- AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

US and Hungarian Postal Service
by John Papay 08 Dec '12

08 Dec '12

I had the pleasure of working HA1SE on Monday 3Dec 2012 on AO-7B cw. The QSO was during the afternoon so I quickly prepared a QSL card to take down to the post office as Imre was very excited about the QSO (it was my first HA so me too!) Yesterday, Friday 7Dec, and to my surprise, I received an email from Imre advising me that he had received my qsl card! So in a matter of a few days, the USPS here and the Hungarian Postal Service there teamed up to deliver this card in what I would consider record time, just 4 days! Congratulations to both postal services for an amazing job! 73, John K8YSE John Papay john(a)papays.com

1 0

Beaconing
by Kevin Deane 08 Dec '12

08 Dec '12

If people STOPPED BEACONING via the ISS we would still be able to use PC-SAT... Thanks for taking part in the destruction of NO-44... AND being annoying on the ISS Digipeater... Kevin KF7MYK

2 1

PSLV-CA launch on 28 Jan 2013
by Mineo Wakita 07 Dec '12

07 Dec '12

SARAL, Sapphire, NEOSSat, BRITE, TugSat-1, AAUSat-3, Max Valier are planed to launch on 28 Jan 2013, 12:20UTC by PSLV-CA from Satish Dhawan Space Center (Sriharikota, India) --------------------------------------------------------------- SARAL, Ocean Observation Satellite ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization), and CNES(Centre National d'tudes Spatiales, France) Ka-band radar altimeter operating at 35.75 GHz http://smsc.cnes.fr/SARAL/ http://www.isro.org/scripts/futureprogramme.aspx Sapphire, Military Satellite Department of National Defence (DND), Canada http://spaceref.ca/military-space/sapphire-canadas-first-military-satellite… NEOSSat, Near Earth Object Surveillance Satellite Microsat Systems Canada Inc (MSCI) http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/satellites/neossat/default.asp BRITE (CanX-3A), 20cm NanoSatellite BRIght star Target Explorer / Canadian Advanced Nanospace eXperiments UTIAS (University of Toronto, Institute for Aerospace Studies), Canada http://www.utias-sfl.net/nanosatellites/CanX3/ TugSat-1 (BRITE-Austria, CanX-3B), 20cm NanoSatellite Technical University of Graz (TUG), Austria VHF/UHF/S-Band, Photometric observations of bright stars http://www.tugsat.at/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL7joLxSPl4 http://www.oosa.unvienna.org/pdf/pres/stsc2012/tech-47E.pdf AAUSat-3, 1U CubeSat 437.425MHz Aalborg University, Denmark http://www.space.aau.dk/aausat3/ Max Valier, X-ray Astronomy Satellite Italian educational institutions http://sat.gobbz.net/ --------------------------------------------------------------- [Reference] http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/21208ps1.png http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/21208ps2.png JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

1 0

CubeSat Community Workshop Milton Keynes UK
by Trevor . 07 Dec '12

07 Dec '12

The UK Space Agency will be running a free CubeSat Community Workshop at Milton Keynes on January 22 that will include discussion of plans for UKube-2. See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11782 Also on the AMSAT-UK site: Pictures released of UKube-1 CubeSat http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11786 Australian Radio Ham’s Spacecraft Missions http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11745 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

satellite antenna photos oa4o
by Lizeth Norman 07 Dec '12

07 Dec '12

Hi all! http://www.flickr.com/photos/n3ykf/ oa4o is the Peruvian national club station. There is a fine az el antenna array for vhf, uhf and shf. They don't know what manufacturer or model the antennas are. Do you? Top 4 photos. Next time I go down the possibility of rehabbing the array exists. The club president expressed a serious interest in the satellite gear being used. 73 de Norm n3ykf

6 7

Re: satellite antenna photos oa4o
by Mike Seguin N1JEZ 07 Dec '12

07 Dec '12

I looked at the photos one last time. I think the 70 cm antenna is a KLM based on the number of elements. Cushcraft is 38 elements and KLM is 40. 73, Mike, N1JEZ AMSAT 29649 "A closed mouth gathers no feet" ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Seguin N1JEZ" <n1jez(a)burlingtontelecom.net> Sent: Friday, December 07, 2012 7:54 AM Subject: Re: satellite antenna photos oa4o > Hi John, > > The 70 cm antenna could be Cushcraft, but I think the 2M is KLM because of > the configuration of driven elements. Folded dipole vs T match. > > Mike > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "John / NS1Z" <ns1zjohn(a)gmail.com> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: satellite antenna photos oa4o > > >>I have a set of older Cushcraft antennas that meet that criteria: 738XB >>and 22XB. Both have polarity switching but the 435 ant has the box on the >>rear. I have manuals for both. >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: Bill Booth >> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: satellite antenna photos oa4o >> >>> 2M looks like a KLM 22c with polarity switcher >>> 70 cm looks like a KLM 40cx with polarity switcher >>> 1.2 G looks like a Tonna (F9FT?) http://www.f9ft.com/indexe.html >> >> I agree with Mike, N1JEZ. The KLM's were the only one with the big box >> polarity >> switcher on the end of the 440 boom. The 144 unit was not covered but an >> open >> circuit board with lots of exposed phasing wires. >> >> In fact looks exactly like mine except mine have the F9FT in the middle >> of the >> boom. If you need copies of the KLM manuals let me know ..... >

1 0

1972-12-07: Apollo 17 Launched
by B J 07 Dec '12

07 Dec '12

I remember watching the liftoff on TV and it felt strange knowing that it was the last time that astronauts were scheduled to go to the moon. Back then, I thought that today there would be a habitation there and perhaps even people on Mars. 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

1 0

PrisonSat
by Jeff Yanko 07 Dec '12

07 Dec '12

Geez, I hope this doesn't mean we have to start committing crimes to get our dreams built. http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/06/15730738-san-quentin-inmates-bui… 73, Jeff WB3JFS

5 5

UT Bevo-2 Satellite - Imgur
by Bryce Salmi 06 Dec '12

06 Dec '12

http://imgur.com/a/8z7fr I ran across this album posted to the internet today and thought many on this list would find it interesting. Enjoy! KB1LQC

1 0

Re Payload
by andy thomas 06 Dec '12

06 Dec '12

Knowing little about design, I just wonder if rather than deploying cubesats fitted as ballast, a transponder could not be fitted to the hull of the appropriate vessel which contains the sats and ballast? It could also relay vibrations from the vessel as it tumbled in the sky and would therefore have some utility to launch provider? I think this approach was adopted by Aatis in Germany a few years ago. 73 de andy g0sfj

2 1

Re: payload potential
by Trevor . 06 Dec '12

06 Dec '12

--- On Thu, 6/12/12, R Oler <orbitjet(a)hotmail.com> wrote: > http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/spacex-foot-eelv-door-double-launch-… Agreed a lot of ballast. The orbit is 651 km by 642 km, 72°, isn't it ? Anyone know what the costs are to fly P-Pod payloads on this flight ? CubeSat launch costs seem to have been creeping up in recent years. One launch provider is charging $100,000 for a 1U CubeSat on a Soyuz to fly next April. Hopefully as more launchers enter the market prices will eventually fall. 73 Trevor M5AKA

2 1

EC4TR Looking for NA
by John Papay 06 Dec '12

06 Dec '12

Luis, EC4TR, is looking for North American stations to set up schedules with. His grid in IN80er. Email him at his qrz.com email address if you would like to contact him. FO-29 is over 1300km high during morning passes over the Atlantic now. AO-7 is always around 1450km and is in Mode B on odd days during December. 73, John K8YSE

1 0

AO-7 DX
by Randy Morden 06 Dec '12

06 Dec '12

Hello All, I was quite surprised today to work Neil, ES6DO in Estonia just before 18:00Z on AO-7 mode B. I was listening to that pass with the hopes of working a few UK stations I heard a few days ago, and was just about to shut the rig down at the end of the pass, when I heard a CW station calling CQ. At first I though it was an Irish station with an EI prefix, but two dits turned out to be three - ES rather than EI! With less than one minute to make the contact on that pass, it all worked out with a new grid and new DX in my log, and Neil's first VE QSO. Many thanks Neil!

3 2

payload potential
by R Oler 06 Dec '12

06 Dec '12

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/12/spacex-foot-eelv-door-double-launch-… "The STP-2 mission will be launched on SpaceX’s new Falcon Heavy from SLC-40 and is targeted for mid-2015. The goals of the mission are to launch an Integrated Payload Stack (IPS) consisting of two co-prime space vehicles (SVs), up to six auxiliary payloads (APLs) (minimum of two APLs), up to eight separate Poly-PicoSatellite Orbital Deployers (P-PODs) (TBD cubesats), and LSC-provided ballast of up to 5,000kg." lots of ballast... The Falcon9D launch looks like the rebirth of Triana. Robert WB5MZO

1 0

Cat issue with TS2000 and satpc32
by Lawn, Richard 05 Dec '12

05 Dec '12

I decided to swap out my ft-847 and TS2000. Te 847 was working fine along with my Flex5000A, both being controlled by SatPC32. Aside from redefining the radio 2 parameters in satpc's setup window,image no changes. I tried several different cat baud rates bot on the ts2k and saps, but without success. I then bypassed my keyspan 4port serial to USB hub and used a separate serial to USB converter (another brand) wired from the radio to by USB powered hub. Still no cat control of the radio when satpc32 starts. Anyone have any suggestion? Rick Sent from my iPad http://RickLawn.com

2 1

SO-50 today
by Daniel 05 Dec '12

05 Dec '12

Hey all that were on, I was hearing a strange extra noise on the bird, might have been bleed over from my out of aligned antenna ( fixed ) will try again on the next pass. Thanks N8ro and Bam out there.. Dan KF1BUZ Dm09

1 0

AMSAT Office Closed
by Martha 05 Dec '12

05 Dec '12

I will be out of the office Thursday, December 6th, 7th, 10th and 11th. Back on Wednesday at 10:00 PM ET -- 73- Martha

1 0

My first transatlantic contact on satellites
by Hector, CO6CBF 05 Dec '12

05 Dec '12

Hello everyone! I am pleased to report that yesterday morning I had my first transatlantic contact on satellites. I worked EA4CYQ Juan Antonio in IM78cx. I had looked for intercontinental contacts before but it had been very hard for me. Now, running my new donated satellite gear I am able to work FO-29 until 0 degree in any direction. It was my third attempt and was successful! Cubans cannot operate on AO-7 mode B due to a 432MHz restriction in our country, so we have only a few chances on FO-29 every five months when the satellite is getting close to apogee. Juan Antonio and I had a two minutes window and we had enough time to interchange reports, grids and greetings. Here is the recording: <https://ucf-pegasus.ucf.edu.cu/owa/redir.aspx?C=2dad444d014b4ba394baa23be53 ca8a2&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.papays.com%2fsat%2fgeneral.html> http://www.papays.com/sat/general.html Thanks very much to Juan Antonio EA4CYQ for the great contact and to John K8YSE for look for us and record the contact! Right Now, FO-29 has a big footprint in the morning passes. Please, if you are into the footprint and want to try a long contact, just drop me an email directly. I will try until have a contact with you. 73! Hector, CO6CBF EL92sd --- Consulte la Enciclopedia Colaborativa Cubana http://www.ecured.cu/

2 1

Re: My first transatlantic contact on satellites
by Andrew Glasbrenner 05 Dec '12

05 Dec '12

Congratulations Hector! Europe is not easy so far south! Keep an ear out for the Brazilians and Argentinians (and others) to the south too. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: "Hector, CO6CBF" <hmartinez(a)ucf.edu.cu> >Sent: Dec 5, 2012 10:27 AM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] My first transatlantic contact on satellites > >Hello everyone! > >I am pleased to report that yesterday morning I had my first transatlantic >contact on satellites. I worked EA4CYQ Juan Antonio in IM78cx. > >I had looked for intercontinental contacts before but it had been very hard >for me. Now, running my new donated satellite gear I am able to work FO-29 >until 0 degree in any direction. It was my third attempt and was successful! > >Cubans cannot operate on AO-7 mode B due to a 432MHz restriction in our >country, so we have only a few chances on FO-29 every five months when the >satellite is getting close to apogee. Juan Antonio and I had a two minutes >window and we had enough time to interchange reports, grids and greetings. > >Here is the recording: ><https://ucf-pegasus.ucf.edu.cu/owa/redir.aspx?C=2dad444d014b4ba394baa23be53 >ca8a2&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.papays.com%2fsat%2fgeneral.html> >http://www.papays.com/sat/general.html > >Thanks very much to Juan Antonio EA4CYQ for the great contact and to John >K8YSE for look for us and record the contact! > >Right Now, FO-29 has a big footprint in the morning passes. Please, if you >are into the footprint and want to try a long contact, just drop me an email >directly. I will try until have a contact with you. > >73! > >Hector, CO6CBF > >EL92sd > > > > > > > > > > > >--- >Consulte la Enciclopedia Colaborativa Cubana >http://www.ecured.cu/ >_______________________________________________ >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

1 0

Launch date for Dove-1 ad PhoneSats ?
by Trevor . 04 Dec '12

04 Dec '12

I've heard that the launch date for Dove-1 and the three v1 PhoneSats on Antares has slipped from December into January. Can anyone confirm the date of the launch ? 73 Trevor M5AKA

2 2

f.s. Ten-Tec Model 1210
by Patrick Marineau 03 Dec '12

03 Dec '12

For Sale: Ten-Tec Model 1210 2 meter transverter. Excellent condition with complete original instruction manual and spare new MRF-2628 R.F. Power output transistor. $38 shipped flat rate Priority U.S. Thanks, Pat K9HF

1 0

Vintage Documentary of IO-26 ITAMSAT
by Trevor . 02 Dec '12

02 Dec '12

Vintage Documentary of IO-26 ITAMSAT http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11741 Also on the AMSAT-UK site are: A Day in the Life of SkyCube Engineering http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11739 Satellites in a box – Radio Aurora Explorer Video http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11734 DIY 6 GHz comb generator http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11729 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

Wanted: C band transitions
by Lizeth Norman 02 Dec '12

02 Dec '12

Title says it all. Must pass 5800MHz Need Two. Thanks Norm

1 0

Kenpro Rotor FS w/ ST3
by Ted 01 Dec '12

01 Dec '12

Pls take a look: http://www.ebay.com/itm/110984028799?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT <http://www.ebay.com/itm/110984028799?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p398 4.m1586.l2649> &_trksid=p3984.m1586.l2649 Thank you, K7TRK

1 0

CO6CBF now has all of his radio gear!
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 01 Dec '12

01 Dec '12

Hi! I received a phone call from Hector CO6CBF this evening. One month has passed since the AMSAT Symposium in Orlando, and Hector now has all the radio gear he received at the Symposium. He is a very happy ham tonight. :-) When Hector returned to Cuba, Cuban Customs held the radio gear until an inspector from the Ministry of Communications went to the airport in Hector's home city of Cienfuegos and certified that the gear was legal to enter Cuba. Hector has been calling the local office of the Ministry of Communications daily, to get someone to inspect the equipment. That finally happened a few days ago. After the inspection, and then sending paperwork to Havana, Hector received word today that he could retrieve his gear. He borrowed a car, and went to the Cienfuegos airport to do that. Hector took two HTs home with the other radio stuff, and he has had them at home for the past month. He disassembled the HTs before leaving Florida, and they were not classified as "radios" when he went through Customs. The HTs were considered to be "parts", so they were not held at the Cienfuegos airport. Hector also carried a ThinkPad laptop and a new mobile phone home, which were not held at Customs with the radio gear. Some of the items Hector now has at home include: a Yaesu FT-817ND, an Elk antenna, SignaLink USB interface, an az/el rotator with LVB Tracker, a FUNcube Dongle Pro, and accessories like coax cables, a 2m/70cm diplexer, and amplifiers. These items should help him improve his satellite station, and also let him work on an EME station not far from his home. One of the HTs will go to another ham, and that new mobile phone will help with satellite operating. It's an Android-based phone, and Hector can run apps on it to show pass predictions, show his location using the GPS in the phone, record audio from the passes, and take photos and make videos with the phone's camera. Hector couldn't take a GPS receiver home with him, but can make use of the GPS in his mobile phone to pinpoint his location - especially at grid boundaries. Thanks to all the hams who gave Hector equipment to take home from the Symposium. Hector wanted to post a thank-you message himself, but he isn't able to access his e-mail account from home this evening. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

1 0

Re: az-rotor
by Joe Leikhim 30 Nov '12

30 Nov '12

Al; Did you try the method in the manual first to set the rotor up? I followed the manual and it worked fine. Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: az-rotor Message-ID: <ABBEFC4E69E44BE4894A1C23DA4B0F8C@AlPC> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Hi Erich et al., Following suggestion I did the following. Since the rotor goes beyond 180 on the right side of its travel I let it go until it stopped. I then visually noted how much beyond 180 it had gone, divided by 2 and brought the dial back to 360 plus the number just obtained. I then assumed the pot was at its halfway position. I made the following resistance measurements 1-2 was 209.7 ohms, 2-3 was 206.1 ohms, and 1-3 was 415 ohms. Considering the manual guess work I think that is a pretty good result. I then ran SatPC32 and attempted to park the rotor at 360. It was off, I had to park it at 341 for the rotor to actually be at 360. This is basically the same result as before when I was just going by the control box readings. I believe the resistance measurements would suggest that there is not a short in the pot (unless it just happened to be around the halfway point). At this point I am not sure what to try next 73 Al W8KHP -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446 WWW.LEIKHIM.COM

1 0

Re: az-rotor
by Erich Eichmann 29 Nov '12

29 Nov '12

Hello Al, you wrote: > The problem is that half way through, when it should read 360 it reads 345. > There is a nonlinearity in the readout. > I made and make the same observation with the KR-600X, the AZ rotor of my KR-5600A rotor combination. The KR-600X is completely equal with the AZ rotor of the G-5400B combination regarding control box and wire poti in the rotor (Yaesu took over the Kenpro rotor production and replaced the "KR" by "G"). When I first added rotor control to my tracking software years ago I mounted the KR-600X in the shack over a big 360° linear scale with 1 m diameter and with a pointer that moved around the scale close above it. The rotor ran exactly an 360° turn from the starting position 180° in the south to the end position 180°. In the software I entered 180 for the start positon and 179.9 for the end position. I could adjust the meter so that it also moved exactly into the start and end position, after I had adjusted the rotor interface poti and the "Out Voltage" poti at the control box. . Then I entered 360° (rsp. 0°) as target position. The rotor moved exactly to that position, the pointer pointed exactly to the opposite direction of the starting position. The meter however pointed to about 342°, so it was wrong by about 15° to 20°. The situation is the same until today. The maximum of the deviation is in the middle of the scale. So, by my experience and at least in my case the wire poti in the rotor is very linear, but the meter is not. I agree with Domenico, that the linearity of the poti is important. 73s, Erich, DK1TB ----- Original Message ----- From: <tokens(a)myranch.com> To: <APBIDDLE(a)MAILAPS.ORG>; <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2012 10:00 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: G5400B Rotor Problem > Alan, > > Thanks for the answers. The rotor goes through its 360 just fine. The > problem is that half way through, when it should read 360 it reads 345. > There is a nonlinearity in the readout. > > 73, > Al W8KHP >

4 3

NASA Cancels Nanosat Challenge
by Limaunion 29 Nov '12

29 Nov '12

fyi: http://science.slashdot.org/story/12/11/29/0459232/nasa-cancels-nanosat-cha…

1 0

G5400B Rotor Problem
by tokens＠myranch.com 29 Nov '12

29 Nov '12

Got some unexpected time today to look at the rotor. First I set the output at pin 6 of the external control output jack to 5.0 V. Then I got readings every 45 deg from 180 at the left to 180 on the right. The readings are of course subject to parallax in reading the needle. Readings from 180 on the left to 180 on the right were 0.024, 0.606, 1.270, 1.864, 2.489, 3.074, 3.690, 4.350, and 5.000 V. The difference in voltage from reading to reading varied from 0.582 to 0.660 V. From left to right they were 0.582, 0.664, 0.594, 0.625, 0.585, 0.616, 0.660, 0.650. I then took resistance readings on the 500 ohm pot in the rotor (removing connection from control box each time). Starting at the left resistance from 1-2, 1-3, 2-3 were 415, 416, and 1.7 ohms. With the rotor halfway around (360) (dial reading 345) resistance from 1-2, 1-3, 2-3 were 241.7, 416, and 176.1 ohms. With the dial at 360 resistance from 1-2, 1-3, 2-3 were 220.4, 413, and 193.6 ohms. With the dial at the right 180 resistance from 1-2, 1-3, 2-3 were 30.4, 414, and 383 ohms. First observation is that the pot in the rotor is considerably less than 500 ohms. Next with either the rotor being halfway around or the dial reading as if it were halfway around I would expect the 1-2 and 2-3 readings of the pot to be somewhat similar but they are not. So, are these results glaringly pointing to the 500 ohm pot as the culprit? Or does someone see something else? I’d appreciate any opinions on this. Thank you once again. 73 Al W8KHP

4 4

Microwave brick oscillators
by Lizeth Norman 29 Nov '12

29 Nov '12

Hi all! Anyone have any experience with said units made by California Microwave and Harris? I do have a general idea how they work and would like to drive them with a signal generator for lab use and testing for now. Any ideas? I have pulled the crystal and know which pads drive. how do I go from a signal generator to a crystal input? Norm

2 1

Re: ESTCube-1 and Aalto-1
by Trevor . 28 Nov '12

28 Nov '12

--- On Wed, 28/11/12, Bob- W7LRD <w7lrd(a)comcast.net> wrote: > no transponders? Bob W7LRD No transponders on those Cubesats but Spring/Summer 2013 should see the launch of 3 CubeSats carrying 435/145 linear transponders, 1 CubeSat carrying a 145/435 linear transponder and several CubeSats carry 435/145 AO-16 style FM-DSB transponders. 73 Trevor M5AKA

1 0

ESTCube-1 and Aalto-1
by Trevor . 28 Nov '12

28 Nov '12

2013 PSLV Launch for ESTCube-1 CubeSat http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11707 Finlands First CubeSat Aalto-1 - 2013? http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11702 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

2 1

G5400B Rotor Problem
by tokens＠myranch.com 27 Nov '12

27 Nov '12

Hi All, Thanks for the suggestions. Looks like I’ll be measuring some voltages this weekend and will hopefully solve the problem. 73 Al W8KHP

3 3

AO-27 reportedly heard this afternoon in California
by Paul Stoetzer 27 Nov '12

27 Nov '12

K6CMG reported on the HAM-SATs reflector that he heard people talking on AO-27 during a west coast pass around 2130Z today. I checked and AO-27 was the only amateur satellite over his location at the time. Has it been reactivated? There has been no update on the AO-27 website since October 21st. 73, Paul Stoetzer, N8HM Washington, DC

3 3

Video – ARISSAT-1 Operational Survey Results
by Trevor . 26 Nov '12

26 Nov '12

The presentation given by Steve Bible N7HPR at the ARRL/TAPR DCC in Atlanta. See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11690 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

CaNoSat - Canadian-Norwegian Sub-Orbital CubeSats
by Trevor . 26 Nov '12

26 Nov '12

See the video at http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11684 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

SpinSat and Phonesat v2 both plan Summer 2013 launches
by Trevor . 26 Nov '12

26 Nov '12

SpinSat Packet Radio Satellite To Launch Next Summer http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11674 Nexus S PhoneSat v2 Plans Summer 2013 Launch http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11670 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

OSSI CubeSat on Swedish Radio Show 12:10 CET
by Trevor . 26 Nov '12

26 Nov '12

Today Monday, November 26 at 12:10 CET Swedish Radio will broadcast a show about the Maker Movement that will include an item on Hojun Song DS1SBO and the OSSI CubeSat that is planned to launch in April 2013. See http://sverigesradio.se/sida/avsnitt/120914?programid=412 Text in English at http://bit.ly/TlA6Bq Previous shows have been available after broadcast from the website as MP3's 73 Trevor M5AKA

1 0

G5400B Rotor Problem
by Joe Leikhim 25 Nov '12

25 Nov '12

Al; The rotor turns a bit beyond the 180 degree clockwise mark, so when setting it, you have to observe the position of the AZ rotor bell. This is hard to do if the rotor is on the tower. You may need a helper and some walkie talkies. Start with checking the voltages from the controller box. The regulator Q2 (UA7806C) provides about 6 volts through 15 ohm resistors to screw terminals A1 and E1 on the rear panel. (A2 and E2 return a variable voltage from the rotor pots, while A3 and E3) are ground returns). I measured about +5.9 volts at A1 and E1 on mine. Last month I was discussing a stability problem with Tom K4TB who advised me that he found the regulator Q2 would oscillate and the output capacitor C9 (0.01) ineffective, so he added a capacitor directly to the output and fixed his. The original Thompson datasheet for that device claims no output capacitor is required, though a National Semiconductor version of that regulator recommends a .22 uf cap at the input and a 0.1 uf cap at the output to "help transient response". Common wisdom has been that these devices may oscillate. I have seen some fluctuation in meter reading on mine at low end of scale. I am in process of system testing my rotor and a TAPR TrakBox on the bench, so I recently set the voltages up to correctly display the azimuth and elevation. There are two pots on the corners of the rear panel which set the meter full scale accuracy these are VR1 and VR2. After adjusting these per the manual, page 4; Pre-Installation Adjustments. After confirming the meters track the rotor position faithfully, there are a second inner pair of pots VR3 and VR4 which set the full scale (AZ and EL needle to full right mark 180 degrees)voltage at the DIN connector which is normally used to feed an ADC inside an external tracking interface like the TracBox or Kansas City Tracker, etc. I set mine to accomodate the ADC voltage range of the TAPR TrakBox, normally 5.0 volts at full scale. Set to this voltage even if you don't have automation, so if you automate later, you save from the headache if the voltage is way too high or low. These outputs should track 0-5V as you go from left to right on the meters. If you are going to adjust these 4 pots, you might want to splash some volume control cleaner at them so they track smoothly. Date: Sun, 25 Nov 2012 13:31:29 -0500 From:<tokens(a)myranch.com> To:<amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] G5400B Rotor Problem Message-ID: <4C58B102B2AC45A7AD70C87ED4F77C10@AlPC> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="UTF-8" Hi all, Trying to get a G5400B rotor going but having some calibration problems with the azimuth settings. With power off and the rotor set at the left hand position, I adjust the needle to read 180. When the power is turned on the reading goes to about 182. I then let the rotor go all the way to the right 180 mark and adjust the full scale pot to read 180. The problem is when the rotor is half way around and should be reading 360 it actually reads 345. Any ideas on what I should be looking at? Also there is nothing in the manual to suggest what the ?out voltage adjust? pot is supposed to do. What is its function? Thank you for any advice. 73 Al W8KHP -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446 WWW.LEIKHIM.COM

1 0

Video of Elon Musk lecture + 29 MHz Rx Project
by Trevor . 25 Nov '12

25 Nov '12

The presentation that Elon Musk gave in London on November 16 http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11645 G0MRF 29.45 MHz Receiver Project http://www.uk.amsat.org/?page_id=11615 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

G5400B Rotor Problem
by tokens＠myranch.com 25 Nov '12

25 Nov '12

Hi all, Trying to get a G5400B rotor going but having some calibration problems with the azimuth settings. With power off and the rotor set at the left hand position, I adjust the needle to read 180. When the power is turned on the reading goes to about 182. I then let the rotor go all the way to the right 180 mark and adjust the full scale pot to read 180. The problem is when the rotor is half way around and should be reading 360 it actually reads 345. Any ideas on what I should be looking at? Also there is nothing in the manual to suggest what the “out voltage adjust” pot is supposed to do. What is its function? Thank you for any advice. 73 Al W8KHP

2 3

ANS-330 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne Maenpaa 24 Nov '12

24 Nov '12

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-330 ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS 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. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org In this edition: * Fox-1 CubeSat Design Published in Proceedings and Web * 2012 AMSAT Symposium Proceedings Available in the AMSAT Store * PhoneSat CubeSat to Launch from Wallops in December * N0D Special Event Station Celebrating The End of the World * Successful ARISS School Contacts This Week * Three Astronaut Hams Return Safely From ISS * Call for Papers for IAA Conference: University Satellite Missions * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-330.01 ANS-330 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 330.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. November 25, 2012 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-330.01 --------------------------------------------------------------------- Fox-1 CubeSat Design Published in Proceedings and Web During the 2012 Symposium AMSAT Vice-President Engineering, Tony Monteiro, AA2TX and the Fox Engineering team presented the latest status on the design, development, and construction of the Fox-1A satellite project. This is the 1U cubesat which is slated as the FM repeater transponder to replace AO-51. The Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA 30th Symposium and AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting, October 26-28 in Orlando, Florida have been put in the on- line AMSAT Store. Please visit the store at: http://store.amsat.org/catalog/ The proceedings contains over 30 articles on subjects ranging from current satellite operations to detailed updates on the Fox Project. AMSAT's Fox web page at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/fox/ now has been refreshed with the latest information from the Symposium: + Fox-1 Mechanical design and component integration diagrams + Fox-1 Thermal Design + Fox-1 Radiation Environment + Preliminary screenshot view of Fox-1 Telemetry Program Fox-1A's design goals include: + Fox-1 is designed to operate in sunlight without batteries once the battery system fails. This applies lessons learned from AO-51 and ARISSat-1 operations. + In case of IHU computer failure Fox-1 will continue to operate its FM repeater in a basic, 'zombie sat' mode, so that the repeater remains on-the-air. + Fox-1 is designed as the immediate replacement for AO-51. Its U/V (Mode B) transponder will make it even easier to work with modest equipment. + From the ground user's perspective, the same FM amateur radio equipment used for AO-51 may be used for Fox-1. AMSAT's Fox-1 project timeline is based on targeting a launch in the second half of 2013. NASA will determine on which flight each of the Project ELaNa CubeSats fly. Watch for news in the AMSAT Journal for details of AMSAT's partner- ship with universities, the National Science Foundation, and NASA in seeking grants for getting the first and future Fox generation sat- ellites into orbit. [ANS thanks the Fox Team for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2012 AMSAT Symposium Proceedings Available in the AMSAT Store The Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA 30th Symposium and AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting, October 26-28 in Orlando, Florida have been put in the on- line AMSAT Store. Please visit the store at: http://store.amsat.org/catalog/ The proceedings contains over 30 articles on subjects ranging from current satellite operations to updates on the Fox Project. If you could not make the meeting, this is a great source of the latest information. Price is $25 + $12 Shipping for USA. See the details on the store web page and order your copy today! [ANS thanks Martha at the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- PhoneSat CubeSat to Launch from Wallops in December The PhoneSat cubesat is planned for launch aboard a new commercial rocket from Orbital Sciences Corp. Orbital's initial flight of the Antares-110 vehicle will carry PhoneSat into low earth orbit around December 17. The vehicle will be launched from a new launch pad LA-0A at Wallops Island, where the former Conestoga launch pad was located. Phonesat carries an amateur radio payload on 437.425 MHz, has been chosen as one of the winners in the Aerospace category for the Pop- ular Science magazine "Best of What's New 2012" awards. PhoneSat is a technology demonstration mission consisting of three 1U CubeSats intended to prove that a smartphone can be used to per- form many of the functions required of a spacecraft bus. The satellite is built around the Nexus smartphone which will be run- ning the Android operating system and will be enclosed in a standard 1U cubesat structure. The main function of the phone is to act as the Onboard Computer, but the mission will also utilize the phone's SD card for data storage, 5MP camera for Earth Observation, and 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis magnetometer for attitude determination. One of the nanosatellites, powered by the HTC Nexus One smartphone, will send back pictures of Earth. The other two, running on the Sam- sung Nexus S, will have two-way S-band radio allowing them to be controlled from Earth. With a short lifetime of only about one week, the satellites have no solar cells and operate on battery only. More information about the Antares vehcicle can be found at: http://www.orbital.com/Antares/ A video of the Popular Science award for PhoneSat in the "Best of What's New 2012" awards can be viewed at: http://tinyurl.com/PhoneSatNews (YouTube) NASA Ames web page of the PhoneSat project can be found at: http://tinyurl.com/PhoneSat-NASA (nasa.gov) AMSAT-UK posted news of PhoneSat at: http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11544 [ANS thanks NASA, Gunter's Space Page, and AMSAT-UK for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- N0D Special Event Station Celebrating The End of the World That's right, the end is finally near. According to one of the three Mayan Calendars, the End of the world will occur on Dec 21, 2012. To celebrate this literally once in a lifetime event, Special Event Sta- tion N0D (Now Zero Days) will be activated for three days during and after(?) the end of the world. December 20 is a celebration of the end of the world. December 21, the day of destruction, we will be on the air as long as possible. December 22nd, that is a little iffy right now. N0D will be activated on the satellites by Allen Mattis, N5AFV, on December 20, 2012, on December 21, 2012 unless the day of destruc- tion makes that impossible, and on December 22, 2012 if the world survives. More information is available on the Official N0D website: http://www.nowzerodays.com You can also e-mail the N0D team at N0D.Doomsday(a)gmail.com Amateur radio stations around the crumbling globe are invited to con- tact N0D, who will be operating from a secret undisclosed location. QSL with SASE to the address in QRZ. If Doomsday actually does happen, we regret that a QSL will not be possible so hold on to your SASE un- til the 22nd at least. Check out the website for a preview of the N0D QSL card. You can celebrate Doomsday by contacting N0D directly on the air. Amateurs can also become an official Doomsday station by register- ing on the website. You will be given a registration number and the authority to identify yourself as "Official Doomsday Station" fol- lowed by your Doomsday number. Official N0D Doomsday apparel will be available soon; T-shirts, Caps and buttons. Official Doomsday stations will receive the Doomsday Station Certifi- cate. Stations contacting at least 10 Official Doomsday Stations dur- ing the event will be recognized on the web site. It is not entirely clear exactly how it will happen. Will it be a cataclysmic shift in the earth's magnetic field, Global Warming on steroids, earthquakes, volcanoes floods, global thermonuclear war, Meteor collision, the 10 plagues of Egypt, UFO invasion. who knows? There are scientists, soothsayers and philosophers on both sides of the question. Either way it will be an event worth remembering ... or maybe there will be no one left to remember it? Check the website for the latest updates: http://www.nowzerodays.com [ANS thanks Allen Mattis, N5AFV for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Successful ARISS School Contacts This Week Italy ----- An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held with Liceo scientifico Giacinto De Sivo - Fondazione Villag- gio dei Ragazzi in Maddaloni, Italy on Tuesday, November 20. Amateur Radio station IK1SLD in Italy provided the radio link. The contact is incorporated into lessons focused on the developments in astronomy from a scientific, philosophical, and literary point of view. India ----- An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between Sunita Williams, KD5PLB on the ISS and students vis- iting the GujaratScience City (GSC) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India on Wednesday, November 14 via telebridge station IK1SLD in Italy. The children got in 15 questions about daily life on the ISS before losing the radio connection. GSC has high-tech exhibitions covering space exploration and communications; the contact was part of a spe- cial outreach program of the GSC, organized to provide students with hands-on activities related to the ISS. The displays and activities provide children with the motivation and inspiration for a career and future in space science and research. The Times of India covered the event. See: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Excited-kids-go- on-space-talk-with-Sunita/articleshow/17250710.cms Video of this event can be viewed on-line at: http://tinyurl.com/ARISS-Contact-India (Southgate) Florida ------- On November 16, Florida's Flagler Palm Coast Amateur Radio Club (FPCARC) connected with Astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB via an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact. Indian Trails Middle School hosted the event, but students from other area schools also participated. Former NASA astronaut Winston Scott gave a presentation to the stu- dents. All schools in the district were able to participate in the event through live internet streaming. Media representatives were present and articles have been posted. FlaglerLive.com has a story: http://flaglerlive.com/46845/ham-radio-iss/ For the Palm Coast Observer article, see: http://www.palmcoastobserver.com/news/palm-coast/Neighborhood/11172012 5718/ Students-get-visit-from-astronaut-talk-to-space-st Indiana ------- Cumberland Elementary School participated in an ARISS contact on Oct- ober 30. Students had the opportunity to question Indiana native Kevin Ford, KF5GPP about ISS life. The contact video is now available. See: http://cumberland-iss.weebly.com [ANS thanks Carol Jackson, KB3LKI and the 2012-11-19 ARISS Status Report for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Three Astronaut Hams Return Safely From ISS Expedition 33 Commander Sunita Williams, KD5PLB of NASA and Flight Engineers Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI of Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Yuri Malenchenko, RK3DUP of Roscosmos rode their Soyuz TMA-05M spacecraft to a safe landingin a remote area near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on November. 19, 2012. Williams, Hoshide and Malenchenko returned from four months onboard the International Space Station. NASA ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO summariz- ed Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) succes- ses for Williams, Malenchenko and Hashide noting 39 contacts with schools. Of these contacts 14 were via telebridge, while 25 took place directly between the school and the ISS via Amateur Radio. During Expedition 32 Sunita added 22 to her previous record of 33 school events which puts her on top for the most career schools talk- ed to from orbit. Malenchenko made two contacts, one with the Ukraine and another with Russia, while Hashide completed 15, including four with his native Japan, as well as with the US, Germany, Australia, Poland and Italy. Photos and additional news of the Soyuz landing are on-line at: http://spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=42645 http://spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=42643 http://tinyurl.com/NovSoyuzLanding (Space-Travel.com) Expedition 34 is crewed by NASA astronaut Kevin Ford, KF5GPP, and Russian cosmonauts Evgeny Tarelkin and Oleg Novitskiy. Sunita Williams recorded an extensive tour of the orbital laboratory including scenes of each of the station's modules and research facil- ities with a running narrative of the work that has taken place and which is ongoing aboard the orbital outpost. Get your ISS tour at: http://tinyurl.com/ISS-Guided-Tour (YouTube) [ANS thanks, ARISS, ARRL, SpaceRef.com and Space-Travel.com for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Call for Papers for IAA Conference: University Satellite Missions The 2nd IAA Conference on University Satellites Missions and Cubesat Winter Workshop will be held in Rome, Italy from February 3-9, 2013 under the main sponsorship of IAA, GAUSS Srl, ESA, ASI, Italian Air Force, Sapienza University of Roma, Morehead State University (Ken- tucky), Von Karman Institute, FILAS, BCC Roma. The Conference has the goal to provide the international space comm- unity with a forum for presentations and discussions in the area of University Satellites. Particular emphasis will be given to the theme, "Innovative aspects related to science and engineering for university satellites". Three days will be completely dedicated to the Cubesat community. Some of the proposed topics are: Space Environment, Remote sensing and Earth observation, Innovative solutions for university satellite subsystems, Launch opportunities, Space Debris, Ground Segment and Stations Network, New Perspectives for Cubesats, Cubesats Future Payloads and Experiments, Satellite Or- bit and Attitude Determination and Control, Micro-propulsion Subsys- tems, University Platform for biomedical research in Space, Formation Flying, Cubesat In-Orbit Experience, Cubesats Scientific Missions and applications" activities. The preliminary program, logistics, and registration information, exhibition stand information may be found on the symposium website at http://www.gaussteam.com in the events section. Abstract Submission Deadline: December 17, 2012 Acceptance Notification*: December 22, 2012 Paper Submission Deadline*: January 25, 2013 [ANS thanks Filippo Graziani, G.A.U.S.S. President and IAA member, Conference Chair for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + Video of ARISS contact from the National Scouting Museum Jamboree on the Air (JOTA) event in Irving, Texas on October 20 with Sunita Williams, KD5PLB on the ISS can be viewed at: http://vimeo.com/53281390 + NASA's Pete Worden presentation at the Canadian Space Summit on the topic of Small Satellites for Science and Other Uses and as an example: Earth Observation, promises and challenges has been posted by SpaceRef.com at: http://tinyurl.com/SpaceRefSmallSatellites + Andy Foad, G0FTD has made a collection of RF calculations avail- able in a spreadsheet. This can be downloaded from: https://sites.google.com/site/g0ftdradio/home/rf-spreadsheets + How about the concept of private/commercial CubeSat missions to Mars? See the exploremars.org posting at: http://tinyurl.com/CubeSatsToMars + The Van Allen Probes Mission, part of NASA's Living With a Star program, studies the physical dynamics of Earth's radiation belts and space weather. A video of this mission, including classroom activities about space weather is posted by Johns Hopkins Univers- ity Applied Physics Laboratory: http://vanallenprobes.jhuapl.edu/ (Bill, W3XO) [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. And with that, please keep in mind the ham who's son pestered his parents for a trip to the zoo. Finally his mother talk- ed his reluctant father into taking him. "So how was it?" his mother asked when they returned home. "Great," the son replied. "Did you and your father have a good time?" asked his mother. "Yeah, Daddy really liked it," exclaimed the son excitedly, "especially when one of the animals came home at 30 to 1!" 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

1 0

(no subject)
by KERRY LA*DUKE 24 Nov '12

24 Nov '12

http://mobilemoneygalore.com/wp-content/themes/theEqualizer/goodnews.php?sl…

1 0

IC-9100 best price ever
by Stefan Wagener 23 Nov '12

23 Nov '12

Interested in upgrading your satellite radio? HRO offers $500 price reduction for the IC-9100. $505 discount offer from GigaParts. Have fun! Stefan VE4NSA

2 2

AO-27
by Craig Gagner 23 Nov '12

23 Nov '12

I just listened for any signs of life on the AO-27 Pass 1831 UTC 23 Nov 2012 in FN42be .. Nothing heard, checked the AO-27 web page and no new info since 21 October. My guess is that AO-27 has met its demise for Amateur Radio FM work. RIP, that's 2 down for 2012 as far as FM goes. 73, Craig

1 0

Lightning protector advice
by Stephen E. Belter 23 Nov '12

23 Nov '12

I want to add lightning protection to my satellite station and would like some advice. I have a pair of SSB preamps that are powered using the coax from my Icom IC-821 transceiver. As a result, I need protectors that don't block DC and will pass 13.8 VDC. I've had good luck with PolyPhaser protectors in other applications, but their new owners (Protection Technology Group) have apparently discontinued the PolyPhaser products that would pass DC. Alpha Delta makes some surge protectors that will pass DC, for example their ATT3G50. Does anyone have any experience with the Alpha Delta protectors or with another brand that they would recommend? Thanks and 73, Steve N9IP --

2 2

SO-50 22-NOV 2321Z (today)
by Nick Fredrich 22 Nov '12

22 Nov '12

Greetings, I will be activating EN42 portable on the next SO-50 pass starting at 2321Z. Thanks, Nick KC9WPR

1 0

ISS ATV - Summer 2013
by Trevor . 22 Nov '12

22 Nov '12

The Deutscher Amateur Radio Club is reporting that the HAMVideo equipment for the Columbus module of the International Space Station is currently planned to fly on the Japanese freighter HTV4 in July 2013. The first function test of the equipment by the astronaut Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP may take place in August 2013. http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.darc.de%2F&sl=de… 73 Trevor M5AKA ----

1 0

Consat-1 presentation video + KN-SAT1 CubeSat video
by Trevor . 21 Nov '12

21 Nov '12

A CubeSat’s Road from University to Space http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11563 KN-SAT1 Prototype Subsystems Design and Testing http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11550 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

Who is using a IC-910 with Maspro Antennas?
by PE0SAT | Amateur Radio 21 Nov '12

21 Nov '12

Hi, Thanks for reading this message. I have exchanged my FT-847 for an IC-910H and now when I try to work VO-52 my UHF uplink signal interferes with the VHF downlink. Are the any people out there that experience the same with this combination? I tried with and without pre-amp, RHCP and LHCP but the problems doesn't go away :( I do know that there can be problems when working FO-29 and a mode-j filter can solve this, but I never experiences this when working VO-52. 73 Jan PE0SAT -- With regards PE0SAT Internet web-page http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/

4 5

Re: Who is using a IC-910 with Maspro Antennas?
by GW1FKY＠aol.com 21 Nov '12

21 Nov '12

Hi Jan, Sorry to learn of your problems and appears really annoying especially as you have carried out an equipment change. Not trying to teach you as you are an expert with lots of experience in operating amateur radio on many bands and modes. But please consider the following. It is hardly the best time with the weather in this part of the world for outdoor work - assuming that it is similar at your location. Presume that you have "separate" antennas for each band - I wonder if perhaps terminating with a dummy load at the antenna end shows the same effect. Also of course you could carry out the same check at the equipment end ( I am referring to the UHF feeds of course in both cases ) and even move the dummy load around the equipment area. It may not be a pointer but it may also perhaps show if it is due to your new equipment, feeder or antenna. Wish you luck and I am sure that you will get many suggestions and pointers about the concern. Regards Ken Eaton GW1FKY

1 0

Oculus-ASR Microsatellite
by Trevor . 21 Nov '12

21 Nov '12

Oculus-ASR is a 70 kg satellite that hopes to fly in 2013. See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11555 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www,amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

Re: Allocations in L-band
by Greg Dolkas 21 Nov '12

21 Nov '12

Right, sorry. The question was mode L but my brain read mode S... Greg KO6TH Sent from my trusty HP iPAQ. -----Original Message----- From: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> To: "Greg D" <ko6th.greg(a)gmail.com>; APBIDDLE(a)MAILAPS.ORG Cc: "AMSAT-BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: 11/21/12 6:23 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Allocations in L-band Hi Greg, KO6TH For the history no OSCAR satellite carried on a Mode-L Beacon. OSCAR-7 carried on a Mode-S beacon on 2304.1 MHz built by the San Bernardino Microwave Society but it was never officially turned on because of international treaty constraints (bandplan) so that it was not receiving the autorization by the FCC 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: "Greg D" <ko6th.greg(a)gmail.com> To: <APBIDDLE(a)MAILAPS.ORG> Cc: "AMSAT-BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Wednesday, November 21, 2012 5:31 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Allocations in L-band > I believe it was Oscar-7. > > Greg KO6TH > > > Alan wrote: > > Someone years ago told me that one of the early amateur satellites had a > > mode-L beacon, but because the rules changed, it was never turned on. I > > haven't been able to verify or disprove this story. > > > > Alan > > WA4SCA > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > > Behalf Of Trevor . > > Sent: Tuesday, November 20, 2012 4:10 AM > > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Allocations in L-band > > > > --- On Mon, 19/11/12, Richard Ferryman<g4bbh(a)btinternet.com> wrote: > >> Just curious - Can someone enlighten me as to why there is no allocation > >> for satellite downlinks in L-band (at least in the bandplans I have seen). > >> There are uplinks around 1267 to 1269 MHz. Is it due to possibility of > >> interference with commercial/military/aeronautical systems? > > I believe it dates back to a WARC conference in about 1971. Prior to that > > the Amateur Service had I believe been able to use any Amateur Frequencies > > just as they can still do for that other form of Space Communication - Moon > > Bounce (EME). > > > > Wayne Green W2NSD does make references to the loss of satellite frequencies > > a few times in his column in 73 Magazine from that era, see 73 Mag archive > > at http://archive.org/search.php?query=73%20magazine > > >

1 0

Allocations in L-band
by Richard Ferryman 21 Nov '12

21 Nov '12

Just curious - Can someone enlighten me as to why there is no allocation for satellite downlinks in L-band (at least in the bandplans I have seen). There are uplinks around 1267 to 1269 MHz. Is it due to possibility of interference with commercial/military/aeronautical systems? Dick G4BBH .

7 7

Re: Allocations in L-band
by Trevor . 21 Nov '12

21 Nov '12

I had a recollection that it was UOSAT-1 (OSCAR-9) that was planned to have a 23cm L-Band beacon and so I emailed Cliff G4BGP/G8FDH who has sent me the following: -- It had been proposed that a 23cm beacon be carried on board UOSAT. However there was a legal problem to be overcome. A request was made to the World Administrative Conference in 1977 (WARC-77), to permit such a beacon to be operated, from space. Unfortunately the outcome of WARC77 prevented operation of the 23cm beacon... Consequently it was agreed that a 13cm beacon should also be considered. -- 73 Trevor M5AKA

2 1

KSC photos?
by Gould Smith 20 Nov '12

20 Nov '12

Anyone posted any KSC photos from our incredible trip yet? 73, Gould

1 0

Re: Allocations in L-band
by Rsoifer＠aol.com 20 Nov '12

20 Nov '12

Trevor, Richard, et al,, WARC 71 (actually WARC-ST 71) allocated no 23cm frequencies at all to the amateur-satellite service. The present 1260-1270 MHz allocation dates from WARC 1979.. Dave Sumner and (I believe) Paul Rinaldo were there and may have some background info. Here are the frequencies allocated to the amateur-satellite service at WARC-ST 71: 7.0-7.1, 14.0-14.25, 28.0-29.7, 144-146, 435-438, and 24000-24050 MHz 73 Ray

1 0

Phonesat Video
by Trevor . 20 Nov '12

20 Nov '12

Phonesat, 437.425 MHz, are currently slated to launch in December. See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11544 Also recently added to the AMSAT-UK website is a GB1MIR page at http://www.uk.amsat.org/?page_id=11501 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

Re: MAREA a School Activity You Can Do
by Joe Fitzgerald 19 Nov '12

19 Nov '12

Mark, Curiously ESA and NASA are doing similar work, although not with students: http://www2.electronicproducts.com/Control_a_LEGO_robot_from_space-article-… Joe KM1P

1 0

2nd IAA Conference on University Satellites Missions
by IAA Conference University Satellite 19 Nov '12

19 Nov '12

Dear Colleague: We are pleased to announce the *Call for Papers for the * *2nd IAA Conference on University Satellites Missions* *and Cubesat Winter Workshop* to be held in Roma (Italy), from 3rd-9th February 2013 , under the main sponsorship of IAA, GAUSS Srl, ESA, ASI, Italian Air Force, Sapienza University of Roma, Morehead State University (Kentucky), Von Karman Institute, FILAS, BCC Roma. The Conference has the goal to provide the international space community with a forum for presentations and discussions in the area of University Satellites. Particular emphasis will be given to the theme:** *Innovative aspects related to science and engineering* * for university satellites* During the conference three days will be completely dedicated to the Cubesat community. Inside the Conference three days are completely dedicated to Cubesat community. Some of the proposed topics are: *Space Environment, Remote sensing and Earth observation, Innovative solutions for university satellite subsystems, Launch opportunities, Space Debris, Ground Segment and Stations Network, New Perspectives for Cubesats, Cubesats Future Payloads and Experiments, Satellite Orbit and Attitude Determination and Control, Micro-propulsion Subsystems, University Platform for biomedical research in Space, Formation Flying, Cubesat In- Orbit Experience, Cubesats Scientific Missions and “applications” activities.* The preliminary program, logistics, and registration information, exhibition stands informations may be found on the symposium website at www.gaussteam.com in the events section. Open space is also available upon request for building exhibition stands: if interested please send an email to conference(a)gaussteam.com with subject "*Exhibition*". We hope to see you there. Sincerely, Filippo Graziani, G.A.U.S.S. President and IAA member, Conference Chair *Important Dates* Abstract Submission Deadline*: December 17*th* 2012* Acceptance Notification*: December 22*nd* 2012* Paper Submission Deadline*: January 25*th* 2013* Selected Papers will be published on the “Proceedings of the 2nd IAA Conference on University Satellites Missions and CubeSat Winter Workshop” by International Academy of Astronautics and G.A.U.S.S. Srl

1 0

ANS-323 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by E.Mike McCardel 18 Nov '12

18 Nov '12

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-323 ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS 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. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org Please, share your copy of ANS with an Educator near you! In this edition: * FITSAT-1 plans to flash the LEDs on Christmas Eve. * Space Education A Key To The Future * Reminder - Call for Photos From Space Symposium and KSC Tour * November 20 Deadline for Proposals in NASA's Cubesat Initiative * Indonesia Announces Plans for 2013 Launch * 2012 AMSAT Symposium Proceedings Available in the AMSAT Store * SSTV Images from the ISS Nov 2012 * Successful ARISS Contacts * US Postal Department Proposes to Discontinue IRCs * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-323.01 ANS-323 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 323.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. DATE, 2012 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-323.01 FITSAT-1 (NIWAKI) plans to flash the LEDs on Christmas Eve. During a recent exchange discussing FITSAT-1 on the AMSAT-BB, Kevin Deane, KF7MYK asked, "When is the LED MORSE supposed to happen?," FITSAT-1 creator Professor Takushi Tanaka, JA6AVG, promptly replied "We plan to flash the LEDs on Christmas Eve. So we will start testing around the end of this month." The LED optical array may be visible to the unaided eye. There has been much discussion about FITSAT-1 being received in the USA on 5.8GHz. However another part of FITSAT-1's mission is to flash the message "Hi this Niwaka Japan" using its array of stacked LEDs. Whereas, the Morse broadcast has "no practical aim," Tanaka, and his team of Japanese students, think it would make a good emergency beacon for natural disasters (or, more worryingly, alien invasions). The FITSAT-1 CubeSat was developed by students at the Fukuoka Insti- tute of Technology (FIT) in Japan. In addition to the LED array it also has a CW beacon on 437.250 MHz, a data link on 437.445 MHz and a 5840.0 MHz data downlink. Further FITSAT-1 information is on-line at: http://www.fit.ac.jp/~tanaka/fitsat.shtml [ANS thanks Kevin, Deane, Takushi Tanaka, Jaonne Maenpaa and AMSAT- BB for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Space Education A Key To The Future Educators, who effectively use space themes to inspire students and strengthen lesson plans, have a great opportunity for additional support from the nation's premier space advocacy organization. The Space Foundation is now accepting applications for its 2013 flight of Teacher Liaisons. This will be the 10th year of this prestigious, nationally recognized program that provides an honored few educators numerous benefits and privileges, helps strengthen their teaching skills, builds re'sume's and influences education at a national level. Pre K-20 teachers and other professional or informal educators in the Pre K-20 arena are eligible to be Space Foundation Teacher Liaisons. Teacher Liaisons tend to be Master Teachers who want to inspire the next generation of students to pursue and excel in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Teacher Liaisons do not need to be science or math teachers; they need only to have a desire to integrate space education within their curriculum. Space Foundation Teacher Liaisons serve as active links between the Space Foundation, NASA and their schools and school districts. This influential role includes numerous benefits, privileges and activities such as special recognition during the 29th National Space Symposium, to be held at The Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado, April 8-11, 2013. There is no fee to apply, or membership cost. http://www.spacefoundation.org/educationtemp/tls/user/ http://www.satmagazine.com/2012/SM_Nov2012.pdf [ANS thanks November 2012 SatMagazine for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Reminder - Call for Photos From Space Symposium and KSC Tour The AMSAT Journal looks forward to publishing selected photos of our 2012 Space Symposium, General Meeting, and the Kennedy Space Center tour. Work is under way for photo and story coverage of these events in the Journal being planned for the January timeframe. A few have already sent your photos or links to your on-line album I have them ... thanks! There will be space for many more photos so please send them in (if you have not done so). Select 5-6 of your favorite photos and add a couple of your personal comments about what you found interesting or cool. The comments can just be text in the e-mail message ... no formatting is required. Alternatively, if you use any of the on-line photo album sites you could just send me the URL for that. I can go there to select photos but I would appreciate a comment from you about which ones you may recommend. Send your input to the Journal In-Box - journal(a)amsat.org - by December 1. If your message is not getting through due large sized attachments several smaller e-mail messages are acceptable. You may also contact me off-list and I'll supply another e-mail address to try. [ANS thanks AMSAT Journal Editor JoAnne, K9JKM for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- November 20 Deadline for Proposals in NASA's Cubesat Initiative NASA is seeking proposals for small satellite payloads to fly on rockets planned to launch between 2013 and 2016. These miniature spacecraft, known as CubeSats, could be auxiliary payloads on pre- viously planned missions. CubeSats are a class of research spacecraft called nanosatellites. These cube-shaped satellites are approximately four inches long, have a volume of about one quart and weigh less than three pounds. Proposed CubeSat investigations must be consistent with NASA's Stra- tegic Plan and the NASA education vision and goals. The research must address aspects of science, exploration, technology develop- ment, education or operations. Applicants must submit proposals electronically by 4:30 p.m. EST, Nov. 20, 2012. NASA will select the payloads by Jan. 31, 2013. Sel- ection does not guarantee a launch opportunity. The selected space craft will be eligible for flight after final negotiations when a launch opportunity arises. NASA will not provide funding for the development of the small satellites. NASA recently announced the results from the third round of the CubeSat Launch Initiative. From the first three launch initiatives, 64 payloads made the short list for launch opportunities between 2011 and 2014. They are eligible for launch pending an appropriate opportunity and final negotiations. The satellites come from 25 states: Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Mex- ico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont and Virginia. For additional information about NASA's CubeSat Launch Initiative program, visit: http://go.nasa.gov/puk9K2 and http://go.nasa.gov/CubeSatOp. [ANS thanks the NASA Education Express Message for Nov. 8, 2012 for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Indonesia Announces Plans for 2013 Launch The Indonesian National Society, ORARI, submitted a report during the IARU Region 3 conference in Viet Nam mentioned the amateur radio satellites they hope will be launched in 2013: http://www.iaru-r3.org/15r3c/docs/025.doc ORARI is supporting LAPAN, the Indonesian Space Agency, to launch satellites as follows: + Satellite LAPAN - A2 (will be launched Mid 2013) Telemetry 437.425 MHz + Satellite LAPAN - ORARI (will be launched Mid 2013) Downlink Voice 435.880 MHz Uplink Voice 145.880 MHz APRS 145.825 MHz Telemetry 437.325 MHz These satellites are planned for low inclination orbits which may limit access from high latitude countries. [ANS thanks Trevor, M5AKA for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- 2012 AMSAT Symposium Proceedings Available in the AMSAT Store The Proceedings of the AMSAT-NA 30th Symposium and AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting, October 26-28 in Orlando, Florida have been put in the on- line AMSAT Store. Please visit the store at: http://store.amsat.org/catalog/ The proceedings contains over 30 articles on subjects ranging from current satellite operations to updates on the Fox Project. If you could not make the meeting, this is a great source of the latest information. Price is $25 + $12 Shipping for USA. See the details on the store web page and order your copy today! [ANS thanks Martha at the AMSAT Office for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- SSTV Images from the ISS Nov 2012 My fascination with ham radio and the International Space Station stepped up a notch today, as I was able to receive and decode my first image from the ISS. Occasionally, the astronauts aboard the ISS turn on the SSTV (Slow Scan TV) equipment on their amateur radio station and beam signals from their vantage point back down to us amateurs on the ground. After being tipped off via the ISS Fan Club website that SSTV was active, I calculated a suitable overhead path and connected the audio output of my 2 metre rig to the soundcard on my PC, and tuned in. The frequency in use for the downlink was 145.800MHz, and I set up a digital recorder to capture the received audio. Without too much fiddling about, the image was received pretty well, with only a tiny bit of noise, and a fairly minor image attribute on the left. [ANS thanks Essex Ham (and Trevor, M5AKA) for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS UPDATES Successful ARISS Contact for 1 Circolo Didattico G.Marconi, Casamassima, Italy Friday November 9, 2012 at 12:53 UTC, which is 13:53 CEST, students from 1 Circolo Didattico G.Marconi, Casamassima, Italy established ARISS contact with JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI onboard the International Space Station. Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI operated with the ISS callsign OR4ISS. This was a direct contact performed by amateur radio club station IZ7RTN installed at "Cittadella Mediterranea della Scienza", University of Bari, Italy. The Didactic Center "Marconi" in Casamassima di Bari, South Italy includes one Primary School and two Nursery Schools. There are more than 800 students and a teaching staff of 70 teachers, directed by headmaster Mrs. Rita Rosaria Gagliardi. The Primary School has multimedia and scientific laboratories, while the students play an active role in a number of projects on Science, Music, Dance, Theatre, Physical Education and more. Mr. Michele Mallardi IZ7EVR, radio contact coordinator for this event, decided in favor of the setup for a direct contact, with assistance from the ARISS telebridge station IK1SLD installed at Casale Monferrato Airport, Piemonte, Italy. The contact took place at "Cittadella Mediterranea della Scienza", University of Bari, where an audience of about 250 students, visitors and Media, including 12 Italian Air Force officers, participated to the ARISS contact. Before the link voice with ISS, Mr. Michele Mallardi IZ7EVR presented ARISS program, the operations during an contact with the ISS via Ham Radio, and the life of the astronauts in space. At 12:53 UTC, contact with OR4ISS was established by station IZ7RTN. Using the Kenwood radio in the Service Module, Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI answered all 20 questions from the students, exchanged final greetings and closed the contact. During the pass, the signal from the ISS was loud and clear. Live streaming video was available on: http://www.cittadellamediterraneascienza.it/webtv.html ARISS contact was announced by web story on ESA Portal - National News: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEML9F62Q8H_Italy_0.html Congratulations to the schools staff, ARISS Puglia Team! ----------- Successful ARISS contact for Italian Schools in Govone, Priocca and Diano d'Alba, Italy Thursday November 8, 2012 at 12.04 UTC, which is 13.04 CEST, students from Institute Comprehensive in Govone, Nino Costa Middle school in Priocca and Institute Comprehensive in Diano d'Alba, Italy established ARISS contact with JAXA astronaut Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI onboard the International Space Station. Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI operated with the ISS callsign OR4ISS. This was a direct contact performed by amateur radio station IK1SLD, installed for the event in Planetarium in Turin, Italy. The two Junior High schools Nino Costa of Priocca and T.L. Dalmasso of Govone are integral part of the Comprehensive School of Govone in the province of Cuneo. The municipal territories of the Comprehensive School of Govone are situated on the left bank of the river Tanaro; this district, which is a hil country, is called "Roero" and it's famous for its fine wines. The inhabitants live mostly in the plein where the schools can also be found while on the top of the hill there is the old town center where is the towmhall. The students came from the small towns of Govone, Priocca, Magliano Alfieri, Castellinaldo, San Damiano. The school is attended by about 300 pupils, aged between 3 and 13 years. Mr. Claudio Ariotti IK1SLD, radio contact coordinator for this event, decided in favor of the setup for a direct contact, with assistance from the his ARISS telebridge station (IK1SLD) installed at Casale Monferrato Airport, Piemonte, Italy and operated by Max Canepa IW1CNF. The contact took place at Planetarium in Turin, where an audience of about 200 students, visitors and Media participated to the ARISS contact. Before the link voice with ISS, Mr. Claudio Ariotti IK1SLD presented ARISS program, the operations during an contact with the ISS via Ham Radio, and the life of the astronauts in space. At 12:04 UTC, contact with OR4ISS was established by station IK1SLD. Using the Kenwood radio in the Service Module, Akihiko Hoshide KE5DNI answered all 20 questions from the students, exchanged final greetings and closed the contact. During the pass, the signal from the ISS was loud and clear. Live streaming video was available on: http://www.livestream.com/AMSAT_Italia Video of the contact is available also here: http://www.livestream.com/AMSAT_Italia ARISS contact was announced by web story on ESA Portal - National News: http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEML9F62Q8H_Italy_0.html Congratulations to the school's staff, ARISS Team IK1SLD and ARI Casale! 73 Francesco De Paolis, IK0WGF ARISS mentor [ANS thanks ARISS for the above information] ------------ Amateur Radio Newsline Covers ARISS The November 9 Amateur Radio Newsline report #1839 included an item about the upcoming ARISS contact with students in Gujarat, India on November 14.The article, Ham Radio in Space: First Time Ever India to ISS Student Contact may be viewed at: http://www.arnewsline.org/storage/scripts/nsln1839.txt ------------ Live Internet Coverage of ARISS Contacts John Spasojevich, AG9D, who does the live internet audio distribu- tion of the ARISS contacts, provided this summary of the audio sources where you may listen. + EchoLink *AMSAT* node (101377) + Echolink *JK1ZRW* node (277208) + IRLP Node 9010 Discovery Reflector Streaming Audio: https://sites.google.com/site/arissaudio/ Audio on Echolink & web stream is generally transmitted around 20 minutes prior to the contact taking place so that you can hear some of the preparation that occurs. IRLP will begin just prior to the ground station call to the ISS. Please note that on Echolink there are automatic breaks of 1.5 sec- onds in the audio transmission. These occur every 2.5 minutes during the event. Breaks on IRLP are manual and occur approximately after every third question. John invites anyone interested in more info on how to hear the live ARISS contact to send an email him at: johnag9d(a)gmail.com. [ANS thanks John Spasojevich, AG9D for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- US Postal Department Proposes to Discontinue IRCs ATTENTION DX'ers who mail to foreign countries for QSL cards: If the US Postal Service (USPS) gets its way, it will no longer sell International Reply Coupons (IRCs) after January 27, 2013. According to the October 23 edition of the Federal Register, there is not sufficient demand for the USPS to continue offering IRCs to customers; however, per the Universal Postal Union (UPU) regulations, the USPS must continue to exchange (redeem) IRCs that have been purchased in foreign countries and presented at USPS facilities. The current Nairobi model is valid through December 31, 2013. Comments on this proposed change will be accepted http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USPS-2012-0101-0001 through November 23, 2012. IRCs provide foreign addressees with a prepaid means of responding to inquiries, solicitations or other types of communications -- such as QSL cards -- that are initiated by US senders. IRCs are exchangeable for postage stamps by postal administrations in member countries of the UPU. Each IRC is equivalent in value to the destination country's minimum postage price for an unregistered airmail letter. The purchase price is in the US is currently $2.20 per IRC. -- Thanks to The Daily DX for some information. You have until November 23rd to submit your comments on this proposal. http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USPS-2012-0101-0001 [ANS thanks the American Radio Relay League for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Satellite Shorts From All Over + MP3 archives of the AMSAT-UK 80M net can be found at: http://www.dit-dit-dit.com/Downloads.aspx + Simon Brown, HB9DRV posted a demo of his SDR-Radio, V2 software at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj5boD62bSY&feature=plcp + An SSTV image received November 9 from the ISS on 145.800 along with a short video can be seen at: http://www.essexham.co.uk/news/images-from-the-iss-nov-2012.html (Trevor M5AKA) + The bright morning star is Venus. The bright evening star is Jupiter. + IARU Region 3 conference paper from their recent meeting in Viet Nam are available on-line: o KiwiSAT - A Project of AMSAT-ZL at: http://www.iaru-r3.org/15r3c/docs/035.doc o Other IARU Region 3 conferences papers can be read at: http://www.iaru-r3.org/15r3c/docs/docs.htm o A picture of the delegates is at: http://www.dermandar.com/p/bByKak + iPhone interface for Ham Radios Thomas N2YTF, vice president of the Hall of Science Amateur Radio Club, demonstrated his iPhone interface at the recent Maker Faire at the New York Hall of Science in Queens. Read the article "Tinkerer Invents iPhone Interface for Ham Radios" http://tinyurl.com/cujjneo + A Private Affair For Russia The first Russian satellite, manufactured by a private company for private funds will be put into orbit in 2014, most probably onboard the "Progress" state-owned cargo vehicle-so believes "Sputniks" General Director Andrei Potapov. http://www.satmagazine.com/2012/SM_Nov2012.pdf - Page 19 + The Photo Reconnaissance Satellites of the USS/Russia Similar to the United States, the former Union of Socialist Soviet Republics recognized the value of military reconnaissance satellites early in their development of spaceflight. http://www.milsatmagazine.com/2012/MSM_Oct2012.pdf - Page 48 + Fun with model rockets and an iPhone Make: Projects community member Mike Westerfield shared a pair of intriguing how-tos detailing how to fly a TI SensorTag and an iPhone on a model rocket to find acceleration, rotation, and pressure, then collect and analyze the data using a Bluetooth link to the iPhone and techBASIC. http://tinyurl.com/bgf3xam + Saturn V Moon Rocket Inforgraphic http://tinyurl.com/ctybpo7 [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, EMike McCardel, KC8YLD kc8yld at amsat dot org

1 0

Poloarization Loss
by Al Ozias 17 Nov '12

17 Nov '12

For "line of sight" communications where can I look up the signal loss due to polarization difference for a given receiving antenna polarization facing a transmitting antenna with a known different polarization? Al-N7EQF

2 1

Oscar News #200
by Graham Shirville 17 Nov '12

17 Nov '12

Hi All, Amazingly the next edition of AMSAT-UK’s quarterly magazine for members, “Oscar News”, will be number 200. Editon No1 was an 8 page newsletter issued in late 1973 and was actually produced before AMSAT-UK formally came into existence. Our 200th edition will be produced during December and the Editors invite everyone, whether or not they are AMSAT-UK members, to contribute to this milestone edition. We will welcome all submissions – short or long, historical or forward looking and, of course any pictures that you may have available. Many thanks in advance for your support best 73 Graham G3VZV and Jim G3WGM

1 0

Sirius sat beacons +/- 2320.190 MHz
by f6htj＠aol.com 16 Nov '12

16 Nov '12

Hello all; for information here in south west Europe we use 2320,100 to 2320,300 cw/ssb portion of 13cm band for tropospheric , AS , RS, traffic. I have been told by Piero I5CTE there is permanent continuous carrier beacon around 2320.190 MHz (+/- doppler) by 1 of the 3 Sirius elliptic NA satellites. It appears reception is very good here with small 10 turn helix antenna (in spite of 12m heliax coax) peaking 539. Apogee (50000km ) around 325° with 27° elevation. F5BOF reports same signal with small hand held 25 elements f9ft yagi. So these are for us very interesting beacons. Depending hours we can receive 1 o 2 sats. Real time positions (Sirius-1 / Sirius-2 / Sirius-3) here: http://www.n2yo.com/satellites/?c=33 Any info about beacon sat polarisation and eirp ? 73 de Michel F6HTJ Amsat #7409

1 0

Re: AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 7, Issue 380
by john mckay 16 Nov '12

16 Nov '12

No problem thank you! Sent from my iPhone On 2012-11-16, at 3:07 PM, "amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org" <amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org> wrote: > Send AMSAT-BB mailing list submissions to > amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit > http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to > amsat-bb-request(a)amsat.org > > You can reach the person managing the list at > amsat-bb-owner(a)amsat.org > > When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific > than "Re: Contents of AMSAT-BB digest..." > > > Today's Topics: > > 1. Re: OT: UHF Linear Amp source (KE4KOL) > 2. Re: OT: UHF Linear Amp source (tosca005(a)umn.edu) > 3. Re: OT: UHF Linear Amp source (Floyd Rodgers) > 4. ARISS School Sked (Vince, K9TSU) > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > > Message: 1 > Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:14:36 -0500 > From: "KE4KOL" <ke4kol(a)bellsouth.net> > To: "'Anthony Monteiro'" <aa2tx(a)comcast.net>, "'Kevin Muenzler, > WB5RUE'" <kevin(a)eaglecreekobservatory.org> > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OT: UHF Linear Amp source > Message-ID: <FCF72C86AC2642B1BE3B4C0D98E9DE8B@jim1> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > I got one. Does a good job. > Jim, Ke4kol > > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Anthony Monteiro > Sent: Thursday, November 15, 2012 11:50 AM > To: Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OT: UHF Linear Amp source > > Hi Kevin, > > TE systems 4452G > > 73, > Tony AA2TX > --- > > On 11/15/2012 9:56 AM, Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE wrote: >> >> Good morning all and 73/ >> >> I know this is a bit off topic (maybe way off topic) but I'm sure that > many >> of you regularly use UHF. I have been looking for a source of a UHF > LINEAR >> amplifier but they seem to be extremely difficult to find. I can find >> repeater amps and ATV amps (FM) but haven't been able to find any that >> specify that they are linear. I'm not looking for legal limit just >> 100-200watts. Any help would be appreciated. >> >> >> Kevin, WB5RUE >> Grid-EL09vf >> Eagle Creek Observatory >> http://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org >> I'd be unstoppable if it weren't for law enforcement and physics >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 2 > Date: 15 Nov 2012 18:11:36 -0600 > From: tosca005(a)umn.edu > To: "Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE" <kevin(a)eaglecreekobservatory.org> > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OT: UHF Linear Amp source > Message-ID: <Gophermail.2.0.1211151811360.22440(a)vs-w.tc.umn.edu> > Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=UTF-8 > > Kevin: > > I'm wondering if there is some other criteria besides UHF (I presume in the > 430-440 MHz band) and 100-200 watts out and linear operation? Because there > are many amps that meet those criteria. > > If you want brand new, you can find them from Mirage (not my first choice, > our repeater club and some of its members have had bad luck with > workmanship and keeping them operating), TE Systems (I've heard plenty of > positive feedback from folks with the exception of dealing with the company > for repairs), and some others. > > In the used market, I have had excellent results with RF Concepts bricks on > 144, 222, and 432. If you find one on the used market, it will probably be > quite satisfactory for you (I don't believe they ever made a unit that > produced more than 100 watts out). Teletec amps seem to be quite rare on > the used market, but that's probably because most folks that have them > don't want to let go of them. > > 73 de W0JT > EL09ro October - May > EN34js May - September > > > On Nov 15 2012, Kevin Muenzler, WB5RUE wrote: > >> >> Good morning all and 73/ >> >> I know this is a bit off topic (maybe way off topic) but I'm sure that many >> of you regularly use UHF. I have been looking for a source of a UHF LINEAR >> amplifier but they seem to be extremely difficult to find. I can find >> repeater amps and ATV amps (FM) but haven't been able to find any that >> specify that they are linear. I'm not looking for legal limit just >> 100-200watts. Any help would be appreciated. >> >> >> Kevin, WB5RUE >> Grid-EL09vf >> Eagle Creek Observatory >> http://www.eaglecreekobservatory.org >> I'd be unstoppable if it weren't for law enforcement and physics >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> 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 > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 3 > Date: Thu, 15 Nov 2012 19:40:24 -0600 > From: Floyd Rodgers <kc5qbc(a)swbell.net> > Cc: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OT: UHF Linear Amp source > Message-ID: <50A59988.7010109(a)swbell.net> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed > > Tokyo Hi-Power has had 70cm amps in the past like the hl-120u or hl-130u > http://www.tokyohypower.com/pdf/manual_hl130u.pdf > I'm not sure they are still making anything in that range currently. > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 4 > Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2012 10:27:01 -0600 > From: "Vince, K9TSU" <k9tsu(a)hotmail.com> > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] ARISS School Sked > Message-ID: > <CALRttT2kJsGC80yfQKPivP3gnC3ELfEgo-ue3ZdaEQpxGHkyKg(a)mail.gmail.com> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1 > > Hello all! Please reply privatly to my email here and give me some tips on > getting an ARISS contact set up for my rural school. I am going to be 16 > in January and already have support from a teacher, as well as another ham > will ALL the required equpment. > > Thank you! > > > Vince Waelti, K9TSU > Monroe, Wisconsin EN52eo > > > ------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via amsat-bb(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > > > End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 7, Issue 380 > ****************************************

1 0

iPhone/iPad/iTouch App for the X-Ray CubeSat CXBN
by Trevor . 16 Nov '12

16 Nov '12

The team at Kentucky Space have released an App for the iPhone, iPad and iTouch that tracks the CXBN CubeSat - 437.525 MHz 9k6 FSK AX.25, FM. Download the free CXBN App called Unbridled Spirit from https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cosmic-x-ray-background-nanosatellite/id575… 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

ARISS School Sked
by Vince, K9TSU 16 Nov '12

16 Nov '12

Hello all! Please reply privatly to my email here and give me some tips on getting an ARISS contact set up for my rural school. I am going to be 16 in January and already have support from a teacher, as well as another ham will ALL the required equpment. Thank you! Vince Waelti, K9TSU Monroe, Wisconsin EN52eo

1 0

AO-7 Operation
by Randy Morden 15 Nov '12

15 Nov '12

Hello All, I heard something interesting earlier today while monitoring an AO-7 pass above my QTH at around 23:30Z. The mode B (U/V) transponder basically went dead, and I heard a very odd buzzing sound in about the centre of the passband, with no activity anywhere else in the passband. Not a typical FMing sound, but something more akin to auroral buzzing, like on 6 metres. We have had some great visible auroral shows at my latitude lately (57 degrees north), and I wonder if the solar wind causing the aurora may have had an effect on old AO-7. Did anyone else hear this? Any thoughts on what was happening? I see from the live Oscar update web page that Russian Hams reported normal mode B operation subsequent to my observations. As an aside, after repair of an intermittent in the UHF finals of my ICOM 820H and replacement of the N connector, I am fully QRV again on the birds, and look forward to giving out grid DO16 when able. 73 to all, Randy, VE6RGU

7 7

setup of kenwood d7g for iss digi
by w6gmt＠bak.rr.com 14 Nov '12

14 Nov '12

Hi All Is it possible to use the D7G with UISS to track and map. Also it would be fun to make some contacts. Off BB contact is fine 73 Brock -- W6GMT BROCK THOMSEN MARCELL MN 56657 EN37EN

2 1

receiving 5.8 GHz
by Lizeth Norman 14 Nov '12

14 Nov '12

Hi all! What schemes are available for someone who only has a funcube dongle? It tops out at 1700 MHz. I am thinking hetrodyining using a brick and a double balanced mixer. Block down converter is another option. Any other options on the cheep side? Norm n3ykf

4 6

filter
by Nick Pugh 13 Nov '12

13 Nov '12

Hi All A few weeks back there was a note on a mode j filter made from square tube can someone on the list point me to the article Thanks nick ars k5qxj EM30xa 30.1 n 90.1 w cell 337 2582527 office 337 593 8700

4 3

MAREA a School Activity You Can Do
by Mark Spencer 13 Nov '12

13 Nov '12

Dinner conversation the other evening. Dad: "Suzie, what did you do in school today?" "Science class was pretty cool today. We have been teaching our robot, Robbie, to move through a maze.last week my group was the first to make it through the maze without hitting the sides. So today, Ms. Smith allowed us to send the commands we made up to move Robbie through the maze up to the International Space Station and back down to Robbie. We used ham radio to do it. I got to push the computer key that actually send the commands! There was some raspy sounds from the radio speaker, a delay, like a hundred hours.well it seemed like a long time. and then Robbie started to go through the maze!" "Wow, that's pretty amazing." "Yes it is. We listen for radio signals from the ISS all the time, but this is the first time that we ever sent our own radio signal to the ISS from the radio in our classroom. And I know that our radio waves were heard in space because the signals came right back down to Robbie and we watched him move through the maze.just like Mission Control does to make Curiosity move on Mars." Dad: "Well I didn't know you were an astronaut." "Ah Dad, not yet, but I will be some day." ".I'm sure you will Suzie." Interested how you can help your school do this? Ask me, mspencer(a)arrl.org. Mark Spencer, WA8SME Education and Technology Program Director ARRL, the national association for Amateur RadioTM 43 Pinelock Dr. Gales Ferry, CT 06335 860-381-5335 860-460-1139 (cell) mspencer(a)arrl.org

1 0

Five CubeSats altitude
by Masahiro Arai 12 Nov '12

12 Nov '12

I'm ploting altitude of five CubeSats which were deployed from ISS. The results is interesting. First deployment satellites are lower altitude than laters. I guess this is related to initial velocity at deployment. First Deployment deployment order: #1 WE WISH, #2 RAIKO altitude: WE WISH < RAIKO Second Deployment deployment order: #1 TechEdSat, #2 F1, #3 FITSAT-1 altitude: TechEdSat < F1 < FITSAT-1 I'm also ploating ARISSat-1 on the same chart as its time line align to the five CubeSats deployment date. The chart shows five CubeSats have large decay rate than ARISSat-1. You can see the chart on the following URL. http://www.ne.jp/asahi/m-arai/gkz/5CubeSats_Altitude.png 73 Masa JN1GKZ Tokyo Japna

7 20

IRC & Stamps
by Tom Lubbers K8TL 11 Nov '12

11 Nov '12

I gave up on IRC's over a decade ago. The last batch I purchased via mail from the local post office. They always had a fit when I went to the counter, I held up the line while they stamped them. The last batch were stamped on the wrong side, when I took them back they, at first refused to refund my money or replace them, the clerk said once stamped on that side they were worth only one domestic airmail stamp. Got really bent out of shape when they told me some I had were out of date, they were carefully marked "No Expiration" Used to buy at least one sheet of each commerative as it was released (starting in the late 50's). By the 80's they were releasing commeratives at a rate that made the European micro states look like pikers. Not long ago I decided to sell off a lot of them. Most of the offers were less than face value. So I have been using them for postage (now that sure doesn't help the post office out of its current problems). In The late 1990's I stopped at Bill Plumb's booth at the Dayton Hamvention and purchased two of his stamps in an attempt to get two outstanding cards. Got both cards in a few weeks and have been using his stamps ever since, in most cases the country stamp was cheaper than an IRC. Returns are over 90% Tom K8TL

1 0

ANS-316 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by Lee McLamb 10 Nov '12

10 Nov '12

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-316 ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS 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. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org In this edition: * Satellite/VHF DX Events * FITSAT-1 5.84 GHZ Downlink Received in USA * Japan Schedules Launch of New Low Cost Epsilon Rocket * FUNcube-1 CubeSat time-lapse video * ARISS Status - 5 November 2012 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-316.01 ANS-316 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 316.01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. November 11, 2012 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-316.01 Satellite/VHF DX Events * Yuri, UT1FG/MM, reports having a very rare (Grid FK69ow -> GG24PL) 5217km 144.300 MHz contact with Alberto, ZP9SC, on November 2nd, at 2359z . Yuri monitors 50.110 and 144.300 MHz and is currently in the Atlantic (GL05) headed for the English Channel. When not on 6 and 2 meters, he is working the FM and SSB satellites with his Elk and "CJU" antennas, and an IC706 from rare wet grids. * Larry, VY0HL, in FP53 is back on the satellites. He favors VO-52 and is in the rare Canadian Territory of Nunavut. * Daniel, AL7RS, in AP65 and in Teller, Alaska (on the Bearing Sea), likes CW on FO-29. E-mail him for a schedule. [ANS thanks the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FITSAT-1 5.84 GHZ Downlink Received in USA The FITSAT-1 CubeSat, developed by students at the Fukuoka Institute of Technology (FIT) in Japan has a CW beacon on 437.250 MHz and a data link on 437.445 MHz. There is also a 5.8 GHz data downlink and an optical LED experiment that will flash Morse code planned to be visible with the unaided eye. FITSAT-1, also named NIWAKA was one of five cubesats launched on July 21 and loaded aboard the ISS. These were integrated with the J-SSOD small satellite deployer on the the Japanese Experiment Mod- ule, also known as Kibo. They were deployed with the Kibo robotic arm on October 4. Shortly after deployment into orbit FITSAT-1 was heard with strong signals on its 437 MHz downlinks. FITSAT CW transmits, "HI DE NIWAKA JAPAN" with its telemetry data. Mike Sequin, N1JEZ in Vermont reported success in copying the 5.8 GHz downlink from NIWAKA. Mike wrote, "Success! I was able to detect NI- WAKA. It was lower in frequency that I expected, but with the Funcube [Dongle], it was easy to spot. The Doppler was huge! and I was moving the dish almost continuous to try and keep up. The 5.84 GHz transmit- ter seemed to come on very close to the set time. First detection was at 12:24:21 UTC." Mike posted two screen shots. In the first shot, you can see the sig- nal on the left side Doppler shifting down. In the second, a close up of one data burst with Doppler - about 3 seconds or so: + http://tinyurl.com/N1JEZ-Screen1 + http://tinyurl.com/N1JEZ-Screen2 Mike's station used a 5.760 DEMI Transverter with a 144 MHz IF. That Is why the HDSDR screen for the FUNcube Dongle is tuned to 224 MHz. His antenna is a 2 foot dish is with a Directive Systems 5.76 G feed. You can receive a FITSAT-1 QSL card by sending your signal report and your postal address to: fitsat1 at hotmail.co.jp and also cc: to tanaka at fit.ac.jp. A photo of the QSL card is shown at: http://www.fit.ac.jp/~tanaka/fitsat.shtml (This web page will also be updated with information about the status of the LED experiment." HB9FFH has made a telemetry decoder for FITSAT-1, available at: http://carpcomm.com/satellite/fitsat1 FITSAT students have also developed a similar program for windows: http://turing.cs.fit.ac.jp/~fitsat/CWFM/FITSAT_CW_Analyzer1.zip Here is a reminder of the FITSAT-1/NIWAKA frequencies: CW Beacon 437.250 MHz, FM Data 437.445 MHz, High speed data 5840.00 MHz [ANS thanks Mike Seguin, N1JEZ and Takushi Tanaka, JA6AVG for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- Japan Schedules Launch of New Low Cost Epsilon Rocket Japan is scheduled to launch its first Epsilon solid-fueled rocket next year, deploying a planetary telescope in orbit while demonstrating new low-cost rocket assembly and control techniques, the Japanese space agency announced last week. The Epsilon program is designed to cut in half the cost of Japanese small satellite launches. Japan's M-5 rocket, which launched seven times before retiring in 2006, cost $94 million per flight. Engineers designed the Epsilon rocket with a simplified control system, and the vehicle's own computers will autonomously monitor the status of its systems during a countdown. Only a handful of engineers with laptop computers are required on the launch control team, according to JAXA. The Epsilon is also designed to launch after only seven days of assembly on the launch pad, reducing labor and overhead costs. The Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported last week the first launch of an Epsilon rocket is scheduled for August or September of 2013. [ANS thanks SpaceFlightNow.com for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- FUNcube-1 CubeSat time-lapse video A time-lapse video made in the ISIS clean-room showing the integration of the AMSAT-UK amateur radio satellite FUNcube-1 has been released FUNcube-1 is aiming to launch on a DNEPR rocket from Yasny with 17 other satellites carrying amateur radio payloads in the first half of 2013. FUNcube is a complete educational single CubeSat project with the goal of enthusing and educating young people about radio, space, physics and electronics. The target audience consists of primary and secondary school pupils and the satellite will feature a 145 MHz telemetry beacon that will provide a strong signal for the pupils to receive. FUNcube-1 also carries a 435 to 145 MHz linear transponder for SSB/CW communications. It is being designed and built by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL in collaboration with ISIS Innovative Solutions in Space BV. Watch FUNcube flight integration time-lapse (full) http://www.youtube.com/embed/sEMoLOcGOOw?rel=0 Other FUNcube-1 videos can be seen at http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11333 [ANS thanks South Gate ARC for the above information] --------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISS Status - 5 November 2012 1. Successful ARISS Contacts Held On Tuesday, October 30, South Florida Science Museum (SFSM) in West Palm Beach, Florida welcomed county students to participate in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact with Akihiko Hoshide, KE5DNI aboard the ISS. The West Palm Beach Amateur Radio Club, WPBARC, which maintains a ham station within the museum, collaborated with area teachers to provide educational content to students emphasizing NASA, the ISS and amateur radio. The club facilitated the radio connection with the ISS. During the contact, approximately 90 students were present at the radio station site and another 200 were in an adjacent room watching by CCTV. VIPs in attendance included Scott Carpenter - one of the original seven astronauts. The contact was seen by 125,000-187,000 students. The event was broadcast over the air on the Educational Networks channel 23, the PBS station's channel 42.4 (digital), and on 2 local Comcast Cable channels, bringing the estimated live audience to about 250,000 viewers. Others watched the live stream on the internet. Video is available for viewing: https://vodcast.palmbeachschools.org/player/812RZ An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact was held between students from Southern Tier Catholic and Archbishop Walsh Academy in Olean, New York and astronaut Suni Williams, KD5PLB on the Space Station on Tuesday, October 30 using telebridge station IK1SLD in Italy. An audience of over 100 gathered for the event at the Dresser-Rand Challenger Learning Center at St. Bonaventure University located in Allegany, New York, and listened as Williams answered 19 questions during the 11minute pass over northern Italy. The contact was part of a comprehensive education plan covering Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The Olean Times Herald covered the event. See: http://www.oleantimesherald.com/news/article_378e5d5e-235e-11e2-9531- 0019bb2963f4.html Students from Cumberland Elementary School in West Lafayette, Indiana participated in a Q&A session with Kevin Ford, KF5GPP via an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Tuesday, October 30. Over 600 students, parents and teachers listened in as the youths asked their questions. The contact was integrated into a curriculum covering topics on space research, robotics and engineering. WLFI TV 18 and Lafayette Journal Courier provided media coverage. See: http://www.wlfi.com/dpp/news/local/cumberland-elementary-calling-the- international-space-station and http://www.jconline.com/article/20121030/NEWS0401/310300030/West-Lafayette- school-to-space-station-Do-you-copy-?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE An ARISS contact was held between Primarschule Aesch students in Forch, Switzerland and on-orbit astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB on Friday, November 2. The children had 21 questions answered before the ISS went over the horizon. Around 40 people attended the event which received extensive media coverage including 3 newspapers, one country-wide radio station and one television station. The contact complemented a science curriculum covering astronomy and spaceflight. 2. Public Relations Award Received for ARISS Contact The ARISS contact held with Flabob Airport Preparatory Academy on April 19, 2012 earned Karen and Clint Bradford an award for an annual competition held by the Public Relations Society of America. For the full story, see: http://ariss.rac.ca/oindex. htm#Special_event_with_astronaut_wins_public_relations_award [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI, 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

1 0

AMSAT-UK Website
by Trevor . 10 Nov '12

10 Nov '12

The AMSAT-UK website may be down for maintenance this weekend. 73 Trevor M5AKA

1 0

ISS Slow Scan TV on 145.800 MHz
by Trevor . 09 Nov '12

09 Nov '12

An SSTV image received today from the ISS on 145.800 along with a short video can be seen at http://www.essexham.co.uk/news/images-from-the-iss-nov-2012.html 73 Trevor M5AKA ----

1 0

Re: IRC's to be discontinued
by Joe Leikhim 09 Nov '12

09 Nov '12

The last time I bought some IRC's I was surprised to find later that they had an expiration date. So I lost money on them. I would NOT be stocking up on these unless you really expect to use them up. -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446 WWW.LEIKHIM.COM

3 2

BBC News - US Army SMDC 3D Printer
by Trevor . 09 Nov '12

09 Nov '12

Saw this story about the US Army's Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) in Alabama who've built a 3D printer. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20269645 I wondered if anyone had any up-to-date news on PrintSat that students at Montana Sate University were planing to make with a 3D printer ? The BBC also report on the Interplanetary Internet (Disruption-Tolerant Networking protocol) trials that took place on the ISS, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20270833 73 Trevor M5AKA ----

1 0

Video of ISS contact with Italian schools November 9
by Trevor . 09 Nov '12

09 Nov '12

See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11416 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

IRC's to be discontinued
by John Papay 09 Nov '12

09 Nov '12

The ARRL Letter dated November 8th has an item about the USPS proposing to discontinue the sale of IRC's here in the United States. If you are sending for a QSL card to many countries, the alternative compensation, American dollar bills, are likely to be stolen by a postal worker. Your card never makes it and you don't get one back. IRC's can only be exchanged for stamps so the likelihood of them being stolen is lessened. IRC's are available at usps.com so there is no need to have them stocked or ordered at a local post office. It costs literally nothing to have them in the online store. If the sale of IRC's is discontinued here in the US, you will have to buy them from another country. IRC's must be exchanged for postage by Universal Postal Union member countries but there is no requirement that they be sold in member countries. There is a link in the ARRL Letter that goes to a site where you can file comments regarding the proposal. The URL is http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USPS-2012-0101-0001 I did that and made the case for retaining them in the usps.com store only. Please consider doing the same so we don't have to buy them overseas. 73, John K8YSE

8 8

Re: IRC's to be discontinued
by Rick Tejera 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

It took working my up from desk clerk to supervisor to manager before I got someone at the Scottsdale Airpark PO who even knew what they were. ThenI was told they don't carry them anymore. I get mine online. That being said, I think I've gotten one QSL back from a card sent with an IRC. Much better return with Greenstamps. I fold them an put them in the return envelope with the card and a blank piece of card stock. I also make sure no call sign or anything else that looks "Hammy" does not appear on the envelope. That reminds me, gotta get few cards out... 73 Rick Tejera K7TEJ Saguaro Astronomy Club www.saguaroastro.org Thunderbird Amatuer Radio Club www.w7tbc.org Jim Bennett <jlb3nn(a)bellsouth.net> wrote: >John, >Thanks for the heads up on this. When I started sending off QSLs I wasn't >able to get them at my local PO. So I asked them to get them in. They did, >but when I needed them again, they didn't have them and I was told that they >would not stock them anymore. So, I went to the PO next to the airport. An >International Airport. And I was able to get them then. Then I ran out and >went back and was told that they were not going to stock them and didn't >know where I could get them. I did find them on line. And it was a real >plus being able to get them online. > >It appears that the US PO is trying to phase them out. > >I will follow and post a comment on the site you mention. > >Thanks for your dedication to the sats and ham radio. > >Jim, Ke4kol > >-----Original Message----- >From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On >Behalf Of John Papay >Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2012 2:46 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] IRC's to be discontinued > >The ARRL Letter dated November 8th has an item >about the USPS proposing to discontinue the sale >of IRC's here in the United States. If you are >sending for a QSL card to many countries, the alternative >compensation, American dollar bills, are likely to be stolen by >a postal worker. Your card never makes it and you don't >get one back. IRC's can only be exchanged for stamps so the >likelihood of them being stolen is lessened. > >IRC's are available at usps.com so there is no need to have >them stocked or ordered at a local post office. It costs >literally nothing to have them in the online store. If the >sale of IRC's is discontinued here in the US, you will have to >buy them from another country. IRC's must be exchanged for >postage by Universal Postal Union member countries but there >is no requirement that they be sold in member countries. > >There is a link in the ARRL Letter that goes to a site where you >can file comments regarding the proposal. The URL is >http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=USPS-2012-0101-0001 > >I did that and made the case for retaining them in the usps.com >store only. Please consider doing the same so we don't have to >buy them overseas. > >73, >John K8YSE > >_______________________________________________ >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

1 0

Hudson Valley Satcom Group Net Cancelled for Tonight Nov. 8
by cotejaune2＠aol.com 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

I have cancelled the net for tonight. I can not run the net by myself due to my work schedule. as most of you know I run the Net from my 100 ton quarry work truck. Tom is in Florida this week. The next Net will not be untill Dec 06 due to thanksgiving comming up. Hope to hear you all on Dec. 06. 73 Gary

1 0

Re: IRC's to be discontinued
by Bruce 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

of course, all the forever stamps generate a lot of instant revnue for the post office. the problem is that if everyone purchases these stamps now and then decide to use them when postage is up to $2.00, the post office must now perform a service for half as much money. the postal service is running in the red now and this really only makes things worse. they are nit good business people. 73...bruce

1 0

Kiron SAT TRAK IV kit
by John VK5PO 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

I just bought a box of "goodies" and found an unfinished Kiron SAT TRAK IV kit without paperwork! Is anyone on this group familiar with this equipment please? Is anyone able to help me out with an instruction manual and how to connect it to AZ/EL Kenpro kr400/500 rotators? ANY help is sincerely appreciated. 73 from Australia. VK5PO, John

1 0

Road trip 11/12 to 11/16
by Andrew Glasbrenner 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

I'll be on the road this week between Florida and Denville, New Jersey, and willing to put any needed grids on the air. My intended route up is I75 to I10 to I95 to I77 to I81 to I80. I might modify that on the return trip and depending on nearby requests. If you have a need along that route, drop me an email. I'm QRV mobile on FO-29, VO-52, AO-7B, and SO-50. 73, Drew KO4MA

1 0

Amsat satellite
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 08 Nov '12

08 Nov '12

OK this really gets me. Go to space weather.com A dummy obama can get a free ride into space and tons of cube sats can get into space,but Amsat has to wait another year and half. All the cub sats are doing is gathering comm data and they will later ask the FCC and the gov. to sell them the 70 cm band for there LEO's Remember a few years ago the ARRL had an artical about hams losing this band to companies that wanted it for LEO bussiness communications, the same way we lost part of the 220 band This is not the way people. A dummy obama in space come on. AMSAT you have to do better Im sorry but this is how I see it WA4HFN

2 1

satellite
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 07 Nov '12

07 Nov '12

When will Amsat America put up a bird we can work?? Damon

3 2

Re: satellite
by Andrew Glasbrenner 07 Nov '12

07 Nov '12

2nd half of 2013 See http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/fox/ 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: wa4hfn(a)comcast.net >Sent: Nov 7, 2012 3:56 PM >To: AMSAT <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] satellite > >When will Amsat America put up a bird we can work?? >Damon >_______________________________________________ >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

1 0

Re: Indonesian Satellites for 2013
by Andrew Glasbrenner 07 Nov '12

07 Nov '12

>I believe the satellites will be launched into a low inclination orbit so won't be accessible from high latitude countries. The low inclination orbit is going to be interesting. I expect a strong FM sat with many passes a day over South America and the Carribean will stoke some activity. Given that the low latitudes see significantly less access time to the polar orbiters, it will even things out some. 73, Drew KO4MA

1 0

Indonesian Satellites for 2013
by Trevor . 07 Nov '12

07 Nov '12

The report submitted by the Indonesian National Society ORARI to the IARU Region 3 conference in Viet Nam mentioned the amateur radio satellites they hope will be launched in 2013. http://www.iaru-r3.org/15r3c/docs/025.doc ORARI is supporting LAPAN, the Indonesian Space Agency, to launch Satellites as follows: • Satellite LAPAN – TUBSAT (in Orbit since 10 January 2007) TTC 436.075 MHz • Satellite LAPAN – A2 (will be launched Mid 2013) TTC 437.425 MHz • Satellite LAPAN – ORARI (will be launched Mid 2013) Downlink Voice 435.880 MHz Uplink Voice 145.880 MHz APRS 145.825 MHz TTC 437.325 MHz I believe the satellites will be launched into a low inclination orbit so won't be accessible from high latitude countries. 73 Trevor M5AKA ----

1 0

Private Satellite Development in the Russian Federation
by Trevor . 06 Nov '12

06 Nov '12

Page 19 of SatMagazine has a report on the first development of a satellite by a Private company in the Russian Federation. Brief mention of the ISS CubeSats. SatMagazine is available at http://www.satmagazine.com/2012/SM_Nov2012.pdf ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA

1 0

No Hudson Valley Satcom Net on November 8
by JoAnne Maenpaa 06 Nov '12

06 Nov '12

Hello Everyone, Thanks to Stu, WA2BSS for sending this in .This is another item if we waited for this week's ANS news cycle this news would be too late. There will be no Hudson Valley Satcom net this week on Thursday, November 8. Net Control Gary, WA2AQH will be tied up at work. The next net for November would fall on Thanksgiving Day (for USA) so no net session is planned for that week either. The Hudson Valley Satcom net plans to resume operation in December, 2012. Watch the ANS bulletins for announcements. The club web http://www.hvsatcom.org has more information. Net Control, Gary can be reached via e-mail for questions: wa2aqh(a)amsat.org Via Stu, WA2BSS -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT Journal

1 0

Did you attend the 2012 AMSAT Board meeting?
by Alan P. Biddle 06 Nov '12

06 Nov '12

Hi, We like to include for posterity those who attended the annual AMSAT-NA Board Meeting. Below is a partial list of visitors who attended. If you attended, or know someone who did, please let me know so that you can be recognized. 73s, Alan WA4SCA AMSAT Corporate Secretary Bill Tynan, W3XO Bob Davis, KF4KSS Bryan Klofas, KF6ZEO Burns Fisher, W2BJF Dale Hershberger, KL7XJ Dan Schultz, N8FGV Dave Taylor, W8AAS Dennis Veselka, KI4KNC Douglas Quagliana, KA2UPW Ed Collins, N8NUY EMike McCardel, KC8YLD Frank Bauer, KA3HDO Hector L. Martinez, CO6CBF Jennifer Rojowski, N8GZL Jerry Buxton, N0JY JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM Joe Fitzgerald, KM1P John Klingelhoeffer, WB4LNM John Shew, N4QQ Keith Pugh, W5IU Nick Pugh, K5QXJ Phil Karn, KA9Q Steve Belter, N9IP Steve Culp, K8QKY

1 1

OSSI CubeSat in New Scientist Magazine
by Trevor . 06 Nov '12

06 Nov '12

See http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11394 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

Videos of AMSAT-UK FUNcube-1
by Trevor . 06 Nov '12

06 Nov '12

A collection of videos have been released showing work on the AMSAT-UK FUNcube-1 spacecraft that is aiming to launch in the first half of 2013. The videos include a time-lapse of FUNcube-1 flight integration in the ISIS clean-room. http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=11333 ---- 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

Phelps Dodge Cavity Resonator 406-512 MHz for mode J. Also request for info.
by Bill Bordy, NJ1H 06 Nov '12

06 Nov '12

I am now on mode J with a transverter and my Flex-5000A. I picked up a Downeast 144-28 transverter at the local hamfest, and experienced overload on the 435 MHz downlink when transmitting on 2M. I had seen this before with my FT-736R At a previous hamfest, I saw a Phelps Dodge Cavity Resonator marked 406-512 MHz and bought it for $1 thinking that it may resolve the overload problem. Well, I finally tried it in path for the 435 MHz . Wow, great fix. I have it in front of my 435 MHz preamp and now have no movement of noise floor when transmitting on the 2M uplink. It also has CAT NO 495-509 marked on it. Not sure about the second 5, could be a 3 since number is worn badly. I did a WEB search and didn't find any technical information specific to this model. If anyone has information, would you supply me with a link or info? If you can find one of these, don't pass it up. A single tuning adjustment on top. I peaked it during a FO-29 pass. I then discovered a local 435 MHz noise source, I think a cable distribution box, than I could peak on also. Fortunately it is only in one direction and beam has to be right on to see. There may be other cavity resonators that would work. 73, Bill NJ1H

2 1

SO-50 Pass 1840Z 11-5-12
by Paul Stoetzer 05 Nov '12

05 Nov '12

Did anyone record the SO-50 pass over the east coast at around 1840z? My voice recorder failed and I can't remember a couple of the callsigns of stations I worked. 73, Paul, N8HM

1 0

KiwiSAT paper presented to Viet Nam Conference
by Trevor . 05 Nov '12

05 Nov '12

A report on KiwiSAT has been submitted to the IARU Region 3 conference taking place at the Kimdo-Royal City Hotel in Viet Nam. The paper mentions a planned launch date of 3rd quarter 2013 "subject to financing". The paper says: "Total costs to date is a mere NZ$39,000 which is a very minor amount compared with the $1,000,000 required to cover the launch costs." Read the paper KiwiSAT - A Project of AMSAT-ZL at http://www.iaru-r3.org/15r3c/docs/035.doc Other IARU Region 3 conferences papers can be read at http://www.iaru-r3.org/15r3c/docs/docs.htm A picture of the delegates is at http://www.dermandar.com/p/bByKak 73 Trevor M5AKA AMSAT-UK http://www.amsat-uk.org/ ----

1 0

Call For Photos for AMSAT Journal - Symposium and KSC Tour
by JoAnne Maenpaa 05 Nov '12

05 Nov '12

Hello everyone, This message is mostly for the folks who were able to attend the 2012 AMSAT Symposium and tour at the Kennedy Space Center. I am planning for photo and text coverage of the Symposium in the AMSAT Journal being planned for the January timeframe. During these events I noticed several 'well-equipped-camera-guys' getting photos of the Symposium and KSC tour activities. I'd really appreciate copies of your hi-res photos for our coverage in the Journal. Please select 5-6 of your favorite photos and add a couple of your personal comments about what you found interesting or cool. The comments can just be text in the e-mail message ... no formatting is required. Alternatively, if you use any of the on-line photo album sites you could just send me the URL for that. I can go there to select photos but I would appreciate a comment from you about which ones you may recommend. Send your input to me by December 1 to k9jkm(a)comcast.net. This account at Comcast may reject very large attachments greater than 10MB. You could send a couple of messages with attachments. If your message is not getting through to me contact me off-list and I'll supply another e-mail address to try. I'll be looking forward to your input, thanks! -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT Journal

1 0