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ANS-356 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 22 Dec '13

22 Dec '13

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-356 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: * Saudisat 1C, SO-50, Eleven Years in Orbit * NASA Space Life Sciences Training Program Applications Open * ISS Cooling Pump Repair Delays Cubesat Missions * Delfi-N3XT Update * AMSAT SKN on OSCAR 2014 in Memory of W2LV * Satellite Shorts SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-356.01 ANS-356 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 356.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. December 22, 2013 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-356.01 Saudisat 1C, SO-50, Eleven Years in Orbit Now known as SO-50, Saudisat 1C is a Saudi Arabian picosatellite that was launched by a Dnepr rocket from Baikonur at 17:00 UT on December 20, 2002. SO-50 features a "Mode J" FM amateur repeater operating on a 2M uplink and a 440 downlink. "Most hams already own the necessary equipment to work SO-50," reports long time AMSAT Area Coordinator Clint Bradford, K6LCS. "It is preferable to work SO-50 in true, full-duplex mode - so you can hear the downlink as you transmit. This means - for most - using a second radio or the Kenwood TH-D72A and its true full-duplex capability. SO-50's repeater is available to amateurs worldwide, and it uses a 67.0 Hertz PL tone on the uplink. SO-50 also has a 10 minute timer that must be armed before use. If you know the satellite is there - but there is nothing heard - you may need to shoot it a PL tone of 74.4 to turn it ON! The repeater consists of a miniature VHF receiver with sensitivity of -124dBm, with an IF bandwidth of 15 KHz. The receive antenna is a 1/4 wave vertical mounted in the top corner of the spacecraft. Its UHF transmitter is a mere 250 mW, and downlink antenna is a 1/4 wave mounted in the bottom corner of the spacecraft and canted at 45 degrees inward. "Hams just with Technician licenses can work the satellite," Clint continues. "We are talking about weak signals from 500 miles away - so improving both your TX and RX antennas is critical for success on this satellite." "Do not forget to accommodate for the Doppler phenomenon on the 440 receive side." [ANS thanks Clint, K6LCS, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA Space Life Sciences Training Program Applications Open The Space Life Sciences Training Program (SLSTP) provides undergraduate students entering their junior or senior years with professional experience in space life science disciplines. This challenging ten-week summer program is held at NASA's Ames Research Center in California's Silicon Valley. The primary goal of the program is to train the next generation of scientists and engineers, enabling NASA to meet future research and development challenges in the space life sciences. For more information, visit: http://spacebiosciences.arc.nasa.gov/slstp The SLSTP is an equal opportunity program. Admission is by competitive application process. U.S. Citizen undergraduate students who maintain a 3.2 or higher grade point average are invited to apply. Past student participants were selected for their merit, passion for space and desire to study space life science. Applications for the SLSTP will be submitted through NASA's One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI) website. Prospective applicants must pre-register for a student account and create an interest profile on the OSSI student login page. Links to the OSSI website are included on the SLSTP page (above). Although the application period for summer 2014 student internships closes on March 15, 2014, offers for positions may be made as early as Feb. 2, 2014. Students are encouraged to submit their applications early. Details about the 2014 SLSTP internship opportunities will be posted on the SLSTP website in December. [ANS thanks the NASA Ames Research Center for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ISS Cooling Pump Repair Delays Cubesat Missions The ARRL reports Expedition 38 Astronauts Mike Hopkins, KF5LJG, and Rick Mastracchio, KC5ZTE, will leave the confines of the International Space Station (ISS) December 21, 23, and 25 to repair a faulty cooling system pump. The malfunction has already caused the postponement of one Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school contact. It's unclear if the ISS problem will affect additional ARISS school contacts. Planet Labs CubeSat Constellation Also postponed is the shipment of four amateur radio 1U CubeSats LituanicaSAT-1, LitSat-1, ArduSat-2, UAPSat-1, the 915 MHz CubeSat SkyCube and 28 CubeSats (3U) from the company Planet Labs. The CubeSats were to have been sent to the ISS on an Orbital Sciences Antares-120 rocket on December 18 but this launch will not now take place until January. LituanicaSAT-1 with amateur radio FM transponder to deploy from ISS http://amsat-uk.org/2013/04/12/lituanicasat-1/ LitSat-1 amateur radio frequencies announced http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/11/litsat-1-amateur-radio-frequencies-announced/ ArduSat Open Source Ham Radio CubeSats http://amsat-uk.org/2013/08/09/ardusat-open-source-ham-radio-cubesats/ UAPSat-1 http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=210 SkyCube to use 915 MHz CubeSat Ground Station Network http://amsat-uk.org/2012/08/25/skycube-to-use-915-mhz-cubesat-ground-statio… network/ In the United States and a number of other countries 915 MHz is an Amateur Radio allocation. In the UK the regulator Ofcom plan to make 915-921 MHz license exempt http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/short-range-devices/ [ANS thanks ARRLL and AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Delfi-N3XT Update Delfi Nanosatellite Program Manager, Jasper Bouwmeester PC4JB, provides this update on the Delfi-n3Xt amateur radio satellite which was launched November 21 and carries a 435/145 MHz linear transponder. Dear radio amateurs, Today, December 19, we have switched from the ISIS transmitter (ITRX) to the Primary Transmitter (PTRX). This radio seems to have a significantly stronger signal, so it should be easier to receive telemetry. The frequency is a bit higher, 145.930 MHz so you will have to retune. I hope this will help some of the radio amateurs who had trouble in decoding Delfi-n3Xt. We have also put the S-band transmitter (STX) back in beacon mode on 2405.000 MHz. As the onboard patch antenna is however pointing in arbitrary direction, it is a matter of luck if it is pointed towards a ground station. In about 10% of the passes it should in theory be possible to receive the signal with a >2.5m dish, but I have to admit that it is only going to be fun to try to receive the signal for those people who like to be the first and have the proper equipment. Unfortunately we have not yet been able to make a new update of the DUDe client. The first issue we want to tackle for the new version is the frequency freeze. After a while, DUDe seems to lock itself at an edge of the band. Currently this means, that DUDe needs to be restarted before a pass. As temporary solution in case you want to track the satellite automatically, you may use an auto-mouse clicker to close and re-open DUDe. But I hope we will be able to fix this issue early next year. Finally, I would like to state that you may replay your SDR recordings a few times to increase packet decoding as our server can handle more load. Our statistics page however currently does not exclude doubles from a single radio amateur, so please keep in mind that the packet counts for the competition (more details early next year) will eventually be corrected for this. It will take a while though before we upgrade the statistics to exclude doubles from a single radio amateur. We are very happy if we receive more telemetry packets, but please don't exaggerate the amount of replays as there is not much more to be gained after a few attempts. Have a nice holidays and a prosperous 2014! 73, Jasper, PC4JB Telemetry reception http://www.delfispace.nl/operations/delfi-n3xt-telemetry-reception Delfi-n3Xt http://www.delfispace.nl/operations/radio-amateurs Dnepr Yasny launch http://amsat-uk.org/satellites/dnepr-november-2013/ [ANS thanks Jasper, PC4JB, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AMSAT SKN on OSCAR 2014 in Memory of W2LV You are cordially invited to participate in Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2014, sponsored by AMSAT for all radio amateurs throughout the world. Operate CW through any amateur satellite from 0001 through 2400 UTC on 1 January 2014, using a manual, non-electronic key. Note that bugs are now allowed, as they are in similar ARRL and SKCC events. There is no need to send in a log, but please nominate someone you worked for Best Fist. Your nominee need not have the best fist of those you heard, just of those you worked. Send your nomination to w2rs(a)amsat.org.. A list of those nominated will be published in early February. This year's event is being held in memory of Robert Morris (1902-1997), W2LV. Bob's amateur and professional career in radio literally spanned the era from spark to satellite. One of the first to work across the Atlantic in 1923, he also received Satellite DXCC No. 2 in 1979. Bob was featured in the PBS-TV documentary, "Empire of the Air." [ANS thanks Ray, W2RS, for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts + LITHUANIA, LY. Vilmantas, LY3BY is QRV as LY2013SAT until December 24 to commemorate the first Lithuanian nano-satellite LituanicaSAT-1. QSL via LY3BY. (ARLD050 DX news) + Tochigi Science Lion Project was successful. 15 students asked their question to Koichi. Koichi answered all equations. 2 or 3 answers were very weak signal. 280 people where in the audience including media representatives from TV, Radio and Newspapers (ARISS) + Roland PY4ZBZ reports that the CAPE-2 amateur radio CubeSat responded to a "Send Text to Speech" command with "Hello P Y 4 Z B Z" in the voice of Darth Vader. Listen to the recording at http://tinyurl.com/PY4ZBZ-Cape-2-Darth-Vader [ANS thanks Everyone 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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ISS EVA #1 Successful
by Clint Bradford 21 Dec '13

21 Dec '13

Now THAT was truly "reality TV." Astronauts finished a little ahead of time, and are both back in the air lock aboard the ISS. Clint ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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tle repair program
by Jim White 21 Dec '13

21 Dec '13

Does anyone know of a program that will 'repair' tle's so they have the right format, spacings, checksums, etc. to assure they will read into various tracking programs? Jim jim(a)coloradosatellite.com

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help with antenna
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 21 Dec '13

21 Dec '13

I am looking for someone with antenna system that I use as a reference to check the performance of my antenna. If you have an antenna that you can tell me what receive level you have at your station when receiving a beacon on UHF and VHF please contact me off list Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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PCSAT32 and Yaesu 5500 rotator (NEWBIE)
by Peter Wilson 21 Dec '13

21 Dec '13

Hi All, I am planning to get started on the linear satellites and have bought a G5500 rotator and two Wimo antennas for 2/70. Before I put the rotator onto the roof I have been using it in the shack to make sure it does what it should. However when I get overhead passes, with the Flip 180 feature turned on, the rotator doesn't take the antenna over the top, it still stops at the maximum elevation and then turns to the new azimuth (not sure I explained that very well). Also, I have set SATPC to A+ hoping that the software would automatically switch to the next satellite - it doesn't. What am I doing wrong guys? Is there a friendly operator in the Hertfordshire area of the UK I can make contact with? Thanks in advance Peter

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SpaceX And Orbital Launches Rescheduled For Next Month
by B J 21 Dec '13

21 Dec '13

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/12/antares-cygnus-mission-to-iss-delaye… http://www.parabolicarc.com/2013/12/20/spacex-orbital-launches-slip-january/ http://www.americaspace.com/?p=47039 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Setup Complications
by Joel Black 21 Dec '13

21 Dec '13

This is not going as smoothly as I had anticipated (does anything ever go as anticipated?). I had initially planned on using my Arrow II antenna without the diplexer and an old Alliance U-110 rotor. As you'll read below, that doesn't look like it will happen anytime soon. Even though the group was helpful trying to get the Alliance U-110 rotor controller synced (sunc?) up, It does not work reliably. It will turn in one direction, but not the other. I do not have the money to send the controller off for repair and Norm doesn't repair the U-100's and -110's. I could buy one from him, but again, that's money that isn't in the budget. After this issue, I took the controller apart and after a couple of hours, I finally get it to step in one direction correctly, but I cannot get it to go in the opposite direction. Shorting the shaft to the contacts in the controller rotates the rotor correctly so I am fairly certain the rotor is good - I have a controller issue. The online diagrams show a blow-up of the parts, but not now to correctly put it back together (there is a tab on the back of the black dial face and I'm not sure where that or the contacts on the actual geared dial go. I'm going to reluctantly email Norm and ask him, but he does this as a business and I don't want to interfere with that. In the past, he has been nice enough to offer advice though. I'm still playing with it and it hasn't "whooped" me yet. For now, I do *not* have a rotor I can use. I am looking at purchasing another controller if I'm too stupid for Norm to help ;) . They're fairly cheap on the "Bay of E." Without a reliable rotor, my pursuit has led me to QFH and Lindenblad antennas. Which of the two would be the better performer? I have found the pages with build instructions, but what do folks here think. I know they will be poor performers compared to CP yagis, I'm not looking for that comparison. I understand they're omni antennas with CP. I'm okay with that. I realize I'm not concentrating all of my RF in a narrow beam width. That's okay too. Yep, I will be disappointed. I'm disappointed now with the rotor controller. :) I had initially thought that I'd put whatever I got inside the attic. With an omni, that probably wouldn't be prudent. I have enough coax for two runs to the chimney about 60' away. So, any thoughts comparing the QFH to the Lindy? Again, thanks for all the help getting me going again. 73, Joel - W4JBB

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Mystery Satellite Question
by Dave Marthouse 20 Dec '13

20 Dec '13

I forgot that one of the rigs here was on. It happened to be set for 145.825mHZ in FM. A few minutes ago the squelch was broken by what sounded like 1200BPS AFSK. It almost sounded like the old UOSATS. Checking my satellite tracking program I determined it wasn't CAPE-2, TRITON-1 or DELFIN3XT. What birds are up now that have downlinks on or around 145.825mHZ fm? Maybe I have a set of erroneous keps. Any information on this would be appreciated. Dave Marthouse N2AAM dmarthouse(a)gmail.com

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How I deal with Keps and SatPC32, new birds, etc.
by Mark L. Hammond 20 Dec '13

20 Dec '13

Okay, so here is what I do to help with Keps and SatPC32: First, get a Space Track account https://www.space-track.org/auth/login Second, get TLE Retriever 3 working manually. http://www.celestrak.com/SpaceTrack/TLERetriever3Help.asp Then, use a batch file like this one to combine numerous files into one--and copy to the correct location in SatPC32. You can select amateur3.txt as the source for keps, and the new birds, cubesats, etc. are all in one big file. I call it updatekeps.bat and have Windows run every nite in the wee hours of the morning as a scheduled event. You can also run the .bat file manually Edit paths/folders/usernames to match your system!!!! ____________________________ c: cd\Hamstuff\TLERetriever3 TLERetriever3.exe -auto copy "C:\Users\hammond\Documents\My TLEs\CelesTrak\amateur.txt" + "C:\Users\hammond\Documents\My TLEs\CelesTrak\tle-new.txt" + "C:\Users\hammond\Documents\My TLEs\CelesTrak\cubesat.txt" "C:\Users\hammond\Documents\My TLEs\CelesTrak\amateur3.txt" copy "C:\Users\hammond\Documents\My TLEs\CelesTrak\amateur3.txt" "C:\Program Files\SatPC32 12.7\Kepler" _______________________________ This is not a tutorial and comes with no support. But maybe it will inspire somebody...makes my life easier! 73, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Adding AO-73 to SATPC32 and Nova for Windows
by Les Rayburn 20 Dec '13

20 Dec '13

I've been off the air since before Thanksgiving, due to an impossible work and personal schedule. Things are slowing down now, and I'd really like to work some contacts through A0-73. Can someone walk me through adding A0-73 to SATPC32? I'd like to keep it within the group of satellites that are in the "amateur.txt" Kep file if possible. Ditto for adding it to Nova for Windows. I know that someone posted instructions like this shortly after the satellite was launched, but it appears that the object number and keps may be out of date now? I'd like to install the new bird with the latest information. Thanks for helping the newbie! -- -- 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf 6M VUCC #1712 AMSAT #38965 Grid Bandits #222 Southeastern VHF Society Central States VHF Society Life Member Six Club #2484 Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light

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Re: Adding AO-73 to SATPC32 and Nova for Windows
by Wayne Estes 20 Dec '13

20 Dec '13

Adding AO-73 in SatPC32 is very simple if you use AMSAT's keps file called nasa.all. This file contains the AO-73 Keps together with the Keps for all the other active ham satellites. The satellite names are already in the familiar format. You can assign AO-73 to one of the 12 quick-access "letters" on the lower right corner of the main SatPC32 screen. If you have an unassigned letter, open the "Satellites" menu and simply double-click AO-73 in the "Available" list, and AO-73 will be assigned to the next unused letter in the "Selected" list. Paste the following text into the Doppler.SQF text file. Open the file directly from the SatPC32 program using the menu "?" -> Auxiliary Files -> Doppler.SQF. AO-73,145934.0,,USB,,,,TLM AO-73,145960.0,435140.0,USB,LSB,REV,,, Transponder Then you're all set to go. With Doppler.SQF text as specified above, the program will default to the beacon. To switch to the transponder you need to click the CAT menu and select the transponder data line. If you reverse the two AO-73 lines in Doppler.SQF the program will default to the transponder instead of the beacon. Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik

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ARRL Centennial QSO Party - Satellite Operations
by Rolf Krogstad 20 Dec '13

20 Dec '13

FYI - I have submitted my request to the local decision-makers to be active as W1AW/0 from Minnesota. I have not heard back yet. It would be for some time between Jan. 29 and Feb. 4th. 73 Rolf NR0T Grid EN34it ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Paul Stoetzer <n8hm(a)arrl.net> To: "amsat-bb(a)amsat.org" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Cc: Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2013 16:41:09 -0500 Subject: [amsat-bb] ARRL Centennial QSO Party - Satellite Operations Does anyone have plans to be active on the satellites as W1AW/X? First up is W1AW/4 in North Carolina and W1AW/8 in West Virginia for the week of January 1st. Contact your state/territory/district's hosts and get W1AW portable operations on the birds for this year long event! I'll be activating W1AW/3 in the District of Columbia on the birds during the week of July 2nd and I'll be posting detailed operating plans as that week approaches. 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Washington, DC

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Alliance U-110 (Maybe U-100) Sync
by Joel Black 19 Dec '13

19 Dec '13

I've got an Alliance U-1xx (not sure which, I thought it was labeled, but I cannot find it). Reading an online manual says if the light stays on after rotating, the rotor and control box should be re-synced and to follow the instructions on the bottom of the control box. I don't have those instructions. Does anyone know how to re-sync this rotor? Thanks, Joel - W4JBB

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Link to list of state coordinators - ARRL Centennial QSO Party
by Paul Stoetzer 19 Dec '13

19 Dec '13

Forgot to include the list of coordinators! http://www.arrl.org/files/file/On%20the%20Air/Copy%20of%202014CentennialQSO… And detailed information about the QSO party: http://www.arrl.org/centennial-qso-party 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Washington, DC

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Re: Confirm Message (Moderator please help??)
by Joe Leikhim 19 Dec '13

19 Dec '13

Bruce; I sent a message to paul, but no answer. Not even sure any messages from amsat.org are getting to me at all. On 12/16/2013 5:45 PM, Bruce wrote: > might you deal with the administrator, paul, kb5mu. i am sure talking > with him might be more fruitful than a lot of messages back and forth > on the amsat-bb. > > i am sure all it takes is one spam message sent to the bb and the > domain will be caught and treated as a spam site. > > 73...bruce > > Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone <http://overview.mail.yahoo.com?.src=iOS> > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From: * Joe Leikhim <rhyolite(a)leikhim.com>; > *To: * <APBIDDLE(a)MAILAPS.ORG>; <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>; > *Subject: * [amsat-bb] Re: Confirm Message (Moderator please help??) > *Sent: * Mon, Dec 16, 2013 9:44:17 PM > > I am still not receiving daily digests since Nov 26. Apparently > SPAMCOP has blacklisted it repeatedly. Who is the adminstrator for > AMSAT.ORG? > > ----- > www.amsat.org Whois: ISP University of California, San Diego > > 169.228.66.5 listed in bl.spamcop.net (127.0.0.2) > > If there are no reports of ongoing objectionable email from this > system it will be delisted automatically in approximately 23 hours. > > Causes of listing > > * System has sent mail to SpamCop spam traps in the past week (spam > traps are secret, no reports or evidence are provided by SpamCop) > * SpamCop users have reported system as a source of spam less than 10 > times in the past week > > Additional potential problems > (these factors do not directly result in spamcop listing) > > * Too many delisting requests were made. Next request might be allowed > after 5.0 days > > Because of the above problems, express-delisting is not available > Listing History > In the past 20.1 days, it has been listed 6 times for a total of 18.4 days > Dispute Listing > If you are the administrator of this system and you are sure this > listing is erroneous, you may request that we review the listing. > Because everyone wants to dispute their listing, regardless of merit, > we reserve the right to ignore meritless disputes. > Dispute listing of 169.228.66.5 > <http://www.spamcop.net/w3m?action=dispute;ip=169.228.66.5> > > ----- > > On 12/15/2013 6:42 AM, Alan wrote: > > Joe, > > > > This is a problem which has been around for some time, and is > getting worse. Small ISPs, and some > > larger ones, use spam control programs such as Spam Cop and Iron > Key. They have various ways of > > detecting spam sources, and these are blocked at the ISP level, so > you never see the messages sent to > > you. Unfortunately they block entire domains, such as AMSAT.ORG, > usually for 24 hours unless the > > block is reset. If your ISP is blocked, you have about a 50-50 > chance of getting a bounce message > > when you send a message. > > > > I have to get my internet from a small rural phone company, and > eventually had to give up on using > > their email. Their domain was frequently blocked, so I never knew > whether email would go through. > > When I found out about a problem, I could contact their tech people > who were good about fixing it, but > > the same thing might happen the next day. I finally moved to Gmail, > which is so huge no one would > > dare block them, and they have resources to handle incoming spam. > > > > 73s, > > > > Alan > > WA4SCA > > > > > > <-----Original Message----- > > <From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org <javascript:return> > > <[mailto:[email protected] <javascript:return>] On Behalf > Of Joe Leikhim > > <Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2013 8:01 PM > > <To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org <javascript:return> > > <Subject: [amsat-bb] Confirm Message (Moderator please help??) > > < > > > <problem sending the digest to my e-mail account. Can anyone > > <tell me if I am alone with this problem? I had another person > > <complain of bounces to my account. I really want to fix this > > <if I can. My ISP Inmotionhosting claims that dome other e-mail > > <servers are blocked globally due to spam. I have no idea how > > <to fix this. > > < > > > < > > < > > <"Your membership in the mailing list AMSAT-BB has been disabled due to > > <excessive bounces The last bounce received from you was dated > > <30-Nov-2013. You will not get any more messages from this list until > > <you re-enable your membership. You will receive 1 more reminders like > > <this before your membership in the list is deleted. > > < > > <To re-enable your membership, you can simply respond to this message > > <(leaving the Subject: line intact), or visit the confirmation page at" > > < > > <-- > > <Joe Leikhim > > < > > < > > <Leikhim and Associates > > < > > <Communications Consultants > > < > > <Oviedo, Florida > > < > > <JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com <javascript:return> > > < > > <407-982-0446 > > < > > <WWW.LEIKHIM.COM > > < > > <_______________________________________________ > > <Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <javascript:return>. Opinions expressed > are those of > > <the author. > > <Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur > > <satellite program! > > <Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > < > > > > -- Joe Leikhim > > > Leikhim and Associates > > Communications Consultants > > Oviedo, Florida > > JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com <javascript:return> > > 407-982-0446 > > WWW.LEIKHIM.COM > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org <javascript:return>. Opinions expressed > are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446 WWW.LEIKHIM.COM

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Triton-1 update #4 23 November 2013 08:30UTC - new Triton1 TLE available
by Wouter Jan Ubbels 19 Dec '13

19 Dec '13

Hi all, New TLE's for the DNEPR launch have been issued, we believe that Triton-1 is object M. 2013-066M 1 39427U 13066M 13326.98436826 -.00002391 00000-0 -39688-3 0 10 2 39427 97.7901 39.5474 0120424 185.3601 174.6374 14.64539763 201 Meanwhile, Triton-1 is still in nominal mode, transmitting AX.25 BPSK on 145.822MHz. Reception reports, especially in case the satellite is in safe mode (transmitting the safe mode CW beacon) are welcome! 73 on behalf of the team, Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ

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Delfi-n3Xt Update December 19 + UK CubeSat Forum
by M5AKA 19 Dec '13

19 Dec '13

Delfi-n3Xt Update December 19 - Frequency change http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/19/delfi-n3xt-update-december-19/ Also on the AMSAT-UK site: Announcing: The UK CubeSat Forum http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/19/announcing-the-uk-cubesat-forum/ 11th birthday of ham radio satellite SO-50 http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/19/11th-birthday-of-ham-radio-satellite-so-50/ Radio Hams to Repair Faulty ISS Pump http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/18/radio-hams-to-repair-faulty-iss-pump/ How high-altitude balloon missions stay on track http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/18/how-high-altitude-balloon-missions-stay-on-t… ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK website http://amsat-uk.org/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMSAT-UK/208113275898396 Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK ----

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DSTAR NET
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 19 Dec '13

19 Dec '13

Hello all D STAR AMSAT users net tonight @ 0200 UTC on REF60B.DX Stations welcomed. Merry Christmas WA4HFN Damon EM55

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SO-50's ELEVENTH Birthday!
by Clint Bradford 19 Dec '13

19 Dec '13

It is SO-50's ELEVENTH birthday! Read on for how YOU can celebrate! Now known as SO-50, Saudisat 1C is a Saudi Arabian picosatellite that was launched by a Dnepr rocket from Baikonur at 17:00 UT on December 20, 2002. SO-50 features a "Mode J" FM amateur repeater operating on a 2M uplink and a 440 downlink. "Most hams already own the necessary equipment to work SO-50," reports Clint Bradford, K6LCS, who maintains a Web site devoted to working amateur satellites with minimal equipment (http://www.work-sat.com). "It is preferable to work SO-50 in true, full-duplex mode - so you can hear the downlink as you transmit. This means - for most - using a second radio or the Kenwood TH-D72A and its true full-duplex capability. The new Puxing PX-UV973 is currently being tested in this mode, too, to see how it works on the satellites." SO-50's repeater is available to amateurs worldwide, and it uses a 67.0 Hertz PL tone on the uplink. SO-50 also has a 10 minute timer that must be armed before use. If you know the satellite is there - but there is nothing heard - you may need to shoot it a PL tone of 74.4 to turn it ON! The repeater consists of a miniature VHF receiver with sensitivity of -124dBm, with an IF bandwidth of 15 KHz. The receive antenna is a 1/4 wave vertical mounted in the top corner of the spacecraft. Its UHF transmitter is a mere 250 mW, and downlink antenna is a 1/4 wave mounted in the bottom corner of the spacecraft and canted at 45 degrees inward. "Hams just with Technician licenses can work the satellite," Clint continues. "We are talking about weak signals from 500 miles away - so improving both your TX and RX antennas is critical for success on this satellite." Plans for making tape measure beams and other inexpensive, high-gain antennas is also on his Web site. "Do not forget to accommodate for the Doppler phenomenon on the 440 receive side." Complete details - including frequency chart and sources for knowing when the satellite will be over your area, are also on Clint's Web site. /end/

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Re: Object IDs
by Rick Tejera 18 Dec '13

18 Dec '13

I'd thought that AO-73 had been confirmed as object 66B. has this been refined? I guess I need to update my settings in SATpc Rick Tejera Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amateur radio Club (K7TEJ) www.w7tbc.org -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Nico Janssen Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2013 7:00 AM To: Mike Rupprecht; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Object IDs Hi Mike, Thanks for the confirmation of the 'tbc's. This picture shows the measured doppler curve of an overhead evening pass of OSCAR 73, plotted against the calculated curves for objects 39444 and 39445. These objects were about 11 s apart (i.e. about 82 km). https://thumb5.wuala.com/previewImage/SharedInfo/Space/AO73_20131216.jpg/?ke y=IZKufoz9U1Uo Note the temperature related frequency drift on the beacon transmitter, which causes frequency deviations when using automatic doppler correction. To be able to create useful doppler curves it would help if all Cubesats would transmit a *continuous* carrier signal on a *constant* frequency... ;-) Still a lot of IDs are unknown. Of all the objects from the Minotaur launch, only three are officially identified: 39380 2013-064A STPSat 3 39388 2013-064J SENSE SV1 39392 2013-064N SENSE SV2 It is suggested that Cape 2 is object 39382 (2013-064C) and that KySat 2 is object 39383 (2013-064D). These are to be confirmed. 73, Nico PA0DLO On 2013-12-17 22:13, Mike Rupprecht wrote: > Thanks Nico, PA0DLO for pointing me in the rigth direction. I agree > with you the TLE for the cubesats: > > 39436 2013-066W Eagle 2 ($50Sat) ok > 39438 2013-066Y Velox PII ok > 39439 2013-066Z First-MOVE ok > 39440 2013-066AA CubeBug 2 ok > 39444 2013-066AE AMSAT-OSCAR ok :-) > 39445 2013-066AF HiNCube ? > 39446 2013-066AG UWE 3 ok > > Just made a deep analysis with the FunCube TLE (Object AE vs. AF). The > pass was not very high but every seconds I switched between the TLE AE and AF. > You can see a slightly differnce (only a few Hz) at TCA what leads me > to say > - your're right. FUNCube-1 seems indeed to be Object AE. > > http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?p=39682 > > > 73 Mike > DK3WN > > -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- > Von: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] Im > Auftrag von Nico Janssen > Gesendet: Dienstag, 17. Dezember 2013 14:32 > An: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Betreff: [amsat-bb] Re: Object IDs > > All, > > Further doppler measurements show that TshepisoSat (aka ZACube 1) is > object > 39417 (2013-066B) and AMSAT-OSCAR 73 (aka FUNCube 1) is object > 39444 (2013-066AE). Therefore HiNCube must be object 39445 (2013-066AF). > > It is not easy to get a good doppler curve with many Cubesats because > of the limited transmissions and because of the frequency drift of > their beacon transmitters. > > These object IDs from the Dnepr launch seem to be correct, although > some still need to be confirmed (tbc): > > 39416 2013-066A Aprizesat 7 > 39417 2013-066B TshepisoSat > 39418 2013-066C Skysat 1 > 39419 2013-066D Dubaisat 2 > 39421 2013-066F Unisat 5 > 39422 2013-066G STSat 3 > 39423 2013-066H WNISat 1 > 39425 2013-066K Aprizesat 8 > 39427 2013-066M Triton 1 > 39428 2013-066N Delfi-n3Xt > 39429 2013-066P Dove 3 > 39430 2013-066Q GomX 1 > 39431 2013-066R BRITE-PL > 39432 2013-066S HumSat D (tbc) > 39436 2013-066W Eagle 2 ($50Sat) (tbc) > 39438 2013-066Y Velox PII (tbc) > 39439 2013-066Z First-MOVE (tbc) > 39440 2013-066AA CubeBug 2 (tbc) > 39444 2013-066AE AMSAT-OSCAR 73 > 39445 2013-066AF HiNCube > 39446 2013-066AG UWE 3 (tbc) > > 73, > Nico PA0DLO > > > On 2013-12-01 16:25, Nico Janssen wrote: >> All, >> >> An update on the satellite IDs. >> >> Still no IDs are available for the satellites launched from the ISS >> (except TechEdSat 3P) and the Minotaur. >> >> Several IDs have been published for the objects from the Dnepr launch >> but many need to be confirmed. Still not all TLEs are released. >> >> AMSAT-OSCAR 73, ZACube 1 and HiNCube were launched from the same ISIPOD. >> As they initially were close together, the JSpOC decided to release >> only one TLE set for this cluster under object number 39417 >> (2013-066B). Now the distances between these satellites are slowly >> increasing. So the question is which satellite is object 39417. >> Detailed doppler measurements show that ZACube 1 is now about 25 s >> early compared to the TLE for object 39417, while OSCAR 73 is about >> 11 s early. This seems to indicate that object 39417 is actually HiNCube. >> Hopefully TLEs for OSCAR 73 and ZACube 1 will be published soon. >> >> 73, >> Nico PA0DLO >> >> >> On 2013-11-23 11:32, Nico Janssen wrote: >>> All, >>> >>> An overview of the presently known IDs for the satellites that have >>> been launched recently. >>> >>> ISS JSSOD Cubesat launches >>> 2013-11-19 12:18 UTC >>> 39412 1998-067DA Pico Dragon ? >>> 39413 1998-067DB ArduSat 1 ? >>> 39414 1998-067DC ArduSat X ? >>> To be confirmed when the objects have more separation. >>> 2013-11-20 07:58 UTC >>> 39415 1998-067DD TechEdSat 3P >>> >>> Minotaur 1, Wallops Flight Facility >>> 2013-11-20 01:15 UTC >>> ORS3 & ELaNa 4: 29 satellites >>> So far only 4 TLEs published. No IDs yet but probably: >>> 39380 2013-064A STPSat 3 >>> >>> Dnepr, Yasny >>> 2013-11-21 07:10:11 UTC >>> 32 satellites >>> 19 TLEs published >>> 39417 2013-066B FUNcube 1 >>> 39427 2013-066M Triton 1 >>> 39428 2013-066N Delfi-n3Xt >>> >>> Note that all designations may change later on. >>> >>> 73, >>> Nico PA0DLO >>> > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > 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. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > 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. Opinions expressed are those of the author. 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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CAPE-2
by PY5LF 18 Dec '13

18 Dec '13

Hi Cape-2 heard today 12:30 UTC over Brazil . https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcGMqaa8BPo 73 PY5LF Luciano Fabricio Curitiba-PR-BR GG54jm http://www.qrz.com/db/PY5LF

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help with cape ii
by Roland Zurmely 18 Dec '13

18 Dec '13

Today I gave several commands to set green mode, but he remained in pink ... He also responded to a Send Text to Spech command: http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/cape.htm#e 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ.

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*AMSAT* on Echolink
by Bruce 18 Dec '13

18 Dec '13

it appears that the conference *AMSAT* on Echolink is no longer working. you can still listen to the houston amsat net from our internet stream at http://www.amsatnet.com scroll down a bit on the main page. 73...bruce -- Bruce Paige, KK5DO AMSAT Director Contests and Awards ARRL Awards Manager (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE Houston AMSAT Net - Wed 0200z 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

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CAPE-2 spoke to me with the voice of Darth Vader!
by Roland Zurmely 18 Dec '13

18 Dec '13

Please see here, CAPE-2 responding to a "Send Text to Speech" command: "Hello P Y 4 Z B Z" http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/cape.htm#d 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ.

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satellite average elevation & new birds
by Ted 18 Dec '13

18 Dec '13

I'm kind of looking for an update from Bob, but can't find his email right now... But the question is, in view of what appears to be some renewed interest in working the new cube sats, et al, is asking Bob to comment on his earlier thoughts on using antennae at fixed elevations. For me, I'm using my Elk on a Rat Shack rotor at a fixed el per Bob's recommendations. (I'm still struggling with PCSAT32...!!!%^&*!!) but, this antenna set up is very cost effective and seems to perform pretty well. For example, Joel Black has asked for some advice in an earlier posting. My concern is that new operators or those returning run out and spend a bunch of $$$ on a new setup. No one knows how long the current crop will last or if a new crop is in the future, so probably some caution on the Visa is warranted. Just asking (and especially Bob) 73, Ted K7TRK -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)AMSAT.Org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bob Bruninga Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2011 8:23 AM To: amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: satellite average elevation > we used a horizontally polarized yagi fixed at 30 degrees above the > horizon. That worked very well.. Thanks for the confirmation. Yes, elevation rotation is simply not needed at all for LEO spacecraft and modest beams. A mild, fixed tilt modest beam is just perfect. But, the "30 degree" angle myth is very pervasive throughout amsat, whereas, the optimum angle is more like 15 degrees. A 30 degree up-tilt gives up too much gain (-3 dB!) on the horizon where signals are weakest and where satellites spend most of their time, and puts the gain in an area of the sky where the satellite is already 6 dB stronger and is rarely there (giving you max beam gain where you need it least). If you look at the sketches on the web page, the optimum angle is more like 15 degrees up-tilt. It preserves max gain on the horizon within 1 dB (where it is needed most) and focuses the breadth of its gain on the area of the sky where the satellites spend something like 95% of their time. For the missing 5%, the satellite is right on top of you and almost 10 dB stronger without any beam at all. Oh, and the 15 degree up-tilt beam is also perfect for Terrestrial operations as well. See the sketch on: http://aprs.org/rotator1.html In some future life, if we ever get back to HEO's and huge OSCAR arrays, then elevation rotors have a place. These high-gain beams have such narrow gain patterns, that higher precision tracking is a must. (Though it is complete overkill for LEO's). Using these OVERKILL arrays for LEO's adds significant complexity to LEO operation requiring higher precision tracking, elevation rotors, better timing, fresher element sets and automated operation. Using a TV rotator and 15 degree fixed tilt beam is much more forgiving... Bob, Wb4APR _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. 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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Returning Satellite User
by Joel Black 18 Dec '13

18 Dec '13

For whatever reason, I have gotten interested in amateur satellites again after being away for almost 10 years. I've gone through the last two months in the archives and I have a couple of things: 1. I saw some questions about the the K3. I have the K3 and the KX3 and do not know of a satellite app that will "talk" to them. Both use "a Kenwood" command set, but I do not know which. Thus far, I have not been able to get either SatPC32 or MacDoppler to talk to my K3. 2. I have access to an FT-847 I sold my father several years ago. This is the radio I used on the satellites when I was active. I had initially thought about buying the 2m transverter for the K3, but after talking to many users of that transverter and explaining what I wanted to and that I had access to the FT-847, it was advised that I go with the FT-847. 3. I have a 2m / 70cm QHTenna turnstile pair. I *also* have an Arrow 144/432 antenna. I think either pair will work well from my plywood-decked, shingle roof. I would like to use the Arrow, but (a) I don't have a good way to point it, and (b) I cannot find the gain. If memory serves, it has a fairly good gain around 4dB for 2m and 6 dB for 70cm. I don't know that there's any gain to the turnstiles, but at least I won't need a rotor for those. Any other advice here? 4. I also have the AG-25 2m preamp. I know the FT-847 will power this preamp. It is not quite as good as the DEM preamps, but it's what I have. Any suggestions here? I am really not interested in the FM satellites. I am very interested in the linear transponders - especially CW. Any CW ops out there? I'm still slow (13 - 15WPM), but I'm working on my speed. From what I've read, the linear transponders are on AO-7, FO-29 (I cut my teeth on FO-20), VO-52, and AO-73. It looks like AO-7 is both mode A and mode B, FO-29 is mode J, and both VO-52 and AO-73 are mode B. It sounds like there is really a lot to play with up there. 73, Joel - W4JBB

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ISS Repair EVAs Scheduled, Cygnus Launch Delayed
by B J 17 Dec '13

17 Dec '13

http://www.nasa.gov/press/2013/december/nasa-postpones-orbital-launch-sets-… http://moonandback.com/2013/12/17/nasa-sets-spacewalks-to-repair-faulty-sta… http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/12/antares-cygnus-mission-to-iss-delaye… http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/space-flight-news/antares-launch-delayed-… The booster was at the pad when the announcement was made: http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/space-flight-news/orbitals-antares-rolled… http://moonandback.com/2013/12/17/orbitals-orb-1-cygnus-iss-resupply-craft-… http://moonandback.com/2013/12/17/cygnus-at-launch-pad-station-crew-prepare… http://www.americaspace.com/?p=46890 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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EA/N8MH QRV on satellites from Madrid, Spain during holidays
by Mark L. Hammond 17 Dec '13

17 Dec '13

Hello European satellite friends, It is possible that I will be QRV from Madrid, Spain on FO-29, VO-52, AO-73, SO-50, and AO-7 (?) while the family is on holiday. This is a very low priority part of the trip, and I can't predict when I'll be able to get on the air (limitations of being in the city with poor view to sky, etc.). But I am going to try at least a few passes one way or another! The opportunity is from around Dec 24 until Jan 2. My station will be very simple--FT-817, Elk antenna, and a hand mic. Working half-duplex on the SSB birds will be very challenging for me! I am spoiled by fully automated station operations. So if you hear EA/N8MH, please be patient and say hello :) It may be the only chance for a QSO with long time friends across the big pond... Should I be able to post an email note in advance of a specific pass/satellite, I will do so. But it might not be possible. 73! -- Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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help with cape ii
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 17 Dec '13

17 Dec '13

Today cape ii on the 1307 pass at em30 the satellite was back in it orange mode "safe" to all those on the list please monitor our sat on 145.825 mhz > If you have our software please execute a dump health command and also a change mode to green command and please keep sending us your results TLE 2013-064C 1 39382U 13064C 13346.35185866 .00045648 00000-0 19373-2 0 340 2 39382 40.5047 120.3003 0000735 69.6696 290.4291 15.22294992 3390 Thanks nick ARS K5QXJ EM30xa 30.1N 92.1W Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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OT! N1SMM and N4HY
by Robert McGwier 17 Dec '13

17 Dec '13

Since I decided not to change my name, Sharon decided to change her name. Since she is a devoted amateur radio operator, she chose to change her name to match her call sign. In a civil (but awesome) ceremony of nuptial induced name changing, she became Sharon Moore McGwier and continues to be N1SMM. She is a general (class) and bosses her lieutenant around nicely. She loves amateur radio so much, that General McGwier demanded and got the president of the American Radio Relay League to be her attendant along with the ARRL chief bag toter to help keep N4HY from fainting. We appreciate the honor shown to us by Kay and Carter Craigie. Pictures of said nuptials are on the usual place on smugmug..... http://smu.gs/1dJsyTJ de N4HY and N1SMM -- Bob McGwier Co-Owner and Technical Director, Federated Wireless, LLC Professor Virginia Tech Senior Member IEEE, Facebook: N4HYBob, ARS: N4HY Faculty Advisor Virginia Tech Amateur Radio Assn. (K4KDJ)

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Re: Confirm Message (Moderator please help??)
by Alan 16 Dec '13

16 Dec '13

Joe, >>System has sent mail to SpamCop spam traps in the past week (spam traps are secret, no reports or evidence are provided by SpamCop) According to this, the are not our users. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-----Original Message----- <From: Joe Leikhim [mailto:[email protected]] <Sent: Monday, December 16, 2013 4:23 PM <To: APBIDDLE(a)MAILAPS.ORG <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Confirm Message (Moderator please help??) < <So if a single user has set spam settings such that amsat.org is <reported as SPAM, the site is blacklisted? Can we ask folks to check <their spam settings? < <On 12/16/2013 5:19 PM, Alan wrote: <> Joe, <> <> You can use listmaint(a)amsat.org. However, we are aware of <the situation. From the report, "SpamCop <> users have reported system as a source of spam less than 10 <times in the past week." works out to <> about 1 a day, or less. Just enough to keep the blacklist <in place. That means it may be only one <> computer, and SpamCop makes it impossible to locate a single user. <> <> 73s, <> <> Alan <> WA4SCA <> <> <> <-----Original Message----- <> <From: Joe Leikhim [mailto:[email protected]] <> <Sent: Monday, December 16, 2013 3:44 PM <> <To: APBIDDLE(a)MAILAPS.ORG; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org <> <Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Confirm Message (Moderator please help??) <> < <> <Apparently SPAMCOP has blacklisted it repeatedly. Who is the <> <adminstrator for AMSAT.ORG? <> < <> <----- <> <www.amsat.org Whois: ISP University of California, San Diego <> < <> < <> <169.228.66.5 listed in bl.spamcop.net (127.0.0.2) <> < <> < <> <If there are no reports of ongoing objectionable email from <> <this system it will be delisted automatically in approximately <> <23 hours. <> < <> <Causes of listing <> < <> <* System has sent mail to SpamCop spam traps in the past <> <week (spam traps are secret, no reports or evidence are <> <provided by SpamCop) <> <* SpamCop users have reported system as a source of spam <> <less than 10 times in the past week <> < <> <Additional potential problems <> <(these factors do not directly result in spamcop listing) <> < <> < <> <* Too many delisting requests were made. Next request <> <might be allowed after 5.0 days <> < <> <Because of the above problems, express-delisting is not available <> < <> <Listing History <> <In the past 20.1 days, it has been listed 6 times for a total <> <of 18.4 days <> <Dispute Listing <> <If you are the administrator of this system and you are sure <> <this listing is erroneous, you may request that we review the <> <listing. Because everyone wants to dispute their listing, <> <regardless of merit, we reserve the right to ignore meritless <> <disputes. <> <Dispute listing of 169.228.66.5 <> <<http://www.spamcop.net/w3m?action=dispute;ip=169.228.66.5> <> < <> <----- <> < <> < <> <On 12/15/2013 6:42 AM, Alan wrote: <> < <> < <> < Joe, <> < <> < This is a problem which has been around for some time, <> <and is getting worse. Small ISPs, and some <> < larger ones, use spam control programs such as Spam Cop <> <and Iron Key. They have various ways of <> < detecting spam sources, and these are blocked at the <> <ISP level, so you never see the messages sent to <> < you. Unfortunately they block entire domains, such as <> <AMSAT.ORG, usually for 24 hours unless the <> < block is reset. If your ISP is blocked, you have about <> <a 50-50 chance of getting a bounce message <> < when you send a message. <> < <> <company, and eventually had to give up on using <> < their email. Their domain was frequently blocked, so I <> <never knew whether email would go through. <> < When I found out about a problem, I could contact their <> <tech people who were good about fixing it, but <> < the same thing might happen the next day. I finally <> <moved to Gmail, which is so huge no one would <> < dare block them, and they have resources to handle <> <incoming spam. <> < <> < 73s, <> < <> < Alan <> < WA4SCA <> < <> < <> < <-----Original Message----- <> < <From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org <> < <[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Joe Leikhim <> < <Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2013 8:01 PM <> < <To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org <> < <Subject: [amsat-bb] Confirm Message (Moderator please help??) <> < < <> < < <problem sending the digest to my e-mail account. Can anyone <> < <tell me if I am alone with this problem? I had another person <> < <complain of bounces to my account. I really want to fix this <> < <if I can. My ISP Inmotionhosting claims that dome other e-mail <> < <servers are blocked globally due to spam. I have no idea how <> < <to fix this. <> < < <> < < < <> < < <> < <"Your membership in the mailing list AMSAT-BB has been <> <disabled due to <> < <excessive bounces The last bounce received from you was dated <> < <30-Nov-2013. You will not get any more messages from <> <this list until <> < <you re-enable your membership. You will receive 1 <> <more reminders like <> < <this before your membership in the list is deleted. <> < < <> < <To re-enable your membership, you can simply respond <> <to this message <> < <(leaving the Subject: line intact), or visit the <> <confirmation page at" <> < < <> < <-- <> < <Joe Leikhim <> < < <> < < <> < <Leikhim and Associates <> < < <> < <Communications Consultants <> < < <> < <Oviedo, Florida <> < < <> < <JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com <> < < <> < <407-982-0446 <> < < <> < <WWW.LEIKHIM.COM <> < < <> < <_______________________________________________ <> < <Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of <> < <the author. <> < <Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur <> < <satellite program! <> < <Subscription settings: <> <http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb <> < < <> < <> < <> < <> <-- <> <Joe Leikhim <> < <> < <> <Leikhim and Associates <> < <> <Communications Consultants <> < <> <Oviedo, Florida <> < <> <JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com <> < <> <407-982-0446 <> < <> <WWW.LEIKHIM.COM <> < <> < <-- <Joe Leikhim < < <Leikhim and Associates < <Communications Consultants < <Oviedo, Florida < <JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com < <407-982-0446 < <WWW.LEIKHIM.COM <

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Confirm Message (Moderator please help??)
by Joe Leikhim 16 Dec '13

16 Dec '13

I just got the following message from AMSAT-BB implying a problem sending the digest to my e-mail account. Can anyone tell me if I am alone with this problem? I had another person complain of bounces to my account. I really want to fix this if I can. My ISP Inmotionhosting claims that dome other e-mail servers are blocked globally due to spam. I have no idea how to fix this. I had to resubscribe to the BB. "Your membership in the mailing list AMSAT-BB has been disabled due to excessive bounces The last bounce received from you was dated 30-Nov-2013. You will not get any more messages from this list until you re-enable your membership. You will receive 1 more reminders like this before your membership in the list is deleted. To re-enable your membership, you can simply respond to this message (leaving the Subject: line intact), or visit the confirmation page at" -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446 WWW.LEIKHIM.COM

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AMSAT Preamp Question
by Douglas Phelps 16 Dec '13

16 Dec '13

Will the preamp, being sold by AMSAT, suffer any degradation in performance id operated on a 9 volt battery? If yes, how much? I would like to make it a stand alone preamp by putting a 9 volt battery on the side of it. Thanks, Doug K9DLP

5 4

KySat-2 decoder via virtual ports
by Nader Omer 16 Dec '13

16 Dec '13

KySat-2 decoder via virtual ports http://st2nh-blogger.blogspot.com/2013/12/kysat-2-decoder-via-virtual-ports… Nader-st2nh

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First image captured by TshepisoSat (ZACUBE-1)
by M5AKA 15 Dec '13

15 Dec '13

Congratulations to the TshepisoSat team http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/15/first-image-captured-by-tshepisosat-zacube-1/ Also on the AMSAT-UK site: Warwick University Satellite Team Win Rocket Slot http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/14/warwick-university-satellite-team-win-rocket… ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK website http://amsat-uk.org/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMSAT-UK/208113275898396 Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK ----

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slightly OT: Fisrt novel about Cubesats and personal spacecraft
by andy thomas 15 Dec '13

15 Dec '13

Amsat-ers might be interested in this: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/december2013/first_novel_about_cubesats_an… apologies if this is slightly off topic, but I wanted you to know about it. 73 de andy G0SFJ

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ANS-181
by Joe Spier 15 Dec '13

15 Dec '13

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-181 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: * ESA Education Office announce six CubeSats chosen for Phase 1 Initiative * 13 Colonies Special Event Includes Satellite Operations * 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium Starts July 19, 2013 * Two Lithuanian Amateur Radio CubeSats Plan 2013 Launch To ISS * July Space Station Spacewalks To Be Previewed And Broadcast On NASA TV * Upcoming ARISS Contacts * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-181.01 ANS-181 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 181.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 30, 2013 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-181.01 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ESA Education Office announce six CubeSats chosen for Phase 1 Initiative Six student teams and their supervisors have gathered at ESA's ESTEC centre in The Netherlands for the kick-off of the new Fly Your Satellite! Programme under the ESA Education Office. On June 26-28, ESA experts will introduce the objectives and present the activities to be performed during the first phase of the programme. In January, ESA's Education Office announced the 'Fly Your Satellite!' initiative. This is aimed at offering student teams the opportunity to become familiar with good engineering practice to build and perform satellite testing in order to increase the chances of a successful mission. The 2013 edition of the programme is however only focusing on testing selected university-built satellites that are already at an advanced stage of development. 'Fly Your Satellite!' builds on the success of the 'CubeSats for the Vega Maiden Flight' pilot programme. This culminated in 2012 with the launch of seven student-built CubeSats on the first flight of the new ESA Vega launcher. The focus of the kick-off meeting will consist of coordinating the activity to be performed during the first phase of Fly Your Satellite! enabling the teams to complete the construction of their satellite. This will include extensive satellite testing in ambient conditions under the supervision of ESA specialists who will decide which satellites should participate in the next phase of the programme. The second phase will see the satellites tested in the simulated conditions of outer space and in those the satellites will experience at launch. These will include vibration and thermal-vacuum tests. The six CubeSats chosen for Phase 1 are: Robusta-1B from France will validate a radiation test methodology for specific transistor components. Oufti-1 from Belgium will demonstrate the D-STAR digital communication protocol and validate high-efficiency solar cells. ConSat-1 from Canada will analyse radiation characteristics in the South-Atlantic Anomaly, and test technology payloads. e-st@r-II from Italy will test an Active-Attitude Determination Control System. AAUSAT4 from Denmark will test an improved version of student built AIS (Automated Identification System) receivers. Politech.1 from Spain will carry a student built C-band communication system, a "GEODEYE" Earth Observation camera for academic purposes, and solar wind experiments. Read the full ESA article at http://www.esa.int/Education/ESA_and_student_teams_kick-off_Fly_Your_Satell… Fly Your Satellite! initiative http://www.esa.int/Education/Students_are_you_ready_to_fly_your_satellites_… space [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 13 Colonies Special Event Includes Satellite Operations The 13 Colonies Special Event Stations will be active on the air for Independence Week, July 1-6, 2013. Get all of the details at http://www.13colonies.info/ On the high frequency amateur bands the 13 Colonies stations will operate from 09:00 AM Eastern Daylight Savings Time (1300Z), on July 1st, to 12:00 PM (midnight) Eastern Daylight Savings Time, July 6 (0400Z, July 7). The 13 Colonies Satellite Stations will be active as shown in the table below: STATE SE CALL STATION CALL OPERATOR ----- ------- ------------ -------- NY K2A WB2OQQ Pete VA K2B NL7VX Steve CT K2D WA8SME Mark DE K2E KB2M Jeffrey MD K2F WA3SWJ Bruce MA K2H KB1PVH David NJ K2I KB2M Jeffrey NC K2J N8MH Mark SC K2L K4YYL Art PA K2M WB3U Elizabeth (FM Birds Only) K3BFS Richard (Linear Birds Only) Any satellite station can work the 13 Colonies states off the birds. Please indicate your contacts are Satellite. More information can be found at http://www.13colonies.info/Satellites.htm [ANS thanks the 13 Colonies Special Event for the above information] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium Starts July 19, 2013 The 2013 AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will start late afternoon on Friday, July 19 and will run through until the afternoon on Sunday, July 21 at the Holiday Inn, Guildford, GU2 7XZ, UK. It will be preceded by a "Hands-on" CubeSat Workshop. This free workshop will take place at the nearby University of Surrey on Friday, July 19 and this will be followed, at the hotel, by the usual Colloquium "Beginners Session" in the late afternoon. It is anticipated that both the FUNcube-1 and FUNcube-2 missions will be launched later this year and the FUNcube team will be on hand to talk about the missions and the planned educational outreach. A full demonstration of the Engineering Model, which has been performing flawlessly for almost a year, will also be provided. Further details and booking information at http://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2013/ [ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA for the above information] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two Lithuanian Amateur Radio CubeSats Plan 2013 Launch To ISS It is hoped that two Lithuanian satellites will be among the CubeSats sent by Nanoracks LLC to the International Space Station (ISS) on the SpaceX CRS-3 mission in November, 2013. They will be deployed from the ISS by the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J- SSOD) of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The Kaunas University of Technology is developing LituanicaSAT-1 while the Lithuanian Space Federation is working on LitSat-1. 2013 is the 80th anniversary of the historic flight by Lithuanian pilots Steponas Darius and Stasys Gire.nas in the airplane Lituanica. On July 15, 1933, they took off from Floyd Bennett Field in New York and flew across the Atlantic Ocean, covering a distance of 6,411 kilometers without landing, in 37 hours and 11 minutes. Tragically they crashed by the village of Kuhdamm, near Soldin, Germany just 650 km from their destination of Kaunas in Lithuania. LituanicaSAT-1 plans to carry a VGA camera, GPS receiver, 9k6 AX25 FSK telemetry beacon and a 150 mW V/U FM voice transponder. Links: • Google English web http://tinyurl.com/KosmonautaiLituanicaSAT-1 • Google English Wiki http://tinyurl.com/WikiLituanicaSAT-1 • Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Lituanicasat1 LitSat-1 is understood to be planning a U/V linear transponder for SSB/CW communications. Links: • Lithuanian Space Association in Google English http://tinyurl.com/LithuanianSpaceAssociation • Facebook https://www.facebook.com/palydovas • Google English article http://tinyurl.com/LitSat-1-Article Google English article on the two Lithuanian CubeSats http://tinyurl.com/LithuanianCubeSats 1933 Lituanica flight http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuanica [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- JULY SPACE STATION SPACEWALKS TO BE PREVIEWED AND BROADCAST ON NASA TV WASHINGTON -- Two Expedition 36 astronauts will venture outside the International Space Station twice in July on spacewalks to prepare for a new Russian module and perform additional installations on the station's backbone. NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston will host a NASA Television briefing to preview the spacewalks at 2 p.m. EDT Tuesday, July 2. Reporters may attend the briefing at Johnson and other participating NASA centers, or ask questions by calling Johnson's newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 1:45 p.m. Tuesday. Briefers will include: -- David Korth, NASA spacewalk flight director -- Ernest Bell, Spacewalk 22 spacewalk officer -- Karina Eversley, Spacewalk 23 spacewalk officer Flight Engineers Chris Cassidy of NASA and Luca Parmitano of the European Space Agency will conduct the spacewalks July 9 and July 16 from the station's Quest airlock. Each spacewalk is scheduled to last 6 1/2 hours. Cassidy and Parmitano will replace a space-to-ground communications receiver and wireless video equipment and install power and cables for a Russian multipurpose laboratory module that will be launched later this year. The new module will serve as a research facility, docking port and airlock for future Russian spacewalks and will replace the Pirs module. Cassidy, who is designated EV1 for the spacewalks, will wear a U.S. extravehicular mobility suit bearing red stripes. The spacewalks will be the fifth and sixth of Cassidy's career. Parmitano, who is designated EV2, will wear a spacesuit with no stripes and will be making the first two spacewalks of his career. He will become the first Italian astronaut to walk in space. Both spacewalkers will wear helmet cameras to provide up close views of their work. NASA TV coverage of the spacewalks will begin at 7 a.m. on both July 9 and July 16. Both spacewalks are scheduled to begin at 8:10 a.m. For NASA TV streaming video, schedule and downlink information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv For more information about the International Space Station and its crew, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station [ANS thanks NASA for the above information] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Upcoming ARISS contact with Scuola Secondaria grado "Arturo Toscanini", Capiago Intimiano, Italy and Scuola Media Massimiliano Kolbe, Vercurago, Lecco, Italy An International Space Station school contact has been planned with participants at Scuola Secondaria 1? grado "Arturo Toscanini", Capiago Intimiano, Italy and Scuola Media Massimiliano Kolbe, Vercurago, Lecco, Italy on 29 June. The event is scheduled to begin at approximately 11:50 UTC. The duration of the contact is approximately 9 minutes and 30 seconds. The contact will be a combination of direct and telebridge with the contact starting with IK1SLD, then proceeds to IZ2WLC and finishes back with IK1SLD . The contact should be audible over Italy. Interested parties are invited to listen in on the 145.80 MHz downlink. The contact is expected to be conducted in Italian. Scuola Secondaria 1? grado "Arturo Toscanini", Capiago Intimiano, Italy The school is located in Capiago Intimiano, a small town in the north part of Italy, 7 km far from Como. Como and the surrounding area can be clearly seen from space due to the unique shape of Lario lake (like a Y upside down). It tooks the name from "Arturo Toscanini", a famous musician and conductor lived across the end of 19th century and early 20th. There are 10 classes and the students are from 11 years old to 14. Scuola Media Massimiliano Kolbe, Vercurago, Lecco, Italy Local secondary school with students aged from 10 to 14. It's located in a building, built in 1950 by the government, originally used as a sanatorium converted into school in late 1970. Vercurago is a small town not far from Lecco, built on the shores of Garlate's lake (as it comes out of Lario lake and become Adda river). Participants will ask as many of the following questions as time allows: 1. Why did you decide to become an astronaut? 2. How do you recycle water? 3. How did you feel on your first day in space? 4. What are the main characteristics of the Earth seen from space? 5. What was your first impression of the ISS? 6. How the northern lights appear from space? 7. How is life in space for six months with only five other people? 8. What is the most difficult activity you've carried out in space? 9. When you see the Earth from the space, what do you think? 10. How do you treat waste? 11. Is the Sun different seen from the space? 12. How do you shave in space? 13. What do you usually do in your free time? 14. How does life in orbit influence vital functions? 15. When you'll come back to the Earth, what will be the first thing you'll do? 16. When the Earth is in the dark, which are the brightest cities? 17. Can you see pollution on the Earth from the ISS? 18. What kind of studies did you attend to become an astronaut? 19. Which was the strongest emotion you felt when you passed quickly from the Earth to space? 20. What is the human construction visible from the space station? 21. How hard was the training before departure? 22. What do you eat in space? 23. What did you miss more from the earth? 24. Have you ever experimented how spiders build webs in space? 25. Have you ever had any serious technical problems on the ISS? 26. What kind of experiments are you carrying out? 27. What do you like most about your job? 28. What is the most ambitious project for the future? PLEASE CHECK THE FOLLOWING FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ARISS UPDATES: Information about the upcoming ARISS contacts can be obtained by subscribing to the SAREX maillist. To subscribe, go to http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/ and choose "How to Subscribe". Visit ARISS on Facebook. We can be found at Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS). To receive our Twitter updates, follow @ARISS_status Next planned event(s): 1. Association Intercultura Onlus, Frascati, Italy, telebridge Sat, 06July2013, 17:02 UTC 40 deg via W6SRJ ARISS is an international educational outreach program partnering the participating space agencies, NASA, Russian Space Agency, ESA, CNES, JAXA, and CSA, with the AMSAT and IARU organizations from participating countries. ARISS offers an opportunity for students to experience the excitement of Amateur Radio by talking directly with crewmembers on- board the International Space Station. Teachers, parents and communities see, first hand, how Amateur Radio and crewmembers on ISS can energize youngsters' interest in science, technology, and learning. Further information on the ARISS program is available on the website http://www.ariss.org/ (graciously hosted by the Radio Amateurs of Canada). (ANS thanks David Jordan, AA4KN for this ARISS update) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Satelite Shorts From All Over Kevin, N4UFO reported on June 25 he was able to work three transatlantic contacts via AO-7. The stations he contacted included EA8HB, CT3FM, and G7BTA. Kevin noted, "I must say... three QSOs in one pass, WOW! That was a lot of fun! AO-7 is a grand old bird, long may she live! I just had to share how exciting it was!" (via N4UFO on starcomm-bb) In the July 2013 edition of the ARRL publication of QST, ARRL Chief Executive Officer, David Sumner, K1ZZ, presents a feature on CubeSats. Steve Ford, WB8IMY, presents a column, Eclectic Technology, titled "More Satellites on the Way", a listing of the 7 satellites due to be launched in 2013. (via www.arrl.org ) A CubeSat presentation was given by AMSAT Francophone to a scientific conference held by the Radio Club of Paris F6KVP on May 29, 2013. A video of the presentation has been made available on the web. AMSAT-Francophone site in Google English: http://tinyurl.com/AMSAT-Francophone Radio Club of Paris F6KVP in Google English: http://tinyurl.com/RadioClubParis F6KVP on Twitter: https://twitter.com/F6KVP (via AMSAT-UK) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /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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Chang'e-3 Lunar Probe Downlink Frequencies and Power Output?
by Bill Bordy, NJ1H 14 Dec '13

14 Dec '13

Does anyone have information on the down-link frequencies and power output from the Chang'3 lunar probe? Might be fun to see if it can be received. 73, Bill NJ1H

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China does it
by Thomas Doyle 14 Dec '13

14 Dec '13

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/world/asia/china-lands-probe-on-the-moon-… -- Sent from my computer. tom ...

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$50SAT over Brazil
by Roland Zurmely 14 Dec '13

14 Dec '13

Please see here: http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/eagle.htm 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ

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Re: Historical AO-73 WOD
by David Johnson 12 Dec '13

12 Dec '13

Hi Ron, We have stored realtime, highres and wod since the satellite was first turned on in the lab. The plan is to make this available via a login to the warehouse and allowing download of such correlations. Please bear with us. My todo list is quite long :-) I'm currently working on the highres for download. Dave. On 12 Dec 2013 22:04, "Ronald G. Parsons" <w5rkn(a)w5rkn.com> wrote: > Dave, > > Is it possible to get historical WOD? On the pass over the USA at 0340 UTC > 30 Nov 2013, I recorded frequency drift and sudden fluctuations of the > telemetry center frequency. I would like to be able to correlate the sudden > shifts of frequency to other environmental parameters. > > Ron W5RKN > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2013 17:21:54 +0000 > From: David A B Johnson <dave(a)g4dpz.me.uk> > To: Amsat - BBs <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: [amsat-bb] FUNcube WOD available for Download > Message-ID: <52A9F0B2.7010801(a)g4dpz.me.uk> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Hi, > > As part of our STEM outreach strategy we are making WOD available for > off-line analysis. > > This is delivered as a .csv file which can be downloaded from the Data > Warehouse by clicking > on the link on the WOD page: > > https://warehouse.funcube.org.uk/wod.html > > The file is written at 23:59 UTC every day and contains the WOD for the > preceding 24 hours. > > Please read the notes on the page regarding the times stored in the file. > > Enjoy! > > 73 > > Dave, G4DPZ > On behalf of the AO-73 team. > > >

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PDF of ARRL QST WRAPS article
by M5AKA 12 Dec '13

12 Dec '13

Thanks to Mark WA8SME and the ARRL a PDF copy of the WRAPS article is available on the AMSAT-UK website, see http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/12/wraps-a-portable-satellite-antenna-rotator-s… ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK website http://amsat-uk.org/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMSAT-UK/208113275898396 Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK ----

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SatPC32 ISS help needed
by Ted 12 Dec '13

12 Dec '13

HI I cannot seem to get the ISS portion of the program to operate properly with FT-847 1. Regular SatPC32 program works as it should 2. In ISS, I have CAT control (trigger on/off with C 3. SAT on the radio is turned off 4. In CAT, I can select the pair for the repeater and the downlink freg will appear on the radio (VFO A) The initial freq in the program appears but does not update further 5. Manual says "With the Yaesu FT-847 only use the 'TX' / 'RX' controls of SatPC32ISSto switch the radio to TX or RX, rsp. Otherwise the VFO can't be tuned to the TX frequency before the radio is switched to TX." Program is not displaying TX/RX buttons or controls nor am I able to key tx with + or - keys on 10 key pad 6. FYI, there are no files shown in any o the aux files. (but, I suspect that info is pulled from the main program) I must have something set wrong. Any help appreciated 73, Ted K7TRK

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AMSAT Area Coordinators List
by Clint Bradford 12 Dec '13

12 Dec '13

I have misplaced my AMSAT Area Coordinator list - is it posted somewhere for access/download? Clint K6LCS ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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Re: General Telemetry Question (PITFALL!)
by Robert Bruninga 12 Dec '13

12 Dec '13

> To follow up on Bob's comment. If you send the raw analog sensor data... > Change calibration values if found to be wrong after launch... We did on PCSAT! Caution to Satellite Builders: Be careful when using an EXCEL TREND LINE equation for doing Engineering Unit conversion back to original units. It was a big lesson for us back on PCSAT in 2001. The problem is, generally, EXCEL displays trend line equations in a nice GENERAL human readable form. For example, for our thermistors, the 3rd order trend line equation to convert from telemetry count back to degrees C was displayed by EXCEL as something like this: 2E-7 X^3 - 2E-4 X^2 + 1.804E-1 X + 2.379E2. One would think one is getting a very precise to 4-significant digit equation. WRONG. Notice the Cubed and Squared terms (which can be very big at warmer temperatures) are only represented to a single decimal digit(+/- 10%)!!! (2 and 2)... When this trend line is used (as displayed), to give back our temperatures from the incoming COUNT, the temperatures were way off! The key is to make sure the trend line equation is displayed in SCIENTIFIC format before you write it down and then try to use it. Then the first two terms above are properly displayed by EXCEL as 1.544E-7 X^3 and -2.069E-4 X^2. (instead of 2E-7 and 2E-4). We catch this error in a lot of student's work... Bob, WB4APR

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WRAPS Portable Satellite Antenna Rotator System Availability
by Alan 12 Dec '13

12 Dec '13

Hi, There is an excellent article by Mark Spencer, WA8SME beginning on page 43 of the January 2014 QST. It mentions that a limited number of complete systems will be available through the AMSAT Store. They are not yet available, and we do not at present have a firm date when they will be in stock. Because of uncertainty of the price and number which will be available, we are not taking advanced orders. When we are ready to process orders, we will make the information public. Please do not call the AMSAT office. Alan

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D Star net tonight
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 12 Dec '13

12 Dec '13

Hi D STAR owners Amsat net tonight on REF 60B at 0200 utc Hope you can make it WA4HFN em55

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CAPE-2 Ground Station Lite Edition Software Major Update!
by Rizwan Merchant 12 Dec '13

12 Dec '13

Greetings All, Following the great success of our preliminary versions of our CAPE-2 Ground Station Software, I have just released Beta Version 1.1.1, which opens up the ability to send a new slew of commands. New Commands are listed below. - Update Clock - Set Green Mode - Send Text to Speech (Voice Options: Perfect Paul, Darth Vader, Big Bob, Precise Pete, Richochet Randy, Biff, Skip, Alvin the Chipmunk, Robo Robert, Goliath, and Gretchen) - Operate Voice Repeater - Send Emails via CAPE-2 I also made some design changes to the software to make everything much more user friendly, and secure. I am also adding a few additions to the Getting Started Guide on the software's page<http://ulcape.org/cape-2-ground-station-software-lite-edition/>. Please review the new information before diving in. We are most interested in results from the email command at current. So please try to send yourself an email from CAPE-2! Link: http://ulcape.org/cape-2-ground-station-software-lite-edition/ As always, please direct questions, comments, and concerns to me at Rizwan(a)DigitalPhoenixProductions.com Thanks! Rizwan Merchant Notice of Confidentiality This E-mail is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521 and is legally privileged. This information is confidential information and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. This email communication contains private and confidential information that is intended for the specific recipient, if you have received this communication in error please contact the sender immediately by phone or email to be removed from the contact list and please destroy all contents immediately.

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Details Of ISS Cooling System Problems
by B J 12 Dec '13

12 Dec '13

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2013/12/iss-suffers-coolant-loop-issue-space… 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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Trouble with ISS
by Clint Bradford 12 Dec '13

12 Dec '13

NASA scaled back ops aboard the ISS today, as a cooling pump that circulates ammonia outside the station to keep equipment cool failed. NASA is still trying to figure out what exactly failed, and how to repair it. An EVA is not out of the question. NASA also stated that the ISS crew was not in danger at this time. Watch your normal news sources for more details. Clint

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WRAPS - Portable Rotator System
by Clint Bradford 11 Dec '13

11 Dec '13

Nice article by Mark Spencer WA8SME in the January, 2014 issue of QST on building a portable az-el rotator system for tracking the birds. Available to ARRL members online at ... http://www.arrl.org Clint K6LCS ---------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com

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CAPE-2 responds to commands over Brazil
by Roland Zurmely 11 Dec '13

11 Dec '13

Please see here: http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/cape.htm#b 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ

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why not to buy an M2 antenna
by Lizeth Norman 11 Dec '13

11 Dec '13

Purchased a M2 436CP30. Had a failure of the switching block in less than 5 years. White plastic cracked and allowed water to ingress to the switcher. Customer service?? No return call. Pics on request. Norm n3ykf

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CAPE-2 news
by Jean-Pierre Godet 11 Dec '13

11 Dec '13

Hello my friends ! The pass over western Europe of orbits between 204 and 308 (this last yesterday) were well received, especially the CW telemetry (decoded by ears :-) because of its interesting sound). This morning, during orbit 323 pass (AOS 0732 UTC here) a continuous carrier alone was heard, slowly frequency modulated at the rate of the satellite rotation due to the voltage variation with no battery available : period 4 seconds, amplitude 850 Hz. Better, have a look here : http://f5yg.pagesperso-orange.fr/forum/CAPE-2_orb323_11dec2013.mp3 http://f5yg.pagesperso-orange.fr/forum/CAPE-2_orb323_11dec2013.jpg Have a nice day, everyone ! 73 ! Jean-Pierre/F5YG -- Powered by Linux (Slackware 10.0 - kernel 2.4.26)

3 5

self-amagamating tape
by WILLIAMS MICHAEL 11 Dec '13

11 Dec '13

MM0EQ said: "Get proper rubber self-amalgamating tape, and do the job once and do it right." I had to look up the definition of amalgamating before commenting on this. -------- That's Plymouth Bishop tape. You'll find it in the flea market at many hamfests at a good price. It is stretches to about twice its length and wraps a connector under tension. It then amalgamates. You must use a knife or razor blade to remove and no mess. It you see it, get some. It's great.

2 1

help with satpc32iss
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 10 Dec '13

10 Dec '13

We are using satpc32iss with windows 7 and a Kenwood ts2000. With the C+ switch we can control the radio frequency with the up/down arrows but the radio will not up date for Doppler correction. Anyone of the list have any ideas? Thanks nick ARS K5QXJ EM30xa 30.1N 92.1W Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

2 1

CAPE-2 over Brazil
by Roland Zurmely 10 Dec '13

10 Dec '13

Received 3 FM CW 500 Hz tone beacons: W5UL CAPE2 GN V5435 @19:30 UTC W5UL CAPE2 GN V5337 @19:32 UTC W5UL CAPE2 GN V5240 @19:34 UTC Using object 2013-064C with perfect match Orbit #316 10 dec 3013 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ

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HI Juno
by Roland Zurmely 10 Dec '13

10 Dec '13

The first HI recorded in Brazil at 18:00 UTC, many transmissions can be seen: http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/hijuno.htm And here some HI received by JUNO: http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/archive/PIA17744.mov 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ

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HI Juno
by andy thomas 10 Dec '13

10 Dec '13

Official result at: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2013-360 A four-minute video depicting the efforts of a few of the amateur radio operators who participated in the event can be seen at: http://youtu.be/_yqHy_MpNiQ many thanks to JPL for the "What if..." andy g0sfj

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ARRL Centennial QSO Party - Satellite Operations
by Paul Stoetzer 10 Dec '13

10 Dec '13

The ARRL Centennial QSO Party is starting very soon ( http://www.arrl.org/centennial-qso-party ) I would encourage everyone who may be interested in activating your state/territory/district on the satellites to contact the coordinator for your state ( http://www.arrl.org/files/file/On%20the%20Air/W1AW_2014_sked.pdf ) While I'm sure that some of the coordinators will make an effort to reach out to the satellite community, others may overlook us when making their plans. Let's try to get every state and territory activated on the satellites. I will be operating on the satellites as W1AW/3 from the District of Columbia during the week of July 2nd. I look forward to chasing as many of the W1AW portable operations as possible during 2014! 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Washington, DC (FM18lv)

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GI100RSGB
by Pete H 10 Dec '13

10 Dec '13

The Mid Ulster Amateur Radio club will be hosting the special event callsign GI100RSGB over the weekend Dec 6-8th We hope to be QRV on most operational satellites from Friday 3pm UTC, however the current storm blowing in N. Ireland may slow down antenna setup. An ideal opportunity to work this special event call on a rare mode :) Updates will be posted at http://rsgb.org/main/operating/centenary-station/alerts-spots/ 73 Pete Mi0VAX Deputy Secretary, Mid Ulster Amateur Radio Club

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Re: [Work-Sat] Satellite question
by Rick Tejera 10 Dec '13

10 Dec '13

I don't know, I've worked her well into eclipse. You have to remember to send the 74hz Pl tone to turn her on, but once she's on, she's good to go. Rick Tejera Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amateur radio Club (K7TEJ) www.w7tbc.org -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tim L Sent: Monday, December 09, 2013 2:17 PM To: Work-Sat(a)yahoogroups.com; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: [Work-Sat] Satellite question fyi, SO-50 is only workable during daylight passes, its battery is dead and only works on solar power. hope this helps, I know it threw me for a few nights "There are only 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary and those who don't" In today's email world 97% of all email is spam, please don't contribute. To: Work-Sat(a)yahoogroups.com; amsat-bb(a)amsat.org From: tbloomingdale(a)gmail.com Date: Mon, 9 Dec 2013 15:06:21 -0600 Subject: [Work-Sat] Satellite question Hello all. I got the interest bug of working the radio satellites. But with all this new satellites going up, im a little overwhelmed about information on what each one does or frequencies ect. Basically is there a satellite for dummy site that lists what each birds information is??.. currently I've done a hombrew tape measure antenna and HT's, and just haven't been successful on a qso or heck even hearing so50 yet. Thank you from a new to satellite, Todd Bloomingdale, KC9LOX Frozen in Tomah, Wisconsin USA __._,_.___ Reply via web post Reply to sender Reply to group Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: New Members 4 Visit Your Group Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest . Unsubscribe . Terms of Use . Send us Feedback . __,_._,___ _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. 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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Problem Receiving AMSAT-BB
by Les Rayburn 10 Dec '13

10 Dec '13

For the past week or so, I don't seem to be receiving the Daily Digest of AMSAT-BB, as I was before. I've tried all the usual fixes, without success: 1.) Checked spam filter settings, "junk" folder, and made sure that AMSAT-BB was on my white list. 2.) Checked the trash folder and message filters on Thunderbird. 3.) Tried unsubscribing to the list and re-subscribing. 4.) Finally, changed from Daily Digest to individual messages. No joy. Any ideas? (Please reply direct) -- -- 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf 6M VUCC #1712 AMSAT #38965 Grid Bandits #222 Southeastern VHF Society Central States VHF Society Life Member Six Club #2484 Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light

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Re: Satellite question
by Clint Bradford 10 Dec '13

10 Dec '13

>> ... Todd, pls take a look here : http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=1869 All excellent articles, indeed. But Todd is right where I was several years ago. If he were to take the cited references as his source for info, he'd be programming freqs for birds long deceased ... For current info (as of a few minutes ago) on the easy-to-work FM birds (right now, SO-50 and the ISS), my Web site will get you working this week ... http://www.work-sat.com For the SSB birds - including AO-73 that was just recently deployed, there is a "What Else?" link on the Sat Skeds page. Even if you do not have SSB equipment, you can hone your tracking skills with a couple of these new satellites. For those birds, watch AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-UK for current info. AMSAT-NA has their sat pass prediction system online, too - just remember to back out appropriate number of hours, because their data is shown to you in GMT ... http://www.amsat.org AND you will find plenty of assistance here, too! Clint Bradford K6LCS 909-241-7666 - cell

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General Telemetry Question
by Dave Marthouse 10 Dec '13

10 Dec '13

I noticed over the years that satellite beacon downlinks transmit their telemetry in a form that must be translated by a telemetry app to their engineering values. Since the information is transmitted from the satellites why not provide the engineering values in the downlink without the extra step having to be done on the ground? What is the logic of doing this? Dave Marthouse N2AAM dmarthouse(a)gmail.com

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Satellite question
by Todd Bloomingdale 09 Dec '13

09 Dec '13

Hello all. I got the interest bug of working the radio satellites. But with all this new satellites going up, im a little overwhelmed about information on what each one does or frequencies ect. Basically is there a satellite for dummy site that lists what each birds information is??.. currently I've done a hombrew tape measure antenna and HT's, and just haven't been successful on a qso or heck even hearing so50 yet. Thank you from a new to satellite, Todd Bloomingdale, KC9LOX Frozen in Tomah, Wisconsin USA

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Satellite demonstration at the University of Cienfuegos
by Hector Luis HLMS. Martinez Sis 09 Dec '13

09 Dec '13

Hello to all Tomorrow, the engineering faculty of the University of Cienfuegos (UCF) will be celebrating its XII Anniversary. There will be some conferences and presentations about engineering issues. Each researching group will talk about their future goals and projects. I am member of one of these groups and we are submitting a proposal to set a research line focused in experiments using amateur radio and satellites to support officially the practical curriculums of engineering students. I will make a presentation about amateur radio, satellites and educational activities. Then, I will be on the 1658z SO-50 pass for an on-air demonstration. Please, if you hear CO6CBF, give me a call and say hello to the crowd. Others details like your name, city, etc could be interesting too. Thanks in advance! 73! Hector, CO6CBF/KF5YXV --- Consulte la Enciclopedia Colaborativa Cubana http://www.ecured.cu/

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$50sat help
by Howie DeFelice 09 Dec '13

09 Dec '13

The $50sat team is asking for help form our friends in the southern hemisphere in capturing telemetry form $50sat. We are trying to determine the charging characteristics of the power system. The three team members all live above 40 degrees north and the satellite does not warm up enough during N-S passes to allow charging to begin. None of us are usually around during S-N passes. Any form of report is welcome: decode of the fast morse (120WPM), RTTY demod, audio recording or I/Q capture from a Funcube or RTL dongle would be greatly appreciated. A link to a detailed description of the communications package can be found on the $50sat website, http://www.50dollarsat.info . The last distribution of keps from AMSAT contain good elements for $50sat. $50sat is one of the smallest amateur radio satellites ever launched at 2"x2"x3" and weighs only 210 grams. TX power is just 100mW. Thanks, Howie AB2S

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TRIATON-1
by Dave Marthouse 09 Dec '13

09 Dec '13

Has anyone heard TRITON-1? I listened for two passes today and haven't heard any downlink signals. Dave Marthouse N2AAM dmarthouse(a)gmail.com

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DragonSat - new test (SSB)
by Robert Bruninga 09 Dec '13

09 Dec '13

> Nothing heard from DragonSat on 145.870. (9600 baud AX.25) A crude test of a Dragonsat model with the antenna un-released was still radiating on the order of 26 to 36 dB down. >From now on, instead of FM, we are going to listen with an SSB receiver and see if we hear the 30 second chirps. Listening on SSB should improve our listening sensitivity 20 dB or so, plus an added 10 dB on direct overhead passes might make it detectible if the only problem is antenna deployment. Should be a less than one second burst every 30 seconds on 145.870. Should be near the pass times of CAPE... Bob, WB4APR

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Annuncement scheduled for Ham Radio Juno Flyby eperiment
by andy thomas 09 Dec '13

09 Dec '13

Following is from the American Geophyiscal Union website (time is San Franscisco time) http://fallmeeting.agu.org/2013/media-center/press-conferences/#juno Science from Juno’s Earth Flyby Tuesday, 10 December 10:30 a.m. In October, the Jupiter-bound Juno spacecraft did a flyby of Earth before its long journey. The Juno team presents a low-resolution Earth flyby video as well as data acquired by the spacecraft as it zipped past the home planet. Team members will also discuss results from the mission’s outreach campaign inviting amateur radio operators to “Say Hi to Juno” as the spacecraft passed, and the scientific goals for the mission once it reaches Jupiter. Participants: Scott Bolton, Juno principal investigator, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas, USA; John Joergensen, Juno star-camera team lead, Danish Technical University, Copenhagen, Denmark; Bill Kurth, co-investigator for the Juno Waves Investigation, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA. Sessions: SM21E, SM33B 73 de andy g0sfj

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Negative Results For TrailBlazer & DragonSat
by Armando Mercado 09 Dec '13

09 Dec '13

Hello, Listened for Trailblazer (possible 39382) during this morning's pass. Heard a few CW characters on 437.428 at 1432 UTC, which could have been AAuSat-3, but no 1200 AFSK. Nothing heard from DragonSat on 145.870. DO-64 was on and loud near the end of the 2013-064 "train" pass. 73 Armando N8IGJ

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Power output for using AO-73 transponder
by Paul Stoetzer 09 Dec '13

09 Dec '13

FYI - In a sidebar on their website, AMSAT-UK requests that stations limit power output to 25W EIRP for using the AO-73's transponder. "FUNcube-1 / AO-73 Radio Communications Subsystem • 145.935 MHz BPSK Telemetry 30 or 300 mW • Inverting SSB/CW transponder 300 mW PEP - 435.150 – 435.130 MHz Uplink LSB - 145.950 – 145.970 MHz Downlink USB Educational Telemetry beacon is 300 mW during day and 30 mW at night. Transponder is only active during night passes. Please use a maximium uplink power of 5 watts to a 7 dBi gain antenna (25 w EIRP). Lower power will also work well. If adjusting for Doppler shift manually try tuning the uplink frequency while transmitting to keep the downlink constant." http://amsat-uk.org/ 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Washington, DC

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AO 73
by Rich/wa4bue 09 Dec '13

09 Dec '13

Sorry David for my mistake. Are my Keps okay? ----- Original Message ----- Hi Richard. If you could make the subject something like AO-73 it helps your message get stored in the correct place in the AMSAT archives which are stored in thread and date order. AO-73 will typically have +- 9 kHz of Doppler on 70 cms and +/- 3 kHz on 2m. Thanks David -----Original Message----- From: Rich/wa4bue <richard.siff(a)verizon.net> To: amsat-bb <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Mon, 9 Dec 2013 11:11 Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Auburn sat Hi all, Another question AO 73 I made my first contact on AO 73 this weekend with KB2M. I read on the BB that the frequency was about 10 Khz higher for the uplink and that the linear transponder wss not stable yet. I did not expect the Doppler to be shifting as much as it was on both the the QSO freqs and the Telem freqs. Maybe I had the wrong keps in! The Keps we installed were dated November 23rd. Thank you for your help. R W4BUE / K4AMG _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. 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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UT1FG/MM is in JM96 now at 0801 UTC
by Ib Christoffersen 09 Dec '13

09 Dec '13

Hi all, He is right now in JM96 in the Mediterranean on route to Bulgaria. 73 OZ1MY Ib

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Sat-Antennas ...?
by Jens Spiess 08 Dec '13

08 Dec '13

Hello... if somebody has experiences for the satellite radio over present, functioning amateur radio satellites with the following antennas: EB-144 M2 und EB-432 M2 (following the Link) ??? Dignity these antennas is sufficient around more or less adequate company to be able to do over the satellites available still nowadays, without rotors, however, with preamplifiers... or would you advise me against the investment in these antennas from the start??? Use here an IC910H. I have worked during earlier years very well with the MASPRO antennas and rotors, now might, however, again - with as low as possible expenditure- get into the amateur radio over satellite. Thanks for answers , Jens / HB9JOI

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UT1FG in IN70
by JoAnne Maenpaa 08 Dec '13

08 Dec '13

For the stations tracking UT1FG/MM a DX spot at 1914Z on Sunday has the Captain heading for Bulgaria: EA1JM 435854.0 UT1FG/MM JM76<SAT>IN70 FO-29 HEADING TO BULGARIA CAPT. YURI -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org

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CAPE-2 Ground Station Lite Edition Version 1.0.2 Released
by Rizwan Merchant 08 Dec '13

08 Dec '13

Following the requests from the community to allow users to input custom baud rates for the serial settings, I have released a newer version of the ground station software. Please uninstall your old copies, and install the new one. http://ulcape.org/cape-2-ground-station-software-lite-edition/ Thank you all very much! Sincerely, Rizwan Merchant Call Sign: KF5BNL Notice of Confidentiality This E-mail is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521 and is legally privileged. This information is confidential information and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. This email communication contains private and confidential information that is intended for the specific recipient, if you have received this communication in error please contact the sender immediately by phone or email to be removed from the contact list and please destroy all contents immediately.

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CAPE-2 Ground Station Software Lite Edition Published
by M5AKA 08 Dec '13

08 Dec '13

CAPE-2 Ground Station Software Lite Edition Published http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/08/cape-2-ground-station-software-lite-edition-… What’s your Mars? Abigail Harrison at TEDxTampaBay http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/07/whats-your-mars-abigail-harrison-at-tedxtamp… RSGB IET Lectures Available http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/06/rsgb-iet-lectures-available/ UK Academy’s radio club enters the space race http://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/06/uk-academys-radio-club-enters-the-space-race/ ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK website http://amsat-uk.org/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/AMSAT-UK/208113275898396 Twitter https://twitter.com/AMSAT_UK ----

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CAPE-2 Ground Station Software Lite Edition Published!
by Rizwan Merchant 08 Dec '13

08 Dec '13

I am pleased to announce the first public release of the CAPE-2 GroundStation Software Lite Edition has been released. The software will help decode, receive data and send limited commands to the satellite in orbit. For more information, refer to the link below. Link: http://ulcape.org/cape-2-groundstation-software-lite-published/ For all users, please use this program when tracking CAPE-2, and try issuing both commands, and send us back the results. The data obtained from these commands are very valuable to the team, and we appreciate the help and support from everyone the past few weeks. Thanks and please email me at Rizwan at DigitalPhoenixProductions dot com if you need any help with the software. Sincerely, Rizwan Merchant Call Sign: KF5BNL Notice of Confidentiality This E-mail is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521 and is legally privileged. This information is confidential information and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. This email communication contains private and confidential information that is intended for the specific recipient, if you have received this communication in error please contact the sender immediately by phone or email to be removed from the contact list and please destroy all contents immediately.

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ANS-342 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 08 Dec '13

08 Dec '13

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-342 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: * WD9EWK releases videos of working AO-73 * AO-73 added to LoTW list of recognized satellites * South Africa ZACube-1 Tshepisosat Telemetry Requested * New Award from The Star Comm Group * Listening Help Requested for Trailblazer and DragonSat * CAPE-2 Tracking Information Updated * Successful Launch of NROL-39 CubeSats * NASA Enhances 'Space Station Live' and Launches New Weekly Web Series * NASA Education and Virginia Space Grant Opportunities Available * See What You Are Missing if You Don't Receive Your Own AMSAT Journal * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-342.01 ANS-342 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 342.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. DATE December 8, 2013 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-342.01 WD9EWK releases videos of working AO-73 Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK has been working the new AO-73 satellite from his back yard. Most of the time, he has been using his normal portable all-mode satellite station - two Yaesu FT-817NDs, Elk handheld 2m/70cm log periodic antenna. On November 30 he replaced one of the FT-817NDs with a Kenwood TH-F6A - using its all-mode receiver to copy the downlink. December 1 he used an Icom IC-R20 receiver for the downlink. He's used these radios in the past on other satellites, and for some hamfest demonstrations on VO-52 Patrick had used the FT-817ND/TH-F6A combination. He has made a series of videos (satellite audio combined with slideshows) from several AO-73 passes he has worked. They are available at: http://www.youtube.com/va7ewk One of the AO-73 videos contains audio from two passes, and is about twice as long as the others which have audio from a single pass. After working these passes, he is convinced that this new satellite performs as well as VO-52, for both its uplink and downlink. This is a very good thing! AO-73 hears very well, as long as you're careful to match the polarization of the satellite's antennas. The downlink is strong enough to allow the use any of these radios as the receiver on higher passes. For lower passes, he will probably use his second FT-817ND for the downlink receiver. It is good to know that, at least on the higher passes, there are lots of options for a downlink receiver. On the same higher passes, he learned that he can cut the power down from 5W to 1W and even 500mW. High power is not necessary to be heard through the transponder. Patrick's next project with AO-73 will be using a FUNcube Dongle Pro+ as the downlink receiver, for both the transponder and telemetry, while working the transponder with an FT-817ND as his transmit radio. He reinstalled HDSDR and its ExtIO DLL for the Pro+ dongle on his 64-bit Windows 7 laptop, and it is working well. He will be installing the FUNcube-1 dashboard software. Patrick has an old netbook running Linux, and is curious to see how the dongle works with that operating system. His hope is to be able to use the dongle and a laptop as the downlink receiver, without being wiped out by the 5W signals from an FT-817ND. If all is successful, he believs he will have a new combination for his all-mode satellite station that he can use for upcoming demonstrations. Using the dongle and dashboard software during daytime AO-73 passes at hamfests would be something different, and a great thing to show off to the hamfest crowds. Patrick thanks all who worked on getting this satellite built and launched. "Even with the transponder on only for the nighttime passes, it has been fun to be on a new satellite so soon after its launch." [ANS thanks Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- AO-73 added to LoTW list of recognized satellites New version (Ver. 2.7) of configuration file config.xml now available on Logbook server Changed in config.xml version 2.7: Added entry for AO-73 (FunCube) to list of recognized satellites Please log into your LoTW account, click on YOUR ACCOUNT - Your Certificates - download latest configuration file. This will update the satellite list and accept AO-73. You should be able to sign the QSOs with TQSL to make a TQ8 file with those QSOs. [ANS thanks Kathy Allison KA1RWY, ARRL LoTW Specialist for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- South Africa ZACube-1 Tshepisosat Telemetry Requested South Africa's ZACube-1 F'SATI Satellite team at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology is looking for your support to collect telemetry. They request radio amateurs to listen for the UHF beacon on 437.345 MHz. It will be a great help if they can log the raw data from the TNC and send it to Leon at ldutsteenkamp at gmail dot com. ZACube-1 will be going through a commissioning process for the next two weeks to make sure everything works fine. Then the satellite will be commanded into a spin, where after the HF antenna will be rolled out. Only then will the team turn on the HF beacon on 14.099 MHz. So far the team has tested the downlink and uplink, checked system status, uploaded command scripts with nominal Results. Battery voltage varies between 7.6 and 8.2 V, and on-board temperature between 12 and about 26 degrees C. The telemetry also shows that the ISIS antennas deployed on the first try. The AMSAT keplerian elements bulletin released this week noted that ZACube-1 is currently using Cat # 39417 KEPs (the same as AO-73). [ANS thanks SARL NEWS Sunday 1 December 2013 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- New Award from The Star Comm Group The Star Comm Group has a new satellite award called Got Grids? that will be effective 1 Jan 2014. The award can be seen along with the rules at http://www.starcommgroup.org/gotgrids.html The rules for the 5in EM55 award have been changed to make it a little easier. http://www.starcommgroup.org/5in55.html This award is open to the world with the new rules. Example you can work 5 stations that have the award anywhere, without working anyone in EM55 or any combination, say 2 stations in em55 and 3 stations that have the award from any other state or country. A 3rd award is in the planning stages , GRID MASTERS rules and design to come soon. These awards are free. Donations to Amsat are welcomed. Please note on your check STAR Comm Group Award We hope to increase activity on the birds. Comments or questions contact wa4hfn at comcast dot net Damon wa4nvmat comcast dot net Rick [ANS thanks Damon WA4HFN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Listening Help Requested for Trailblazer and DragonSat Have you heard Trailblazer or DragonSat? Jin KB3UKS and Craig KE5VSH launched two CubeSats a week or so ago. The first is Trailblazer and the second is DragonSat. Trailblazer is from the Configurable Space Research at the University of New Mexico (KE5VSH) and DragonSat is Drexel University. Our problem is that we haven’t heard from our satellites yet. There could be a variety of different reasons. First, the satellite didn’t survive delivery. Second, our antennas didn’t deploy or third, we have poor ground stations. As you can imagine, I am hoping for the third. I pasted the TLE which is openly available on space-track and celestetrack, below. It is very close (I believe) to our birds. If you have a chance, could you please keep your ears open in case you might hear us. Please email any packets for Trailblazer to myself here at craig.kief at cosmiac dot org and for DragonSat to Jin Kang at kang at usna dot edu. Thanks again most sincerely, Craig Trailblazer 437.425MHz, AX.25, 9,600 (there is another satellite with the same tx freq as mine there as well). On my packets, if you see C0 00 A8 84…. You will provide me with a wonderful gift. I beacon every 50 seconds DragonSat 145.870MHz, AX.25, 9,600. Beacons every 30 seconds. Trailblazer Maybe 1 39382U 13064C 13325.87382098 .00041511 00000-0 18318-2 0 39 2 39382 40.5103 239.5017 0004316 318.4599 41.5592 15.20995117 275 [ANS thanks Craig KE5VSH for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- CAPE-2 Tracking Information Updated Here is a link to all information the CAPE Team currently has for tracking the Satellite (Updated 12/02/2013). A program will be released in the next few days to decode data. http://ulcape.org/cape-2-tracking-update-12022013/ Frequency: 145.825 (varies due to Doppler shift) Modulation: FM/CW Beacon Interval: Varies Based on Modes (alternating ax25and CW) Green Mode Interval: 2 Minutes Orange Mode Interval 4 Minutes Red Mode Interval 6 Minutes Current TLEs 1 39380U 13064A 13330.07541444 .00010598 00000-0 47292-3 0 199 2 39380 40.5199 215.0588 0005267 335.2591 24.7901 15.21214750 922 * TLE is unconfirmed as official TLE for CAPE-2, but has yielded our best results thus far. On behalf of the CAPE-2 Team, we would really appreciate any data you can relay to us on the satellite. [ANS thanks Rizwan Merchant KF5BNL for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Successful Launch of NROL-39 CubeSats At 07:14:30 UT on Friday, December 6 a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 3-East (SLC-3E) at Vandenberg Air Force Base on California’s Central Coast. In addition to a classified satellite for the US spy satellite agency the National Reconnaissance Office it carried 12 CubeSats four of which have amateur radio payloads. Justin Foley KI6EPH has made available this TLE for the CubeSats: 1 99991U 00000 13340.43204282 0.00000000 00000-0 00000-0 0 0006 2 99991 120.5031 227.3464 0297856 339.9554 93.2232 14.64196995000009 Further information on the CubeSats on the Atlas V GEMSat Launch 2013 can be found at http://tinyurl.com/ANS342-NROL-39-Cubesats Space Flight Now story http://spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av042/131206launch/ [ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA Enhances 'Space Station Live' and Launches New Weekly Web Series Starting in December, NASA will show the public the International Space Station in new ways that will highlight all the scientific research, cutting-edge technology testing and even the wonder of living and working in space. NASA is enhancing its daily NASA Television "Space Station Live" program and beginning a new weekly web series called "Space to Ground." "Space Station Live" will continue to air weekdays at 11 a.m. EST and now will be in a 30-minute format beginning Dec 2. It will feature live views from the International Space Station, updates on the crew's daily activities, enhanced content and interviews on space station science and features on how that science benefits life on Earth. The "Space to Ground" web series will be available every Friday beginning Dec. 6. This series will be a short wrap-up of the week's activities aboard the space station that will showcase the diversity of activities taking place aboard the world's only orbiting laboratory. This video also will be posted to the agency's social media accounts and can be shared and downloaded by the public. The International Space Station remains the springboard to our next great leap in exploration. The space station is a convergence of science, technology and human innovation that is helping us learn what it means to be a spacefaring people by demonstrating new technologies and making research breakthroughs not possible on Earth. To view "Space to Ground" beginning Dec. 6, visit: http://go.nasa.gov/spacetoground For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling information, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv For media b-roll and resources on the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/stationnews For more information about the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station [ANS thanks Joshua Buck, Josh Byerly and NASA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- NASA Education and Virginia Space Grant Opportunities Available + 2014-15 Virginia Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate STEM Research Scholarship The Virginia Space Grant Consortium is offering undergraduate research scholarships of up to $8,500 to encourage talented individuals to conduct research in science, technology, engineering or mathematics, or STEM, fields. Applicants must participate in an active faculty-mentored research experience that aligns with the aerospace sector and meets NASA's mission. Student stipends and research support totaling $4,000 during the academic year and $4,500 during a summer semester are available. These one-year awards are nonrenewable and based on student academic merit, quality of the research proposal and alignment of research with the goals of NASA and the aerospace sector. Underrepresented minority students, female students and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and enrolled at one of the five Virginia Space Grant member universities: The College of William and Mary, Hampton University, Old Dominion University, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. The deadline for submitting applications is Feb.10, 2014. For more information, visit http://vsgc.odu.edu/sf/undergrad/. + Virginia Space Grant Consortium Graduate STEM Research Fellowship The Virginia Space Grant Consortium's Graduate STEM Research Fellowship Program provides fellowships of $5,000 in add-on support to graduate students to supplement and enhance basic research support. The objective of this science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, research fellowship opportunity is to encourage talented individuals to pursue careers in STEM industries that support NASA's mission. Participants in the Graduate STEM Research Fellowship Program must take part in an active faculty-mentored research experience that aligns with the aerospace sector and meets NASA's mission. Awards are made annually and are renewable for one year for students making satisfactory academic and research progress. This is a competitive fellowship program, and awards are based on merit recognizing high academic achievement and promise. Underrepresented minority students, female students and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and enrolled at one of the five Virginia Space Grant member universities: The College of William and Mary, Hampton University, Old Dominion University, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. The deadline for submitting applications is Feb.10, 2014. For more information about this opportunity and to apply online, visit http://vsgc.odu.edu/sf/gradfellow/. + 2014-15 Virginia Space Grant Consortium STEM Bridge Scholarship The Virginia Space Grant Consortium, or VSGC, is offering renewable scholarships to sophomore undergraduate students studying science, technology, engineering or mathematics, or STEM. The STEM Bridge Scholarships are $1,000 and are available to students who are U.S. citizens from any federally recognized minority group enrolled fulltime at one of the five VSGC member universities: The College of William and Mary, Hampton University, Old Dominion University, University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. The STEM Bridge Program bridges students to future opportunities by mentoring and guiding them to future VSGC scholarships and NASA- related paid internships. The program encourages students to explore how their majors can apply to NASA’s Mission. This is a competitive program, and awards are based on student academic merit, quality of interest essay as well as letters of recommendation from current college faculty who can attest to students' interest in STEM areas. The deadline for submitting applications is March 17, 2014. For more information, visit http://vsgc.odu.edu/sf/Bridge/. + 2014-15 Virginia Space Grant Consortium Community College STEM Scholarship The Virginia Space Grant Consortium, or VSGC, encourages academically talented individuals to pursue studies and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. The VSGC is offering a limited number of scholarship opportunities to students majoring in STEM fields at any campus in the Virginia Community College System, or VCCS. These $2,000 scholarships are competitive awards based on academic merit for students demonstrating an interest in NASA's missions and STEM-related careers. The VSGC strongly supports students in technical career pathways who are preparing to transfer to institutions of higher learning while developing the essential skills for a competitive global workforce. Underrepresented minority students, female students and students with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and enrolled in the VCCS. The deadline for submitting applications is March 17, 2014. For more information, visit http://vsgc.odu.edu/sf/ccstem/. Please email any questions about these four opportunities to rkashiri at odu dot edu. [ANS thanks NASA Education for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- See What You Are Missing if You Don't Receive Your Own AMSAT Journal Membership includes the AMSAT Journal and discounts on purchases made through the AMSAT store. You can see representative articles available only to our members here. To download your own copy of the sample AMSAT Journal articles ... go to http://www.amsat.org --> ... then Mouse over the 'AMSAT' Tab in the top row ... then select 'Join AMSAT' which brings you to: http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=1095 When you click on the blue highlighted link 'here' you will land on a page to choose from two sample articles in PDF format. These are brand new just released articles in the November/December 2013 issue of the AMSAT Journal. Other sample issues plan to be made available from upcoming issues of The AMSAT Journal. Follow the Join AMSAT links to sign up to receive your very own copy of the AMSAT Journal - this is an exclusive membership benefit in AMSAT. While you navigate around http://www.amsat.org take a look at the expanding content and updated pages. Hint: Click on the graphic across the top of each page to jump back 'home'. [ANS thanks the AMSAT Journal Team and Alan Biddle, WA4SCA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS News + A Successful contact was made between Salisbury Middle Schools Salisbury, New Brunswick, Canada and Astronaut Michael S. Hopkins KF5LJG using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2013-11-20 17 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via W6SRJ. ARISS Mentor was VE1WPH. For the past several months, students and staff of Salisbury Middle School have been working hard in anticipation of this wonderful opportunity. Most obvious was how the students continued to learn and their excitement as they came together toward this common goal, of which they are all proud. In anticipation of the actual ARISS contact, the students asked that it be proclaimed as “A Day to Space Out”. Activities began with the official launch showcasing a video created by the students providing information regarding the event. Also created by the students were weekly special segments featuring the School's PodCast News Show which include short space related videos, ISS News and current expedition Astronaut biographies. The students also enjoyed informative presentations from the Astronomical Society of New Brunswick and the Science East Planetarium . The Moncton Area Amateur Radio Club will be transmitted from SMS on November 15th, in conjunction with space related “Theme Day”. One creative student submitted an event logo which will be printed on tee- shirts and worn by students as they ask their questions. + A Successful contact was made between Primary and Junior High Schools Complex, Stobierna, Poland and Astronaut Koichi Wakata KC5ZTA using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2013-11-27 09:26 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via VK5ZAI. ARISS Mentors were SP3QFE and IN3GHZ. School Complex in Stobierna is composed of two main school levels: primary school and junior high school. The primary school attendants' are six-year-old to twelve-year-old students, whereas, the junior high school's students are thirteen to sixteen years old. The second type of school puts more emphasis on Science (including Physics and Mathematics). The students of these schools are interested in astronomical observations, thus they are eager to take part in special classes concerning such issues. Schools organized special classes associated with the astronomical observations of the sky. We organised a series of educational trips to places from which students observed the sky: in the stars, planets and satellites. These activities were integrated into daily school activities in the field of physics and astronomy. Because many schools participated in the project, we organized interschool competitions. Moreover school organized a series of competitions related to astronautics! For the youngest students there was a drawing contest, a contest for older students, multimedia presentations related to space flight and the history of the ISS. + A Successful contact was made between Primary and Junior High Schools Complex, Brzeznica, Poland and Astronaut Michael S. Hopkins KF5LJG using callsign NA1SS. The contact began 2013-12-03 08 UTC and lasted about nine and a half minutes. Contact was telebridged via K6DUE. ARISS Mentors were SP3QFE and IN3GHZ. Students from the Primary and Junior High Schools Complex in Brzeznica are interested in Science, mainly Physics. They attend many additional lessons and educational projects connected with Mathematics, Physics, Astronomy, amateur radio communications and satellite communications. They participate in educational trips and tours. Teachers prepare lessons for students interested in astronomy. The school organizes additional activities with the support of the European Union, such as special classes involving astronomical sky observation. Moreover, the school prepared a series of activities related to astronautics: amateur radio communications with the ISS, astronomy classes and observation of the passing Space Station, art competitions related to the cosmos and the space station, activities for senior students concerning the life of astronauts aboard the space station. Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule + Rakuyo Technical High School, Kyoto, Japan, direct via 8N3LR Contact is a go for: Thu 2013-12-12 08:44:10 UTC + Tochigi Science Lion Project, Utsunomiya, Japan, direct via 8N1ISS Contact is a go for: Sat 2013-12-14 07:07:42 UTC The episode of Ice Pilots (Ice Pilots NWT Season 5, Episode 1, (Cold Start)), which begins with an ARISS contact, can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuY0IJDhnwY [ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + AO-73 is now be active on oscar.dcarr.org. (Source David KD5QGR) + FUNCube-1 / AO-73 Radio Communications Subsystem • 145.935 MHz BPSK Telemetry 30 or 300 mW • Inverting SSB/CW transponder 300 mW PEP - 435.150 – 435.130 MHz Uplink LSB - 145.950 – 145.970 MHz Downlink USB Source AMSAT-UK + Live Video Streaming from the ISS The N2YO satellite tracking website provides live video streaming from the International Space Station (ISS) alongside a track showing the position of the ISS over the Earth. The Ustream video from the station is available only when the complex is in contact with the ground through its high-speed communications antenna and NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System. During “loss of signal” periods, you will see a blue screen. Since the station orbits the Earth once every 90 minutes, it sees a sunrise or a sunset every 45 minutes. When the station is in darkness, external camera video may appear black, but also may provide spectacular views of city lights below. Live streaming from the ISS http://www.n2yo.com/space-station/ (Source AMSAT-UK) + December Issue of SatMagazine is now online http://www.satmagazine.com/download.php (Source SatMagazine.com) + Radio Astronomy Magazine Available Online The Vol 1 Issue 2, Dec 2013 issue of RAGazine is now available The publication by the British Astronomical Association Radio Astronomy Group (BAA-RAG) can be downloaded in both hi-res and lo-res versions. Lo-res 4 MB http://tinyurl.com/ANS342-LowResRAGazine Hi-res 9 MB http://tinyurl.com/ANS342-HiResRAGazine Issue 1 is on the BAA-RAG site at http://www.britastro.org/radio/downloads.html Join the BAA-RAG Yahoo Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/baa-rag (Source Southgate ARN) + MCubed-2 heard, telemetry captured MCubed-2 is in orbit and working! Packets captured as the command team turned on beacons. http://exploration.engin.umich.edu/blog/?page_id=1830 http://exploration.engin.umich.edu/blog/?page_id=1933 (Source N8MH and DK3WN) + While representing AMSAT at the Tampa Hamfest in Plant City, Florida, 7 Dec 2013, Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA, was able to complete a QSO via FO-29 with Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK, who was representing AMSAT at the Superstition ARC Hamfest in Queen Creek, Arizona. (Source Drew KO4MA) + European Radio Amateurs' Organization Winter Newsletter now 0nline. http://eurobureauqsl.org/newsletter/ Newsletter comes out quarterly, either in pdf format and as a website. (Source EuroBureauQSL) + December is YOTA Month After the success of the Youngsters On The Air events in the summer we decided that it’s time to do some more action ! During the whole month of December several country’s will become active with YOTA as suffix for callsign. The idea for this is to break the ice for some youngsters and take the microphone in the hand. As seen over the years the YOTA-group is growing fast and every week more youngsters are asking to participate. Let us all make YOTA populair in HAM radio and let us all help to put youngsters on the HAM radio train! You want to hear us on the air? Listen for Youngsters On The Air callsigns in the whole month of December! For more information http://www.ham-yota.eu (Source ham-yota.eu) --------------------------------------------------------------------- /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

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Unfortunate callsign
by Kevin Forbes 08 Dec '13

08 Dec '13

Unfortunate callsign on oscar.dcarr.org at the bottom of the page, some dill has entered a fake callsign that should really not be there in the first place. Look for the row labeled ISS-SSTV, there is only one entry.

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WTB Yaesu CA-10 charger cup for FT-51
by Andrew Glasbrenner 08 Dec '13

08 Dec '13

Anyone have one they will part with? 73, Drew KO4MA

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AO-73 now on oscar.dcarr.org
by David Carr 07 Dec '13

07 Dec '13

I have been out of town for several days, but AO-73 should now be active on oscar.dcarr.org. Please enjoy! 73s, David Carr KD5QGR

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help mixw
by Nick Pugh K5QXJ 07 Dec '13

07 Dec '13

Is there a way to connect a prerecorded mp3 file to mixw ? nick Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School

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Re: AO-73 QSOs on the beacon?
by Michael Fletcher 07 Dec '13

07 Dec '13

> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-73 QSOs on the beacon? > From: Michael Fletcher <oh2aue@xxxxxxxxxxx> > Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 08:55:41 +0200 (EET) > > AO-7, mode B, happens pretty often... As I noted earlier, the only few times I have heard traffic _on_ the AO-73 beacon frequency is when AO-7 is above the horizon in the sun and in Mode B. VO-52 downlink traffic comes close too occasionally, due to Doppler and orbits, but not _onto_ the beacon per se. And my ancient FCD is running just fine, with a highly selective HB LNA and a very sharp multicavity notch for my local APRS repeater at 144.800 MHz. Michael OH2AUE --

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CAPE-2 Keps
by Roland Zurmely 07 Dec '13

07 Dec '13

In the last 2 orbits, object 2013-064C in tle-new.txt from Celestrack is the best match ! I decoded two AX25 framse in the 2 orbits: 1:Fm W5UL-15 To W5UL <UI F/C Pid=F0 Len=68> [19:02:26R] +W5UL,CAPE-2,e,OR,201301282000CST,5101mV,01018,e,27C,32C,ulcape.org# 1:Fm W5UL-15 To W5UL <UI F/C Pid=F0 Len=68> [20:42:24R] +W5UL,CAPE-2,e,OR,201301282004CST,5278mV,01019,e,28C,33C,ulcape.org# 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ

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Cape-2 Keps
by Dave Marthouse 07 Dec '13

07 Dec '13

Hi Gang, Where are the latest keps for Cape-2 stored? I don't see it in the amsat.org listings. Dave Marthouse N2AAM dmarthouse(a)gmail.com

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Re: AO-73 QSOs on the beacon?
by g0mrf＠aol.com 07 Dec '13

07 Dec '13

That's an interesting observation Jerry. Not something we saw during commissioning the satellite. A possible cause would be image response of the dongle. Do you have the 'zero frequency' somewhere between the beacon and the transponder passband? e.g. 145.945 or off to one side e.g. 145.920? Other possibility is a large signal in the transponder passband causing the beacon to FM. Is the modulation 'FM' or does it decode as SSB? Thanks David G0MRF -----Original Message----- From: n0jy <n0jy(a)n0jy.org> To: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 4:40 Subject: [amsat-bb] AO-73 QSOs on the beacon? During the eclipse passes while copying telemetry with my Funcube Dongle Pro + I am hearing SSB QSOs on the beacon frequency. They usually "walk" across it but what puzzles me is that the website info indicates that the transponder passband is well away from the beacon frequency. Am I experiencing some weird stuff with my Dongle or is it possible for stations to work on an uplink that puts their downlink on the beacon frequency? Thanks, Jerry N0JY _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. 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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Superstition Hamfest, tomorrow (7 December)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 07 Dec '13

07 Dec '13

Ho! I will have an AMSAT table at the Superstition Amateur Radio Club's Superstition Superfest hamfest in Queen Creek AZ. This hamfest is at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek, a town southeast of Phoenix - a new location. More information about the hamfest is available at: http://superstitionsuperfest.com/ WD9EWK will be on satellite passes from the hamfest, for on-air demonstrations. Please call WD9EWK and say "hi" to the crowd if you hear me. The hamfest is in grid DM43. If you work WD9EWK during the hamfest and want a QSL card, please e-mail me with the QSO details. If you are in the log, I will send a card. QSOs will also be uploaded to LOTW after the hamfest. AMSAT's web site now has a list of upcoming events where AMSAT will be represented. Go to http://www.amsat.org/ and click on Events for pages with information on AMSAT activities at events like the Dayton Hamvention or Orlando Hamcation - events with a significant AMSAT presence. Other events, like this hamfest, are on a list reachable by clicking on Events followed by clicking on Other Events from the drop- down menu. This list of other AMSAT events is directly accessible at: http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=218 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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MCubed-2 heard this morning over US
by Mark L. Hammond 07 Dec '13

07 Dec '13

Congrats to the team... http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?p=39263 73, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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IPEX heard over Japan
by Mineo Wakita 07 Dec '13

07 Dec '13

23:14-23:25 UTC, 6 Dec 2013 08:14-08:25 JST, 7 Dec 2013 IPEX, Ele 81 SE-Z-NW, 437.270MHz 9600bps GMSK,CW California Polytechnic State University http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/31207ip2.png http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/31207ip2.mp3 JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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CAPE-2 AX25 decoded over Brazil
by Roland Zurmely 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

Please see here: http://www.qsl.net/py4zbz/cape.htm#a 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ

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AMSAT-NA 2013 Symposium Proceedings?
by Mike McCann 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

Is the 2013 Symposium Proceedings book going to be available for purchase ?

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PCSat32 question
by Tom Worthington 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

I use PCSat32 with two radios, an Icom IC7000 for 2m and a Yaesu FT-857 for 70 cm. (I use this particular setup because the FT-857 doesn't respond to the tone settings when in FM mode on SO-50) This seems to work, it correctly assigns selects the proper radio for uplink or downlink and band. The problem arises when I try to run AO-7 in mode A. PCSat assigns the FT-857 to 2m and the IC-7000 to 10m which means I need to move the 2m antenna coax to the other radio. (both radios have a separate coax connector for the 10m antenna.) Is there a way to fix this 'feature'? If I change the order of the frequencies in the Doppler file the radios get assigned properly but the Doppler corrections are of the wrong sign. Thanks, Tom, NH6Y

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Re: EZnec experts? (cubesat Circ Antenna) (corrected)
by Robert Bruninga 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

EZnec kibitzers welcome: (corrected version) See this model image: http://aprs.org/psat/VHF-circ-tuned-ask.gif We are placing two ¼ wave VHF whip antennas on a single feed at the corner of a 1.5U cubesat. We want them +/-45 degrees out of phase so that we get cross polarization when paralleled to a single feed point for simplicity. Modeling each one individually, we got the desired short one to -45 degrees with a coordinate of 23.4” and the long one to +45 degrees with a coordinate of 25.68”. Great… But when we connect them both to the same feed point, we get a combined29-j68 ohms and a significantly higher resonant frequency. The R Real part seems reasonable, but do not get the desired J0 term. To fix that, we lengthened each exactly the same amount to get the resonance down to 145.8 MHz and J=0 term. Good antenna…. The QUESTION IS: Are they still 90 degrees out of phase and will they work as a cross polarized antenna? And how can we verify that? The feed point is the center of a 0.1” wire between the cubesat wire frame and the combined end point of the antennas which are also 0.1” above the top of the cubesat. Maybe I should have included both wires in the original model, but only connected one at a time to a source and grounded the other one while trying to find their individual +/-45 degree lengths. This way, their passive action as a possible counterpoinse to the whole frame may be accounted for. Also, to get within the 500 data points for EZnec, we had to make all of the wire model 1” segments be a single segment per wire. Is fidelity maintained with only 1 segment per 1” wire? Bob, WB4APR

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AO-73 (FunCube) Transponder Schedule
by Les Rayburn 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

Is there a reliable way to predict what status the transponder on AO-73 will be on a given pass over the US? Perhaps a web page that I missed? Any help appreciated. -- -- 73, Les Rayburn, N1LF 121 Mayfair Park Maylene, AL 35114 EM63nf 6M VUCC #1712 AMSAT #38965 Grid Bandits #222 Southeastern VHF Society Central States VHF Society Life Member Six Club #2484 Active on 6 Meters thru 1296, 10GHz & Light

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Re: EZnec experts? (cubesat Circ Antenna)(oops)
by Robert Bruninga 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

OOPS, One error I made is confusing R+j45 ohms as “45 degrees”, when +45 degrees is really R+jR… Right? So I am now starting over. Ignore my post until I fix it and repost the results. Bob ----------------------------------------------------------- EZnec kibitzers welcome: See this model image: http://aprs.org/psat/VHF-circ-tuned-ask.gif We are placing two ¼ wave VHF whip antennas on a single feed at the corner of a 1.5U cubesat. We want them +/-45 degrees out of phase so that we get cross polarization when paralleled to a single feed point for simplicity. Modeling each one individually, we got the desired short one to -45 degrees with a coordinate of 23.04” and the long one to +45 degrees with a coordinate of 25.7”. Great… But when we connect them both to the same feed point, we get a combined real R term about half of the others as expected, but do not get the desired J0 term but get something near -45 degrees and a resonance several MHz higher. To fix that, we lengthened each exactly the same amount to get the resonance down to 145.8 MHz and J=0 term. Good antenna…. The QUESTION IS: Are they still 90 degrees out of phase and will they work as a cross polarized antenna? And how can we verify that? The feed point is the center of a 0.1” wire between the cubesat wire frame and the combined end point of the antennas which are also 0.1” above the top of the cubesat. Maybe I should have included both wires in the original model, but only connected one at a time to a source and grounded the other one while trying to find their individual +/-45 degree lengths. This way, their passive action as a possible counterpoinse to the whole frame may be accounted for. Also, to get within the 500 data points for EZnec, we had to make all of the wire model 1” segments be a single segment per wire. Is fidelity maintained with only 1 segment per 1” wire? Bob, WB4APR

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EZnec experts? (cubesat Circ Antenna)
by Robert Bruninga 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

EZnec kibitzers welcome: See this model image: http://aprs.org/psat/VHF-circ-tuned-ask.gif We are placing two ¼ wave VHF whip antennas on a single feed at the corner of a 1.5U cubesat. We want them +/-45 degrees out of phase so that we get cross polarization when paralleled to a single feed point for simplicity. Modeling each one individually, we got the desired short one to -45 degrees with a coordinate of 23.04” and the long one to +45 degrees with a coordinate of 25.7”. Great… But when we connect them both to the same feed point, we get a combined real R term about half of the others as expected, but do not get the desired J0 term but get something near -45 degrees and a resonance several MHz higher. To fix that, we lengthened each exactly the same amount to get the resonance down to 145.8 MHz and J=0 term. Good antenna…. The QUESTION IS: Are they still 90 degrees out of phase and will they work as a cross polarized antenna? And how can we verify that? The feed point is the center of a 0.1” wire between the cubesat wire frame and the combined end point of the antennas which are also 0.1” above the top of the cubesat. Maybe I should have included both wires in the original model, but only connected one at a time to a source and grounded the other one while trying to find their individual +/-45 degree lengths. This way, their passive action as a possible counterpoinse to the whole frame may be accounted for. Also, to get within the 500 data points for EZnec, we had to make all of the wire model 1” segments be a single segment per wire. Is fidelity maintained with only 1 segment per 1” wire? Bob, WB4APR

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12 CubeSats launched with NROL-39
by Gregory Beat 06 Dec '13

06 Dec '13

Twelve CubeSats are set to launch aboard an Atlas V rocket with the NROL-39 primary payload from Vandenberg AFB in California on December 5, 2013. The CubeSat payloads have been provided through NASA's Educational Launch of Nanosatellites (ELaNa) program and the NRO's Mission Integration Directorate (MID). CubeSat Project will be using the #cubesat IRC channel to coordinate object identification. -- Justin Foley KI6EPH CubeSats on the Atlas V GEMSat Launch 2013 http://cubesat.org/index.php/missions/upcoming-launches/134-l39-launch-alert Follow ongoing chat on the #cubesat IRC channel see http://www.cubesat.org/index.php/collaborate/ground-operators == w9gb Sent from iPad Air

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