or I missed a setting somewhere. My passes show to be an hour late, when compared with HamRadioDeluxe. If I disable DST on my Win7 OS, the tracks are in agreement. I'm running V12.8c. What am I missing? Thanks. Darrell W4CX

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Re: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 + DST
by W4CX 26 Mar '15

26 Mar '15

Hi Dave, Yes, I backup and shutdown every night. From: Dave Webb KB1PVH [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2015 10:54 AM To: W4CX Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 + DST Darrell, Have you shut SatPC32 down and restarted it since the time change? I noticed when we had the time change that my time was off by an hour until I closed it and fired it back up. Dave-KB1PVH Sent from my Samsung S4

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SatPc32 Help
by Michael A. Foster 26 Mar '15

26 Mar '15

Hello All, I am trying to add AO-73 to SatPc32 so I can have CAT. I have added the following line to the doppler.SQF file AO-73,145955,435145,USB,LSB,REV,0,0 and am unable to get it to work.. I have successfully operated CAT with SO-50 and FO-29.. Thank-you, Michael A. Foster – N8iup

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N0JY & AMSAT on Twitter
by Clayton Coleman 25 Mar '15

25 Mar '15

There is a lot of exciting activity around the Fox satellites on Twitter from both AMSAT's and N0JY's feeds. @amsat and @n0jy If you are not following them, you're missing out on some great photos. I do believe it is being relayed to Facebook. 73 Clayton W5PFG

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UT1FG/MM Update
by John Papay 25 Mar '15

25 Mar '15

Yuri has decided to run the 130 degree west longitude grid line and is headed there now. He should be on the line around 1824utc (CN52/CN42). He thinks that some will not understand the exchange which would include two grids and wanted this info disseminated widely to avoid confusion and questions during qso's. He will run the line all the way to CN56/46. Plans subject to change. Based on previous posts I know that not everyone trying to make contact with Yuri reads the amsat-bb and/or the starcom-bb. Please share this information with your friends that might not subscribe or read it on the website(s). Please do not ask for a repeat of the grid square(s). Just listen to the other contacts if you think you did not copy something correctly. I will be receiving GPS photos for documentation. Computer controlled navigation systems on the ship will keep it on the line. Yuri should be waiting to go into port off the coast of Oregon at the Columbia River around 3/28-29. He will be in port for a few days. Plans are to sail back to the Panama Canal but along the coast this time. Hopefully this will result in many west coast grids needed for working all 488 Continental USA grids on satellite. 73, John K8YSE

1 0

FT736R cable
by ingejack＠cox.net 25 Mar '15

25 Mar '15

Need to know what USB cable that FT736R users are using to connect their computer and SATPC32 with. It calls for a RS232 TTL cable but need to know what company and cable descrition they are using if possible., Thanks for any help !! Jack/KC7MG

6 6

France (IN94) on AO-07B
by Michel F6GLJ 24 Mar '15

24 Mar '15

I'll be on AO-07B during next pass, good footprint for NA - France QSO. Hope meet you. 73 qro de Michel F6GLJ

1 0

IC-9100 vs FT-847
by Richard Lawn 24 Mar '15

24 Mar '15

I'm always considering new ways to upgrade my stations both at home and at our summer QTH where I have been using the 847. I phased this out of the home station when I got a Flex500A with the V/U module. It of course works very well. I'd be interested in any comments about the IC-9100 as a possible upgrade for my older 847, particularly from users familiar with both radios. I don't have a lot of room in the vacation home shack so keeping things simple with an all-in-one makes good sense. 73s Rick, W2JAZ

1 0

antennas and radios for that which is presently on orbit (or soon will be)
by Eric Fort 24 Mar '15

24 Mar '15

I've been looking at getting setup to use those oscars over which one can actually communicate via sound, spoken words, voice, etc. in real time. I have little to no interest in listening to/for things that simply take bandwidth to go beep beep or even send telemetry. I'm not really interested in packet either. (there's enough terrestrial APRS coverage that I really have no need for APRS sat coverage either.) So given what is presently or soon will be operational, are there any transponders (fm or linear/ssb) that I would be unable to work with 2 M2 eggbeater antennas (1 each for 2M & 70cm) and a TS-2000X multimode radio, possibly with the addition of a good low noise preamp for each band? does anything on orbit or planned really require the use of directional high gain antennas and a rotator to use effectively, or should the above be expected to be suitable for sat work for the foreseeable future given my interests? (yes, I know many sats can be worked with an HT and directional antenna. I've done it. Now I'm looking to put something together that I can simply sit down and use, does not require doing a strange dance across the yard or a public park and having to explain to PD that I'm not a terrorist trying to contact space aliens...., and basically points and tunes itself over the period of a given pass with only minor if any adjustment other than keying and unkeying the mic.... eventually I'd like to possibly adapt this to mobile operation for use while driving. What operating would I NEED rotors and directional antennas?) Thanks, Eric AF6EP

3 3

Dayton
by Martha 23 Mar '15

23 Mar '15

AMSAT has a block of rooms for Dayton at the Country Inns & Suites in Beavercreek OH. A preference is given to AMSAT members who volunteer in the booth. If you are interested in booking a room, call Martha at 301-822-4376. I will need your name, daytime phone number, credit card number, expiration date and room nights. *VERY IMPORTANT* - The AMSAT office will be *closed from Thursday, April 2 - Monday, April 13th *(my birthday!) I will be unable to check email or phone messages so call before the 2nd or after the 13th. The cut-off date is April 20th. 73- Martha

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UT1FG/MM Request and Info
by John Papay 23 Mar '15

23 Mar '15

The pileups on Yuri have been growing and it is getting more difficult for him to make contacts. He has requested that you only work him once per grid so that he can work more stations. So if you work him in a grid on a FO-29 pass, please don't call him again on any satellite if he is in the same grid. This will give more stations a chance to get a new grid. He has been working on QSL cards and plans to do a mailing from the next port in Longview, WA. You may receive cards even if you didn't request them. 73, John K8YSE

1 0

UT1FG/mm
by Bob- W7LRD 23 Mar '15

23 Mar '15

What is the name of the ship UT1FG/mm is on, able to track on marine traffic site 73 Bob W7LRD

2 1

Friday Matching Funds Challenge
by Andrew Glasbrenner 23 Mar '15

23 Mar '15

Friday Challenge! Next $1200 for Fox-1C via https://fundrazr.com/campaigns/6pz92/ab/561Zd gets matched 100% by an anonymous donor! Make it count 2X! 73, Drew KO4MA AMSAT VP Operations

1 1

Antennas
by Clint Bradford 22 Mar '15

22 Mar '15

Several DIY projects - as well as a couple commercial units - suitable for portable sat work listed on the ANTENNAS page at ... http://www.work-sat.com From a unit made out of barbed wire ... or an old umbrella ... to one made from that steel tape measure in your junk drawer ... you can get into the world of high gain quite inexpensively. Heard AO-73 at both 30mW and higher power with a tape measure beam the past two Saturdays ... as well as speaking with an astronaut aboard the ISS with the same antenna with my HT turned down to 2W tx power. Clint Bradford

2 1

UO-11 Turned on
by Gustavo Carpignano 22 Mar '15

22 Mar '15

UOsat-2 turned on again. Strong signals over Buenos Aires, AR on 03-22, 02:00 UTC on 145.825 Mhz FM. Regards. Gustavo, LW2DTZ

5 4

Post-hamfest drive on Saturday (28 March) afternoon/evening
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 22 Mar '15

22 Mar '15

Hi! After the Tucson Spring Hamfest wraps up next Saturday, I am planning a drive to southeastern Arizona and some of the DM5x grids that straddle the Arizona/New Mexico border. This is an area I visit once or twice a year. Dale KL7R was also out in this area a couple of months ago, but I'm sure anything out there would be new to someone looking to work those grids for their satellite logs. Based on feedback I've received via Twitter and e-mails, I am tentatively planning the following... 1. DM51bx/DM52ba, starting with AO-7 (it should be in mode B) at 2048 UTC, possibly through the SO-50 pass at 0025-0034 UTC. This location is on 32 degrees North latitude, the boundary between grids DM51 and DM52, near US-191 and south of I-10 in Cochise County AZ. It takes just over an hour's drive from Tucson to get to this area, which should be good enough to make that AO-7 pass. 2. Somewhere in the southwest corner of DM53, or possibly the DM52ax/DM53aa grid boundary along US-70, northwest of Safford in Graham County AZ. US-70 travels through the southwest corner of DM53, on the way from Safford in DM52 up to Globe and the east end of the Phoenix area in DM43. At a minimum, I would look to work the ISS pass around 0352 UTC and the AO-73 pass at 0430 UTC from this area. I probably would not stay for any later passes from this spot, as the drive from DM53 back to Phoenix takes almost 3 hours. The drive from DM51bx/DM52ba to DM53aa takes about 90 minutes, so I don't think I could work one SO-50 pass from DM51bx/DM52ba and make it to DM53 for the next SO-50 pass. One advantage for an earlier departure from DM51bx/DM52ba is to have some daylight when I reach DM53, to find a good (and safe) spot to operate from, and have at least one SO-50 pass to work from DM53. While on the road, my location should show up on APRS as WD9EWK-9. APRS coverage is OK in that part of rural Arizona. This should be visible on sites like APRS.fi: http://aprs.fi/WD9EWK-9 I will also use my @WD9EWK Twitter feed to send updates while on the road. High-speed data from the mobile networks isn't always available in that part of Arizona, but I can use Twitter via SMS messages. If you do not use Twitter, you can still see these updates in a web browser at: http://twitter.com/WD9EWK QSOs will be uploaded to Logbook of the World after I'm back home. QSL cards will be available as usual, by e-mailing me with the QSO details. No need to send me cards for QSOs in these locations, as they fall well outside my 200km satellite VUCC limit for my QSOs in and around Phoenix. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

1 0

Tucson (Arizona) Spring Hamfest, Saturday 28 March
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 22 Mar '15

22 Mar '15

Hi! After yesterday's hamfest in Scottsdale AZ, I am off to another hamfest next Saturday (28 March) morning. This will be the Tucson Spring Hamfest, sponsored by the Radio Society of Tucson. The hamfest is at the Golden Corral, east of Columbus Blvd. on 22nd Street, east of downtown Tucson. This hamfest is a half-day event, starting before sunrise and wrapping up by midday. More information about the hamfest is available in the PDF file at: http://rstclub.org/media/articles/2015_RST_Hamfest.pdf AMSAT will have a table at the hamfest. WD9EWK will be on the air for demonstrations of satellite operating during the hamfest. Most of those will be early in the morning, but hopefully AO-73 will have its transponder on for additional demonstrations later in the morning. I will also try to make QSOs on ISS passes using APRS messages from the hamfest. QSOs made during the hamfest will be uploaded to Logbook of the World. If you work WD9EWK next Saturday and want a QSL card, please e-mail me with the QSO details. No need to send your card or an SASE to get my card, if you're in the log. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK

1 0

ANS-018 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Joseph Spier 22 Mar '15

22 Mar '15

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-018 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: * Fox-1A Launch Date * Most Current ISS Keps * NASA Cubesat Simulators Intern Opportunities Summer 2015 * AESP-14 CubeSat on ISS awaiting deployment * OGMS-SA CubeSat to provide FM Transponder * Call for Speakers and Papers for the 41st Eastern VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference * Dick Flagg, AH6NM, honored as Yasme Excellence Award Winner * Video of FUNcube-1 demonstration at IARU-R1 conference * AMSAT Events * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-018.01 ANS-018 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 018.01 >From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD. DATE January 18, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-018.01 ----------------------------------------------------- ---------------- Fox-1A Launch Date AMSAT has received a launch date for the Fox-1A satellite. Fox-1A will be launched on August 27, 2015 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California on the NROL-55 flight for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office. The launch time has not been announced. Fox-1A Operating Frequencies include: Uplink 435.180 MHz FM Downlink 145.980 MHz FM The AMSAT Fox series of satellites will include additional opportunities for launch during 2015-2016: + Fox-1B will fly with the Vanderbilt University radiation experiments expected in 2016. + Fox-1C* will launch on Spaceflight's maiden mission of the SHERPA multi-cubesat deployer during the 3rd quarter of 2015. + Fox-1D is a flight spare for Fox-1C. If not needed as a spare it will become available to launch on any open launch slot which becomes available and be submitted in a Cubesat Launch Initiative (CSLI) proposal in 2015. + Fox-1E is built as a flight spare for Fox-1B but has been included in a student science proposal as part of the November, 2014 CSLI for an ELaNa flight slot. If selected the Fox-1B spare will fly as Fox-1E. * The flight for Fox-1C has been purchased by AMSAT. It is not funded by the Cubesat Launch Initiative ELaNa program. Fund raising for the $125,000 launch costs for Fox-1C are underway. We have commissioned a unique challenge coin for donors who have contributed at the $100 level or higher. This challenge coin is shaped as an isometric view of a Fox-1 CubeSat, complete with details such as the stowed UHF antenna, solar cells, and camera lens viewport. Struck in 3mm thick brass, plated with antique silver, and finished in bright enamel, the coin is scaled to be approximately 1:4 scale, or 1 inch along each of the six sides. The reverse has the AMSAT Fox logo. You may donate at: + The AMSAT web site http://www.amsat.org + AMSAT's page on the FundRazr crowdsourcing web site http://fnd.us/c/6pz92/sh/561Zd + Or Call Martha at the AMSAT Office (888) 322-6728 [ANS thanks the Fox-1 Team for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------ Most Current ISS Keps AMSAT has been working on updating the keps for the ISS in a more timely manner. Joe Fitzgerald has confirmed that the AMSAT keps download site is now updated with the latest ISS data. Here is his comment: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/keps/current/nasabare.txt is updated daily at 11:18 UTC with TLE's from Spaceflight.nasa.gov http://tinyurl.com/ANS018-ISS-TRAJECTORY-DATA According to Joe Fitzgerald, "This is a very significant improvement and should be very helpful for this who need accurate keps for school contacts and other ISS activities." The bulletins remain on a weekly schedule with data from spacetrack.org The ARISS team suggests this information should be share accordingly. [ANS Thanks Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P, and ARISS for the above information.] ----------------------------------------------- ----------------------- NASA Cubesat Simulators Intern Opportunities Summer 2015 CubeSat Simulator Intern Opportunities in Greenbelt, MD USA The NASA Goddard Space Flight Center is offering an internship position for the Summer 2015 semester. Applications are being taken on the NASA One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI) recruiting web site. To search, go to: https://intern.nasa.gov --> Student Opportunities --> Internships --> and you are brought to a page with tabs. The opening tab HOME describes the main ground rules and schedule. Click the SEARCH OPPORTUNITIES tab and scroll to the very bottom. Enter Keyword in the box: "cubesat" without the quotes, then click the Search and then you will get a growing list of opportunities including the Cubesat Simulator, Cubesat Groundstation, and PICetSat Module & PCB Development. This brings the student to this page: https://intern.nasa.gov/ossi/web/public/guest/searchOpps/ Again, the Internship Titles are: o CubeSat Simulator Upgrade Plus o CubeSat Ground Station Development o PICetSat Module & PCB Development The objective of this Opportunity is to allow a university level student to rework, repair and improve a prototype "1-Unit" CubeSat simulator/model on loan from AMSAT and then to share his or her experiences as a result. The model used in this Opportunity is similar to that described in The AMSAT Journal article "Education With a Satellite Simulator: ETP CubeSat Simulator," by Mr. Mark Spencer, ARRL Education and Technology Program Coordinator, Part 1 in the the September/October 2009 issue and Part 2 in the November/ December 2009 issue. Back copies are available at: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/ETP/CubeSat/CubeSat-Pt1-SepOct09.pdfhttp://w… A course of study in engineering is required. Electrical/Electronics Engineering (EE) or Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) for university students in their junior class or higher. Experience in hardware is also required. Open to U.S. citizens. The immediate skills required of the intern are to be a well-rounded individual, and to have an excellent knowledge of and experience with Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office (especially in using spreadsheets), electrical and electronic circuits (theory and practice), microcontrollers, interfacing, and the use of basic laboratory test equipment and procedures. Familiarity with the CubeSat community is important. A proficiency in either C++ or a similar language for microcontrollers and the desire to learn a new one is necessary. A basic understanding of data acquisition, signal processing, or control is required. Hands-on experience in building something, repairing or upgrading PCs or other electronic gear, or just getting stuff to work is required. Mechanical and electrical construction skills will be used. Experience in RF or wireless technology (anywhere between 3 and 2400 MHz) is very important. Holding or obtaining an Amateur Radio license from the FCC and practical radio experience is a distinct advantage. A good attitude, an exceptional willingness to learn and to contribute as a team player are essential qualities. Likewise, excellent communicator skills (verbal, writing and definitely e-mail), reliability, punctuality, having a self-starter work ethic and the ability & desire to work independently for long periods are required. You may ask questions regarding the tasks and skill requirements with the mentor in advance (Mr. Pat Kilroy, Code 568, Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov) and telephone interviews will be available. The student application instructions provide a deadline of March 1 to apply, but mentors will start evaluating applications as soon as next week. The word to the wise is to get one's application in ASAP and certainly within the next three weeks! Applications must be made via the OSSI web. Please Be sure to enclose your callsign. https://intern.nasa.gov/ossi/web/public/main/index.cfm?sola rAction= view&subAction=content&contentCode=HOME_PAGE_INTERNSHIPS [ANS thanks NASA and Pat, N8PK for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- OGMS-SA CubeSat to provide FM Transponder The AESP-14 is a 1U CubeSat developed by undergraduate and graduate engineering students at the Technology Institute of Aeronautics (ITA) in Brazil. The satellite’s primary mission is to test the various subsystems in the space environment. The satellite was sent to the International Space Station (ISS) on January 10 by the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch and it is now awaiting release into space by the JEM orbital deployer (J-SSOD) at the Kibo Japanese module. The satellite has an amateur radio experiment developed by the Americana Amateur Radio Club (CRAM). The experiment consists of the random transmission of 100 sequences of ASCII characters prefixed with the “CRAM” word that will used as part of a contest among receiving stations. The first 10 amateur radio stations that complete receiving the 100 sequences will be awarded a commemorative diploma. A web site is being developed to collect the sequences. The site address will be announced shortly. AESP-14 will transmit with an RF power of 500 mW on 437.600 MHz using the 9600 bps G3RUH modulation (GFSK) and AX.25 UI framing. Radio amateurs are encouraged to send any telemetry frames received back to the team. Telemetry format and more information will be published in the project web site http://www.aer.ita.br/~aesp14 An update bulletin will be released as soon as the final launch date is announced by NASA. [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK and Edson, PY2SDR for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- OGMS-SA CubeSat to provide FM Transponder OGMS-SA is a 3U CubeSat being developed by students at the Paris-Est Creteil University as part of the QB50 constellation. The purposes of this CubeSat include upper atmosphere science; radio communication experiments; technology demonstrator; education, training and outreach. Additionally it will provide an FM voice transponder for amateur use. Planning is to use VHF uplink and UHF downlink with 9k6 FX25 GMSK modulation. A downlink of 437.545 MHz has been coordinated. OGMS-SA CubeSat http://www.esep.pro/-CubeSat-OGMS-SA-En-construction-.html Source IARU Satellite Frequency Coordination http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru QB50 CubeSat Launch Contract Signed http://amsat-uk.org/2014/01/28/qb50-cubesat-launch-contract-signed / [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- Call for Speakers and Papers for the 41st Eastern VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference Talks and papers, both long and short, are needed for the 41st Eastern VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference on April 17-19 2015 in Manchester, CT. Please tell us about what you have been working on: Operating, contesting, construction, homebrewing, microwaves. Please let Paul, W1GHZ, (w1ghz(a)arrl.net) know if you are considering a presentation or paper. A commitment by the end of February would be appreciated, with a deadline of 18 March. The conference organizers are also planning another Friday afternoon workshop. One suggestion is for an Antenna Modeling workshop. We could even do two simultaneous workshops - one for Antenna Modeling and something else for those who aren't computer-oriented. Any suggestions, please. Find additional details at http://www.newsvhf.com/vhfconf.html [ANS thanks Paul, W1GHZ for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- Dick Flagg, AH6NM, honored as Yasme Excellence Award Winner The Yasme Foundation Board of Directors has announced the recipients of several awards. The Foundation named four individuals to receive the Yasme Excellence Award for 2014. Honored as Yasme Excellence Award winners were: * Kimo Chun, KH7U, for 20 years of behind-the-scenes support to DXpeditions to Pacific entities -- including logistics, organization, equipment, local contacts, and planning. * Dick Flagg, AH6NM, for his years of working with the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) program and its predecessor Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX), and for supporting NASA's Radio Jove project, both designed to introduce Amateur Radio to students and the general public. * Florin Cristian Predescu, YO9CNU, and Lisa Leenders, PA2LS, for their work in organizing and promoting Youngsters on the Air (YOTA) and Amateur Radio youth activities. The Yasme Excellence Award is presented to individuals who, through their own service, creativity, effort, and dedication, have made a significant contribution to Amateur Radio in technical, operating, or organizational achievement. http://www.yasme.org/news_release/2014-01-07.pdf [ANS thanks ARRL Letter and YASME Foundation for the above information] ------------------------------------------- -------------------------- Video of FUNcube-1 demonstration at IARU-R1 conference Riaan Greeff ZS4PR has released a video of the demonstration of the FUNcube-1 (AO-73) CubeSat by Graham Shirville G3VZV to delegates at the IARU Region 1 Conference in September 2014. Mats SM6EAN has posted a brief report on the Swedish Amateur Radio Society (SSA) website about the FUNcube-1 CubeSat presentation at the IARU Region 1 General Conference in Varna-Albena, Bulgaria. The following is translated from the original Swedish post. After the session of the VHF, UHF and Microwave C5 Committee had completed the delegates were given two interesting presentations. Graham Shirville G3VZV did a poolside demonstration of the FUNcube-1 satellite which was launched in November 2013. Using a computer, FUNcube SDR dongle and a turnstile antenna, held by Kjetil Toresen LA8KV, he received FUNcube-1 and displayed the telemetry data on the computer screen. The satellite’s telemetry beacon on 145.935 MHz was also heard using a handheld SSB receiver. A presentation was also made about Hamnet which is being expanded, especially in Germany. Hamnet is a high-speed multimedia network and it was discussed whether and how IARU Region 1 could support the expansion of this network. Post by Mats SM6EAN in Swedish http://www.ssa.se/iaru-reg-1-dag-4/ FUNcube http://FUNc ube.org.uk/ FUNcube SDR Dongle http://FUNcubeDongle.com/ FUNcube Yahoo Group http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/yahoo-group/ Dashboard App – Telemetry Decoder http://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboa rd/ Data Warehouse – Telemetry Archive http://warehouse.funcube.org.uk/ Hamnet http://hamnetdb .net/ IARU Region 1 Conference documents and pictures http://iarur1con2014.bfra.bg/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- AMSAT Events Information about AMSAT activities at other important events around the country. Examples of these events are radio club meetings where AMSAT Area Coordinators give presentations, demonstrations of working amateur satellites, and hamfests with an AMSAT presence (a table with AMSAT literature and merchandise, sometimes also with presentations, forums, and/or demonstrations). * Friday and Saturday, 16-17 January 2015 – Cowtown Hamfest in Forest Hill TX (south of Fort Worth) * Saturday, 14 February 2015 – presentation for the Greater Los Angeles Mensa Regional Gathering 2015 in Los Angeles CA (Concourse Hotel at Los Angeles International Airport) * Friday and Saturday, 20-21 February 2015 – Yuma Hamfest in Yuma AZ (Yuma County Fairgrounds, 32nd Street between Pacific Avenue & Avenue 3E, south of I-8 exit 3) * Saturday, 7 March 2015 – Irving Amateur Radio Club Hamfest in Irving TX (west of Dallas) * Friday and Saturday, 13-14 March 2015 – Green Country Hamfest in Claremore OK (northeast of Tulsa) * Friday and Saturday, 20-21 March 2015 – Acadiana Hamfest in Rayne LA (west of Lafayette) * Saturday, 21 March 2015 – Weatherford Hamfest in Weatherford TX (west of Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex) * Saturday, 21 March 2015 – Scottsdale Amateur Radio Club Hamfest in Scottsdale AZ (northeast of Phoenix, near AZ-101/Princess Drive) * Saturday, 28 March 2015 – Tucson Spring Hamfest in Tucson AZ (22nd Street, east of Columbus Blvd.) * Friday, 3 April 2015 – presentation for the Associated Radio Amateurs of Long Beach in Signal Hill CA (Signal Hill Community Center) * Saturday TBD in early May 2015 – Cochise Amateur Radio Association Hamfest in Sierra Vista AZ * Saturday TBD in early June 2015 – White Mountain Hamfest in Show Low AZ * Friday and Saturday, 12-13 June 2015 – HAM-COM in Irving TX (west of Dallas) * Friday and Saturday, 7-8 August 2015 – Austin Summerfest in Austin TX [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- ARISS News + A direct contact with students at Richmond Heights Middle School and at BioTECH @ Richmond Heights High School in Miami, Florida, USA via W1HQL was successful Thu 2015-01-15 16:09:40 UTC 46 deg. Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti, IZ0UDF answered 12 questions for an audience of 400 students. RICHMOND HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL Richmond Heights Middle School opened its doors in 1963 in the Richmond Heights community in southwest Miami, Florida. The now 50 year old school, is located in a historic African American Community. An army captain by the name of Frank C. Martin believed it to be a wise investment as well as the right thing to do to establish a housing development in which Black veterans of WWII could purchase their own home. There are currently 636 students and a teaching staff of 41 faculty members. Along with its exemplary athletics program, full time gifted program, and Cambridge program, Richmond Heights Middle School offers a Zoology Magnet program to the students of Miami Dade County Public Schools. This is an extremely unique magnet program that is one of only three in the nation. The zoology magnet is a result of a partnership with Zoo Miami, the Zoological Society of Florida and Richmond Heights Middle School. It has been in existence since 1988. Students have the unique opportunity to visit the zoo to study the animals within their exhibits while engaging in STEM fields of study. BIOTECH @ RICHMOND HEIGHTS 9-12 HIGH SCHOOL BioTECH @ Richmond Heights 9-12 High School is the only Conservation Biology public magnet high school is the United States and boasts three campuses: our educational center at Richmond Campus, our Research Station at Zoo Miami, and our Botanical Outpost at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden. BioTECH provides students with a challenging and advanced level math and science curriculum focused on Conservation Biology that exposes them to rigorous STEM coursework as well as research opportunities with practicing scientists in state-of- the-art laboratories. In classes taken on-site at Zoo Miami, students study the human impact on biological diversity, making BioTECH the only school in the country to offer a full research and teaching facility within zoo grounds. Research experiences are offered in collaboration with the local zoo and the local research and botanic garden. BioTECH is currently home to 130 students that travel within the boundaries of a 467 square mile area to attend this unique school. The school opened its doors in August 2014 with a total of 8 faculty members, 7 support staff members, and an arsenal of practicing scientists and conservation educators from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Zoo Miami, Zoological Society of Florida, Everglades National Park, The Dumond Conservancy, and Biscayne National Park. 1. How would astronauts combat disease, say an accidental infection by a Salmonella culture, given the increased virulence of microbes in space? 2. What kind of work is the crew doing in support of the future missions to Mars? 3. We have a 3D printer in our school. What are the future implications of having a 3D printer on-board? What types of prints will you create? 4. Does experiencing a sunrise/sunset every 90 minutes change your sleep/wake cycles? 5. Do you feel physical exhaustion in space at the end of your work day? How long is your work day? 6. Without gravity, how do plants, such as Arabidopsis, determine orientation germination? Geotropism what do roots do? Do plants on the ISS grow in all different directions? 7. Do you feel stressed on the space station? How do you cope with stress on a space station and does it have more or less of an effect on your immune system in space? Measure muscle conditioning? 8. How are astronaut diets altered to accommodate the changes to the digestive system in microgravity? 9. All work and no play can be boring. What do you do for fun up in space? 10. How do you keep from feeling trapped in the space station? 11. What role did your education play in becoming an astronaut? 12. Which teacher influenced you the most in your life and why? Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule + A direct contact with high school students at Japanese Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) headquarters in Shibuya, Japan in connection with their “Masakame” event is scheduled for Sat 2015-01-24 14:21:04 UTC 56 deg. Japan’s NHK is televising a regular science program “Masakame” for young people. ("Masakame" means Good Heavens.) They are planning to offer a special program around the ARISS contact, which will be video recorded, and Amateur Radio satellites on air on February 28. The following contacts with RSØISS: + A direct contact with students in Kursk, Russia scheduled for Wed 2014-12-24 has been postponed until January. + A direct contact with students in Kursk, Russia scheduled for Thu 2014-12-25 has been postponed until January. No additional information has been provided. [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] ------------------------------------------- -------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over 73 on 73 Award #7 - EA4AYW Congratulations to Jorge Gallardo Sanchez, EA4AYW, for becoming the seventh recipient of the 73 on 73 Award. He submitted a list of 73 stations worked via AO-73 between September 1, 2014 and January 9, 2015. For more information on the award see http://amsat-uk.org/funcube/73-on-73-award/ [ANS thanks Paul, N8HM for the above information] ---------------------------------------------------- ----------------- /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive addi- tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Joe Spier, K6WAO k6wao at amsat dot org

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Modern Sat Equipment
by Clint Bradford 22 Mar '15

22 Mar '15

>> ... Clint, Thank you for your positive contribution to this discussion thread ... Heck, no need for "thanks." I've been positively contributing for more than ten years regarding "easily worked" birds ... a lot LESS time than many others here! Clint

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Modern Equipment Matrix
by Clint Bradford 22 Mar '15

22 Mar '15

The original poster named the message, " Modern Equipment Matrix." Why are we dredging up 20-year-old ancient rigs? (Grin)

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