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SRMVU
by Sanjay Srikanth Nekkanti 16 Oct '11

16 Oct '11

Dear Fellow Hams, We are very thankful for the continuous support from you, by sending us the beacon data. We are right now trying to estimate the performance of the satellite and will be planning to perform the operation of the payload in the next couple of days. Before the operation of the payload is begun, we would like to do a small performance test with respect to the RF link. We, therefore request you to kindly keep sending the beacon signal and also try to send the details of the RF signal performance over the entire length of the pass. I would like to quote some of the words from the SRMSAT project Students and Mentors "IT IS A GREAT MORAL BOOSTING CONTINUING INFO FLOW FROM YOU FOR THE SRMSAT GROUP. iT MAKE US PROUD TO CONFIRM FREQUENTLY THAT OUR SAT IS WORKING. gRAET SUPPORT.tO BE TAGGED " We would also like to thank Mr. Nader Omer for his support by developing the SRMVU Decoder. " This is great. Thanks to the team for taking such efforts for developing the decoder.......its just amazing to see the response of the HAM people out there " Looking forward for the support. 73 AB3OE, Sanjay Srikanth Nekkanti

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items for sale
by Bill Booth 15 Oct '11

15 Oct '11

I am offering for sale on eBay: ARR 432 preamp mast mount item # 180738940013 K5GNA 2.4 GHz antenna with down converter item # 180738547935 Thanks for the bandwwidth .... -- Bill Booth VE3NXK Sundridge ON, Canada 79.23.37 W x 45.46.18 N FN05ns Visit my weather WebCam at http://www.almaguin.com/wxcurrent/weather.html Organ and Tissue Donation - The Gift of Life Talk to your family. Your decision can make a difference.

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ISS is on the radio
by Alexander Sack 15 Oct '11

15 Oct '11

So, I just heard Mike Fossum on the radio! Finally. Wow! He said I thought hello Ohio, West Virginia, and I *thought* he said hello New Jersey. Though I don't know if it was me. I called a few times in haste because he was spotty on my low power rig. I can only wish someone else heard him. -aps (KC2ZSX)

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Crab Portable from CN73...
by Ted 15 Oct '11

15 Oct '11

Will be attempting to master the Arrow from Bandon, Oregon..(right on the beach) in between some delicious crab legs (Memphis does bbq- we do crab, Damon!!) This Sunday afternoon, PM and Monday afternoon, PM passes for AO-51 and maybe AO-27. Possible earlier (my time) passes on either I'll advise on qsl's when I get back 73, Ted K7TRK

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X37C Spaceplane Being Studied
by B J 15 Oct '11

15 Oct '11

http://www.universetoday.com/89925/crewed-variant-of-x-37-space-plane-propo… http://tinyurl.com/5wvzy6q 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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CW SRMVU decoding software link
by Nader Omer 15 Oct '11

15 Oct '11

The link for down load http://www.megaupload.com/?d=7PWS7GEA 73's

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CW SRMVU decoding software
by Nader Omer 15 Oct '11

15 Oct '11

As a contribution from CubeSat Project Team in the University of Khartoum to SRM University for the success in launching SRMVU nanosatellite. Here is a version of Telemetry Decoding Software which was developed by University students for studying the University of Khartoum Cube satellite (KN-SAT1)telemetry data. A modification was made to be used with SRMVU data. click the following link to download it, please report any problems to the team. SRMVU Decoder http://cubesat.uofk.edu 73's

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AO-51 JOTA
by Omar Alvarez 15 Oct '11

15 Oct '11

AO-51 to support 54th Jamboree On The Air October 15-16 The AO-51 Command Team is happy to announce support of the Scouting Jamboree On The Air (JOTA) during the weekend October 15-16, 2011. The AO-51 satellite will remain in its current configuration, with an understanding that contacts involving Scouts will be given first priority during this period. The current operating mode of AO-51 is as follows: Uplink: 145.880 MHz FM (No PL tone) Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM The World Scouting Organization in Switzerland posted JOTA information. Visit the World Scouting Radio Library. The Boy Scouts of America has several resources on-line for amateur radio stations participating in JOTA. ******************************** M.C. Omar Alvarez Cárdenas Facultad de Telematica, U de C 316 1075 xe1aom(a)ucol.mx omar_ac(a)hotmail.com ********************************

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2011 MUD Webcast on Now
by JoAnne Maenpaa 15 Oct '11

15 Oct '11

Another news item going on right now ... would be too late if we waited for the ANS Bulletins: 2011 Microwave Update Conference is currently being webcast at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/microwave-update-2011 -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service

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Pass Duration vs Max Elevation
by Ed N8BBQ 15 Oct '11

15 Oct '11

Lynn, The correlation works well for birds in a circular orbit, but elliptical orbits are another story. A high elliptical orbit could result in a long pass at a very low elevation, or a very short pass at 90 degrees if perigee is over the ground station. Since the current fleet of birds are in circular orbits it won't matter but if you are coding a program you might want to account for possible future HEO birds. I find both numbers to be useful (pass duration and max elevation). Best '73 - de Ed N8BBQ

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FO-29 not listed on AMSAT.org sat status page
by Tom Schuessler 15 Oct '11

15 Oct '11

Am I missing something but is there not a listing for FO-29 on the Sat Status page?

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Pass Duration vs Max Elevation
by Lynn W. Deffenbaugh (Mr) 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

Another question from a satellite newbie. I'm working on a satellite pass information query system via APRS messaging and am currently providing future pass duration as a layman's indicator of the "quality" of an upcoming pass. I've been told that duration is "of little value" (see below for the full quote) and a max elevation is all that matters. In my (relatively short) time of watching various pass predictions, I've found a nearly direct correlation between the duration of a pass and the max elevation achieved. I've not noticed a "longer low pass" nor a short high pass for that matter. Low elevation passes are short, and high elevation passes are long. So, my question, to be answered from the perspective of hoping to get more people aware of satellite passes by making it easy to casually query their availability while at the same time providing useful information to people that frequently "work the birds" (if I've got that expression correct) while they're away from their normal prediction tools is: Would a forecast pass duration (expressed as a delta time) be useful in this context, or is that truly "of little value" and the Max Elevation of a pass should be provided necessitating a potentially greater education of the general populace? Lynn (D) - KJ4ERJ - Author of APRSISCE for Windows Mobile and Win32 PS. Here's my original reasoning for pass duration rather than max elevation and the comments I received in reply. The sender of the response is purposely kept anonymous so that I can get independently reasoned responses and not just agreements with the quoted source. > I went with a pass duration rather than max > elevation so novices can better plan their > time investment. They both basically > communicate pass "quality" and "ease of > working", but everyone understands time, while > the experts have a handle on elevation. Sorry, but time is of little value since it can be a longer low pass that one has no prayer of working from a mobile because it is so low. So elevation tells it all. A low max elevation is not worth bothering with no matter how long it is. A high elevation pass will have a nearly 10 dB advantage to the mobile operator and is very important information. And also, by definition it is longer. And satellite operators know the approximate length of a pass. For a mobile, the shortest is the ISS with about 5 minutes useable. For PCSAT1, about 10 minutes max. All other satellites are somewhere in between or are not usually workable from an FM mobile rig with omni antenna. So the few minutes difference is of little value. I dont think people are going to arrange their daily schedules around whether a satellite is going to be useable fo 5 minutes or 8 minutes. But they certainly will change plans for a 60 degree pass compared to a 10 degree pass.

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Special Event Station K7P
by Dale Hershberger 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

I know is very short notice. I have just put my gear together to operate portable from BO40 tomorrow afternoon and possibly Saturday afternoon as well. I will be in Homer, Alaska for the annual Refuges on the air event. We will be operating on the HF bands as well. We are located at the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge center. We operated last year from there as KL7YY. This is to celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week. 73, KL7XJ

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Re: Which preamp to buy for 2m?
by Burns Fisher 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

First, my sincere apologies...I think I managed to resend the entire digest to the list. I HATE it when people do that but now I know how easy it is to do accidentally. Sorry. ---- Now to what I was going to say: I have the SSB SP-2000 and I'm also very happy with it. It seems to do auto RF switching well down to under 2 watts. (Some auto-switching are only spec'ed to switch down to 8 or 10W). It also bypasses itself if you just cut the power (to be expected, I guess). I'm using it with a second power feedline (which you can connect with a PL259) since I don't happen to have 13.8V phantom power available. On the other hand, it is about the most expensive 2m preamp you can find :-( Where to get it in the US? ssbusa.com appears to be a distributer. No one answered the phone, and they never returned my call. Another vendor (take it from whence it came) said they were phasing out. But in any case, Array Solutions was very helpful and fast and sent me my SP-2000 in a very short time. As I recall I had to talk to them on the phone since they did not have the SSB stuff fully integrated into their web site yet, but it was worthwhile. Array Solutions also advertises in QST :-) Burns, W2BFJ > Message: 14 > Date: Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:19:24 -0400 > From: "Stephen E. Belter" <seb(a)wintek.com> > To: Tim Goodrich <tim(a)timgoodrich.net>, "amsat-bb(a)amsat.org" > <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Which preamp to buy for 2m? > Message-ID: > <51668A33220E754EABE6583357ECEE2D79CD61B2(a)Exchange.wintek.local> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" > > Tim, > > I own SSB preamps, the SP-2000 (2 meter) and SP-7000 (70 cm). They have > worked very well for me, both on my Icom IC-821 (powered by the radio) and > with my FUNcube Dongle (powered with an external bias-T from ARR). The SSB > preamps have helical filters on the front end which should help in your Los > Angeles RF environment. > > You have at least four sources for the SSB preamp: > > 1. Direct from SSB in Germany, www.ssb.de > > 2. From SSB-Electronics USA, www.ssbusa.com > > 3. From Array Solutions, www.arraysolutions.com > > 4. From Universal Radio, www.universal-radio.com > > 73, Steve N9IP > -- > > -----Original Message----- > From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Tim Goodrich > Sent: Thursday, October 13, 2011 2:04 AM > To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Which preamp to buy for 2m? > > Hi all, > > I just got a M2 2M4 and 420-50-11 to mount on my az/el rotor and go with my > 736R. As I'm hoping to potentially work some EME with the big guns when > conditions are just right, I'm wondering if anyone can provide advice on > which preamp to get for 2m. I live in the Los Angeles metro area, so lots of > noise/QRM, and also would like something to take advantage of the 736's > preamp switch/voltage over coax option. In other words, something that > doesn't require any complicated power/switching controls, if possible. > > > > Any suggestions? > > > > Thanks, > > Tim > > K6TW > >

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Ham Radio Deluxe Sat Tracking Question
by Dave Marthouse 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

I have a strange problem in hrd's satellite tracking program. When I am tracking arissat-1 the satellite name is written on the screen correctly but the voice announcements for aos, los and other alerts call it the international space station. How can I fix the voice alerts? What files if any can I edit to remedy this problem? Other than that odd behavior the program works well. Any information would be appreciated. Dave Marthouse N2AAM dmarthouse(a)gmail.com

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(no subject)
by andy thomas 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

By popular request (!) you can see the Russian geostationary satellite locator at: http://sites.google.com/site/andythomasorg/Home/russian-geostationary or go to www.andythomas.org then from the Home page take the sub page link at the bottom. 73 de andy g0sfj

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Jugnu (JNU) : Thanks and Updates
by Shashank Chintalagiri 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

Hello, I'm the system engineer for the Jugnu nanosatellite project. This is the nanosatellite which is more generally known on this list as JNU, since that was the identifier sent along with the TLE. I've been lurking on this list for the past couple of years, ever since we started working on the nanosatellite. I did learn a lot from occasionally perusing through the posts here. Not being a licensed HAM myself, I apologize for intruding into your space here today. On behalf of the entire Jugnu team, I'd like to thank all of you for the beacon reports you've sent our way, both on the list as well as through Mani (VU2WMY). Its been a long couple of years on the project, but the last few days have been a much more intense roller coaster ride. The continuous stream of beacon reports from across the world surpassed all of our expectations, and were the mainstay of our emotional support while we were having difficulties recieving the beacon ourselves. If I do get to meet any of you in person, the beer's on me. The telemetry gathered by HAMs across the world has been extremely useful in our analysis of the spacecraft's condition. I hope to be able to release, atleast partially, the details of the format for the beacon string in a couple of days. In the meanwhile, we welcome any additional telemetry that you can send our way. Even information about the AOS/LOS has been very useful in trying to figure out where exactly the satellite is. NORAD / celestrak has released 5 TLE's tagged with the PSLV C-18 launch (2011-058<A-E>). We arent yet sure which one, if any, is Jugnu. We do know that SRMSat is one of the cluster of 3 objects (B,C,D). We've been able to recieve our beacon when we attempt to track C, but the signal strength is low and we generally see it clearly only near AOS. Due to reasons I'm probably not allowed to discuss in public, we have reason to believe that Jugnu is moving away from the other objects (SRMSat, VesselSat, and until later today, MT) at a velocity of approximately 1.5 to 3 meters per second since separation from LV. We expect this velocity to be tangential to the orbit. If you're trying to track Jugnu, I would suggest that for the moment, C is a good starting point, and it may be better to track a little ahead of it. We will be trying to do the same in some of the later passes ourselves. In the case of SRMSat, we've had good signals at object B until earlier today, but we think that C did a better job of it in the last decent pass we had earlier this evening, about 6 hours ago. I'd be more than delighted to try and answer any questions you may have about Jugnu, so please feel free to contact me on or off list if you would like to know more about it. Thanks and Regards, Chintalagiri Shashank Head, System Integration and Electronic Hardware Design, Jugnu Nanosatellite Project Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur http://blog.chintal.in

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SRMVU/JUGNU Keps
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

I have been looking at Catalog numbers 37838U through 37842U and with no scientific or mathematical reason, but rather practicality, I am using 37841U for SRMVU and 37842U for JUGNU keps. When I used 37841U (2011-058D) during the last pass of SRMVU, I was just about right on with AOS/LOS times. However, all of that series are with in a minute or so. Just my observation. There is another pass coming up in 28 minutes so I will see how accurate I am again. I have all five showing in SatPC. 73, -- *Carl W8KRF*

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SRMVU 1138UTC pass at EN91ck
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

SRMVU CW Telemetry: SRMVU C Z Z P P C Note: The AOS/LOS are almost 2 minutes off now. I have also noticed an upward shift in the frequency. I am receiving it at 435.426+. I am also having to adjust Doppler more often. Is this a side effect of the Keps being off? Will you be posting updated Keps? -- *Carl W8KRF*

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Re: Oscarlocator,
by K5OE 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

Here's one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mechanical-Paper-Oscar-Locator-Amateur-Satellite-19… 73, Jerry, K5OE

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Re: Oscarlocator
by andy thomas 14 Oct '11

14 Oct '11

At the flea market in St Petersburg (Russia, not Fla!) this August I bought a Russian ex-ship "Oscarlocator"- type device for geostationary satellites in the Inmarsat series. It's a map of the world with the satellites marked on it along the equator, and a transparent plastic overlay from which you can read the az and el to the satellite from your position. It rotaes around a central screw. Obviously it'll work with any geostationary satellite once you have drawn it in. I have scanned all 3 components - map, overlay and Russian text - and translated the text. I sent it to amsat-uk for their bulletin but I don't think they are interested. Maybe nobody is. But if anyone is, let me know and I'll post it on my website. 73 de andy g0sfj

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Oscarlocator
by Kevin Deane 13 Oct '11

13 Oct '11

Anyone want to get rid of one I'll send you a SASE! Kevin KF7MYK

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Tracking program performance post chicken little date. (SatPC32 and GPredict)
by Thomas Doyle 13 Oct '11

13 Oct '11

All the hype over the chicken little contest caused me to wonder how tracking programs will handle it. I was looked into the Cal Poly CP6 and HAWKSAT1 satellites. The TLE data is published on both Amsat and Celestrack lists. SatPC32 shows neither of the satellites as moving. An error is generated when trying to select either of them. I thought that perhaps they had decayed but had not been removed from the TLE lists. GPredict continues to track Az-El for CP6 in real time in the text display but shows the elevation and altitude as negative and the up/down direction as D (decayed) - it does not display CP6 on the map. I am assuming that CP6 has decayed. The elevation for CP6 goes up and down and the tracking value change over time. Since the elevation is always negative perhaps GPredict is tracking what would have happened if the earth was just a tiny point of mass and the satellite is able to continue its downward descent. HAWKSAT1 shows up as above ground and running in GPredict. Since ARISSAT1 is probably going to decay fairly quickly I took a look at predicting ahead using the great Preview tracking in SatPC32 to see how decay is handled. After a couple of really bad years the coverage map for ARISSAT1 looks better than ever starting just two years from now in 2014. Unfortunately I could not figure out how to get GPredict to predict more than 14 days in the future and did not want to fool around changing the system clock. I have wondered what the NORAD routines would do after decay and how tracking programs that use the NORAD model would deal with it. Does the NORAD model continue to track as if the earth was just a very small very heavy point in space. A transparent 3D earth display would be very interesting to use to view the post chicken little results - someone must have one. Anyone know for sure ? HAWKSAT1 is still a bit of a mystery. 73 W9KE tom ...

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JUGNU & SRMVU
by PY5LF 13 Oct '11

13 Oct '11

Hi Signal of JUGNU and SRMVU a few minutes ago over GG54 ; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqZAphQSmXA 73 PY5LF LUCIANO FABRICIO Curitiba-PR-Brazil GG54jm <http://www.qrz.com/db/py5lf> http://www.qrz.com/db/py5lf

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SRMVU Entire Pass Vedio Clip !
by Nader Omer 13 Oct '11

13 Oct '11

Congratulation to SRMVU team for the great succes Without a break to hold a breath ,A continous telemetry received with the same data. Srmvuczzpxc srmvuczzpxc srmvuczzpxcc srmvuczzpxcc srmvuczzpxcc srmvuczzpxcc etc Signal was stable and strong . INHO for such a simple telemetry they had missed to give a break for the transmitter .At least for a period of several seconds . SRMVU entire pass vedio clip see the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FlLt49AMI1c 73's Nader / ST2NH

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Which preamp to buy for 2m?
by Tim Goodrich 13 Oct '11

13 Oct '11

Hi all, I just got a M2 2M4 and 420-50-11 to mount on my az/el rotor and go with my 736R. As I'm hoping to potentially work some EME with the big guns when conditions are just right, I'm wondering if anyone can provide advice on which preamp to get for 2m. I live in the Los Angeles metro area, so lots of noise/QRM, and also would like something to take advantage of the 736's preamp switch/voltage over coax option. In other words, something that doesn't require any complicated power/switching controls, if possible. Any suggestions? Thanks, Tim K6TW

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[amsat-bb] HudsonValleySatcomGroupNetTonightOct15@8PMEasternTimeOnEcholinkN@N2EYH-L
by cotejaune2＠aol.com 13 Oct '11

13 Oct '11

Hello all. It is time again for the HVSGN tonight on Echolink N2EYH-L @ 8 PM Eastern or on the MtBeacon ARC repeater 146.970 pl 100. Hope to hear you there. 73 Gary WA2AQH/Tom KC2DTQ

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Horyu-2 437.375 MHz - November ?
by Trevor . 13 Oct '11

13 Oct '11

The 6.7 kg microsatellite Horyu-2, which has an onboard camera, was planned to launch from Japan in November 2011 with GCOM-W 1, KOMPSat 3, SDS 4. http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=216 Does anyone know if the November date is still valid or has it slipped ? Horyu website in Google English http://tinyurl.com/HoryuMicrosat 73 Trevor M5AKA

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SRMVU Telemetry
by Carl Rimmer W8KRF 13 Oct '11

13 Oct '11

I was able to copy SRMVU this morning during the 1149UTC pass here at EN91ck (Cleveland, OH USA). I did notice that the AOS/LOS were off by a minute or slightly more. Perhaps the Keps will be updated soon. The signal strength was weak but copyable. A recording was made. The CW Telemetry: SRMVU C Z Z P P C (this was repeated without change throughout the entire pass) -- *Carl W8KRF*

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PSLV C-18 Launch successful
by Mani VU2WMY 13 Oct '11

13 Oct '11

Hello All, The PSLV C-18 Mission is a Grand success. All the four satellites were successfully injected into their precise orbits. The Jugna was injected at 05:56 UT and the beacon will turn ON at 06:31 UT. It is expected that the Jugnu at that time should be somewhere over N.W of South America. Any early signal report 0n 437.275 CW from around this part of the World would be greatly appreciated. 73 de Mani, VU2WMY Secretary & Station-In-Charge Upagrah Amateur Radio Club VU2URC ISRO Satellite Centre HAL Airport Road, Bangalore-560 017. Phone:(O)91-80-25082054/2598/2192 Mobile: 91-80-98803 41456 E-mail ID: wmy(a)isac.gov.in vu2wmy_mani(a)yahoo.com isrohams(a)yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Jugnu and SRMVU keps--maybe ;)
by Mark L. Hammond 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Probably these, based on launch date: OBJECT B 1 37839U 11058B 11285.77528725 .00000264 00000-0 00000+0 0 21 2 37839 019.9805 063.0497 0013045 346.8872 013.2366 14.10339799 89 OBJECT D 1 37841U 11058D 11285.77537062 .00000264 00000-0 00000+0 0 28 2 37841 019.9743 063.0392 0012167 345.0078 015.0473 14.10074916 86 They match closely to the other ones posted--but about 1-2 mins off. User beware ;) 73! Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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Qsl Cards
by Kevin Deane 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Does the person who sent me a big green SASE remember, because there were two stacks that went out from Cali and it was in one of them, so I was wondering if the person did receive it back or not. Reason being there might be more than one person who did not get any cards from Elko or Cali. Not worried about postage or cards just that it bothers me that people did not get what I had sent. So please let me know if you did not receive cards from any occasion and I will be glad to resnd given the info. Kevin KF7MYK

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Fw: SatPc32 kepler Data
by Howard Kowall 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Just a small thanks to all who replied to the above subject. Sorry I am little late getting here I did find the folder and all is great. I have always found this bbs very helpful and I can always count on good answers on here. Thanks again all Howard VE4ISP ----- Original Message ----- From: Howard Kowall To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 2:49 PM Subject: SatPc32 kepler Data Hello all I have an older laptop that has no internet connection,I run Satpc32 on my main computer that has internet connection and I am able to update the kepler data.I want to use the kepler data from my main computer,and copy it to my laptop via USB flash drive.I cant seem to find the kepler folder in the SatPc32 folder.Has anyone one shared the kepler data. Thanks to all who read and reply in advance Howard VE4ISP

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SRMSAT CW Heard
by Mineo Wakita 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

I heard SRMSAT CW signal. I found a word like ...SRMVU... 20:27-20:39UTC, 12 Oct 2011, Ele 9 S-SE, 437.425MHz CW ...PXCSRMVUCZZPXCSRV... SRMVU 1 55555U 11072A 11285.24558449 .00001106 00000-0 60777-3 0 1231 2 55555 19.9698 66.2533 0014244 344.0462 200.8483 14.10647952 17 JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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Last call to enter the ARISSat-1 the Chicken Little Contest!
by Alan P. Biddle 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

A final reminder that the deadline for entering the ARISSat-1 Chicken Little Contest is fast approaching. The submissions end at 23:59 UTC on 15 October 2011. You can find the details at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/ARISSat/ARISSatContest We are still short of submissions from students, particularly in the grades 9-12 range. If you know of someone, whether they are hams or not, who might be interested, please nudge them in the direction of the contest page. There is no fortune, but at least 5 minutes of limited fame awaits the winners. Thanks to the many who have already entered! 73s, Alan WA4SCA

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Re: Can you work DK1TB on a satellite ?
by Thomas Doyle 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Thanks for the answer to my question. SatPC32 with WinListen is exactly what I was looking for. The more I use SatPC32 the more I appreciate the effort that went into it and how well it works. 73 W9KE tom ...

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Re: Can you work DK1TB on a satellite ?
by Andrew Glasbrenner 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

WinListen, as part of SatPC32, will do the same. Choose the Window for two observers option. It's a great feature for any program, and one I've used often to find good windows to EU and mid-South America. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Thomas Doyle <tomdoyle1948(a)gmail.com> >Sent: Oct 12, 2011 11:06 AM >To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Can you work DK1TB on a satellite ? > >A friend who knows a little about ham radio asked me me about satellites. He >asked a couple simple questions.- Can you work Alaska on the satellite ? >When I answered probably. He said great - lets try it. I explained a little >about orbits and then he said. Ok - so if you know you can work Alaska how >do you know when you should try. Alaska is not all that far from my QTH here >in Packer Country so for my example I have changed the question to "Can you >work DK1TB on a satellite and if so which satellite and when is it possible >?". > >We all know many ways to answer this simple question. Here is the easiest >way I know. If you have an easier way please let me know. > >http://www.tomdoyle.org/canIworkDK1TB > >73 W9KE tom ... >_______________________________________________ >Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Can you work DK1TB on a satellite ?
by Thomas Doyle 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

A friend who knows a little about ham radio asked me me about satellites. He asked a couple simple questions.- Can you work Alaska on the satellite ? When I answered probably. He said great - lets try it. I explained a little about orbits and then he said. Ok - so if you know you can work Alaska how do you know when you should try. Alaska is not all that far from my QTH here in Packer Country so for my example I have changed the question to "Can you work DK1TB on a satellite and if so which satellite and when is it possible ?". We all know many ways to answer this simple question. Here is the easiest way I know. If you have an easier way please let me know. http://www.tomdoyle.org/canIworkDK1TB 73 W9KE tom ...

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SRMVU: CW Telemetry Decoded - Working Great
by Dinesh Cyanam 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Mark, N8MH from North Carolina has sent his recording of SRMVU pass over FM05pj at 13:53utc 12 Oct 2011. The wave file can be downloaded from here: http://mbf.me/nTppW The decoded telemetry using fldigi software is as below: *P**V*S R M V U C Z Z*VU C Z Z P X ***CS R M V U C Z* **/* C S R M V U CZZPXCSRM 4* ZZ P**ZZP X C SR* *M V U C Z Z PXCSRMVU*FRM* ***ZZPZCSRMVUCZ*** S R M V U CZZPX Satellite Mode: C - Normal Magnetometer Status: Z - Ready GPS Status: Z Payload Status: P Temperature Status: X - 10 to 20 degree celcius Battery Status: C - Less than 7 V http://srmsat.in/srmvu.html 73 Dinesh Cyanam KC2YQJ

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Re: SRMSat (SRMVU) - Updated Keps
by Dinesh Cyanam 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Yes, Harvey, SRMVU inclination of 20 degrees is correct. As the satellite launched along with the Megha-Tropiques satellite, which is going to monitor the precipitation between the tropics, the inclination is 20 degrees. 73 KC2YQJ Dinesh Cyanam On Oct 12, 2011, at 10:52 AM, H. Vordenbaum wrote: > It has an unusually low inclination. Is 19.97 correct? > 73, Harvey > K5HV > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dinesh Cyanam" <dinesh(a)cyanam.net> > To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> > Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 8:00 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] SRMSat (SRMVU) - Updated Keps > > >> Hello all, >> Here are the updated keps for SRMSat (SRMVU) >> >> SRMVU >> 1 55555U 11072A 11285.24558449 .00001106 00000-0 60777-3 0 1231 >> 2 55555 19.9698 66.2533 0014244 344.0462 200.8483 14.10647952 17 >> >> Keps can also be downloaded from: http://dinesh.cyanam.net/dl/SRMSat_Updated_Keps.txt >> More info about CW telemetry decoding can be found at: http://srmsat.in/srmvu.html >> >> 73 >> KC2YQJ >> Dinesh Cyanam >> >> On Oct 12, 2011, at 8:22 AM, Dinesh Cyanam wrote: >> >>> Hello Fellow Amateurs, >>> We have received our first report from Ian Ashley, ZL1AOX, from New Zealand about successful copying of the beacon. >>> -------------------------- >>> CW copied in New Zealand at location RF72mv from 11:24 to 11:37 on 437.425+-, 13th October 2011. >>> Thought I was recording but it didn't start. Sorry. >>> Signals fairly weak and MixW wouldn't decode but OK to the human ear! >>> >>> Congratulations on a successful launch and deployment. >>> Regards >>> Ian Ashley ZL1AOX" >>> -------------------------- >>> >>> SRMSat beacon and telemetry can be heard @ 437.425 MHz >>> SRMSat Keps file: http://dinesh.cyanam.net/dl/SRMSAT_TLEs.txt >>> >>> The CW Telemetry and decoding details for SRMSAT are as below: >>> Character 6: Satellite Mode >>> 1. P - Sensing Mode >>> 2. X - Communication Mode >>> 3. C - Normal Mode >>> 4. Z - Detumbling Mode >>> >>> Character 7: Magnetometer Status >>> 1. C - On >>> 2. P - Off >>> 3. X - Error >>> 4. Z - Ready >>> >>> Character 8: GPS Status >>> >>> Character 9: Payload Status >>> >>> Character 10: Temperature Status >>> 1. C - < 0 degree celcius >>> 2. P - 0 to 10 degree celcius >>> 3. X - 10 to 20 degree celcius >>> 4. Z - 20 to 30 degree celcius >>> 5. 6 - 30 to 40 degrees celcius >>> 6. 4 - Above 40 degrees celcius >>> >>> Character 11: Battery Status >>> 1. C - Less than 7 V >>> 2. P - >7V and <7.3V >>> 3. X - >7.3V and <7.6V >>> 4. Z - >7.6V and <7.9V >>> 5. 6 - >7.9V and <8.1V >>> 6. 4 - >8.1V >>> >>> We are looking forward to hearing more reception and health status reports from other Radio Amateurs. >>> Please send reception reports and CW telemetry to kc2yqj at arrl.org or to sanjaynekkanti at gmail.com >>> >>> 73 >>> KC2YQJ >>> Dinesh Cyanam >>> >>> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. >> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! >> Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >

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SRMSat CW Telemetry Decoding Info
by Dinesh Cyanam 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Hello Fellow Amateurs, We have received our first report from Ian Ashley, ZL1AOX, from New Zealand about successful copying of the beacon. -------------------------- CW copied in New Zealand at location RF72mv from 11:24 to 11:37 on 437.425+-, 13th October 2011. Thought I was recording but it didn't start. Sorry. Signals fairly weak and MixW wouldn't decode but OK to the human ear! Congratulations on a successful launch and deployment. Regards Ian Ashley ZL1AOX" -------------------------- SRMSat beacon and telemetry can be heard @ 437.425 MHz SRMSat Keps file: http://dinesh.cyanam.net/dl/SRMSAT_TLEs.txt The CW Telemetry and decoding details for SRMSAT are as below: Character 6: Satellite Mode 1. P - Sensing Mode 2. X - Communication Mode 3. C - Normal Mode 4. Z - Detumbling Mode Character 7: Magnetometer Status 1. C - On 2. P - Off 3. X - Error 4. Z - Ready Character 8: GPS Status Character 9: Payload Status Character 10: Temperature Status 1. C - < 0 degree celcius 2. P - 0 to 10 degree celcius 3. X - 10 to 20 degree celcius 4. Z - 20 to 30 degree celcius 5. 6 - 30 to 40 degrees celcius 6. 4 - Above 40 degrees celcius Character 11: Battery Status 1. C - Less than 7 V 2. P - >7V and <7.3V 3. X - >7.3V and <7.6V 4. Z - >7.6V and <7.9V 5. 6 - >7.9V and <8.1V 6. 4 - >8.1V We are looking forward to hearing more reception and health status reports from other Radio Amateurs. Please send reception reports and CW telemetry to kc2yqj at arrl.org or to sanjaynekkanti at gmail.com 73 KC2YQJ Dinesh Cyanam

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Jugnu-Updated Keps
by Mani VU2WMY 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Hi Andy, This is the latest one I got from one of our ranging station just after injection. JNU 1 77777U 11072A 11285.24734954 .00001786 00000-0 98078-3 0 1237 2 77777 19.9700 66.2427 0014159 345.0048 208.8697 14.10658084 12 Mani, VU2WMY ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Satellite Beacon Tracking Request
by Mani VU2WMY 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Dear friends, As you all might be aware that two cubesats 'Jugnu' and 'SRMSat' using amateur frequencies are to be launched by PSLV C-18 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre [SDSC], Shriharikota, India. The expected launch time is 05:30 UT. In this regard, I'm herewith forwarding the mail from Mr. Shantanu Agarwal, Team Lead for the 'Jugnu', requesting the Global Amateur Radio fraternity to provide the CW Beacon signal Report along with the plain decoded morse message, if possible. Any help in this regard would be greatly appreciated, as this would be very helpful to evaluate various ob-board system performance. 'Jugnu' beacon is at 437.275 MHz, OOK. The reports can be sent to the following mail ID.s wmy(a)isac.gov.in[1] shantag(a)iitk.ac.in[2] The predicted TLE's: JNU 1 99999U 11072A 11285.24724444 .00001785 00000-0 96625-3 0 1235 2 99999 20.0506 66.7109 0018405 5.1080 190.7439 14.11338922 19 SRM 1 88888U 11072A 11278.34967500 .00001077 00000-0 60876-3 0 1233 2 88888 20.0603 97.4017 0010015 338.6461 208.4324 14.09199968 14 Thanks in advance and looking forward to your valuable reports. 73 de Mani, VU2WMY Secretary & Station-In-Charge Upagrah Amateur Radio Club VU2URC ISRO Satellite Centre HAL Airport Road, Bangalore-560 017. Phone:(O)91-80-25082054/2598/2192 Mobile: 91-80-98803 41456 E-mail ID: wmy(a)isac.gov.in[3] vu2wmy_mani(a)yahoo.com[4] isrohams(a)yahoo.com[5] ----- Forwarded message from shantag(a)iitk.ac.in[6] ----- Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:06:56 +0530 From: Shantanu <shantag(a)iitk.ac.in[7]> Subject: Satellite Beacon Tracking Request To: wmy(a)isac.gov.in[8] Dear Sir, We will be thankful if you can track our satellite beacon after launch. You are requested to kindly post our satellite details on various HAM groups to track our satellite beacon after launch. Our satellite beacon is at 437.275 MHz, OOK. Thanks. Shantanu Agarwal ----- End forwarded message ----- Links: ------ [1] mailto:wmy%40isac.gov.in [2] mailto:shantag%40iitk.ac.in [3] mailto:wmy%40isac.gov.in [4] mailto:vu2wmy_mani%40yahoo.com [5] mailto:isrohams%40yahoo.com [6] mailto:shantag%40iitk.ac.in [7] mailto:shantag%40iitk.ac.in [8] mailto:wmy%40isac.gov.in ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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CW telemetry from 'Jugnu'
by Mani VU2WMY 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Dear friends, On behalf of the 'Jugnu Team' from the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur, India, I thank all the Amateur radio Stations that responded to our request in sending the beacon signal reports. Our sincere thanks to OM.Shamai 4Z1WS from Israel. His report from Israel was the 'First' indication for us about the beacon 'ON' status.The decoded CW text message by Shamai 4Z1WS indicated the nominal performance of the spacecraft. Subsequently, the beacon was heard by me, Nittin VU3TYG and Guru VU2GUR all from Bangalore. Our sincere thanks to OM.Christian F1AFZ from France. We look forward for more 'Critical' signal reports across the Globe in the coming days. 73 de Mani, VU2WMY Secretary & Station-In-Charge Upagrah Amateur Radio Club VU2URC ISRO Satellite Centre HAL Airport Road, Bangalore-560 017. Phone:(O)91-80-25082054/2598/2192 Mobile: 91-80-98803 41456 E-mail ID: wmy(a)isac.gov.in vu2wmy_mani(a)yahoo.com isrohams(a)yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Fwd: Satellite Beacon Tracking Request
by Mani VU2WMY 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Dear friends, As you all might be aware that two cubesats 'Jugnu' and 'SRMSat' using amateur frequencies are to be launched by PSLV C-18 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre [SDSC], Shriharikota, India. The expected launch time is 05:30 UT. In this regard, I'm herewith forwarding the mail from Mr. Shantanu Agarwal, Team Lead for the 'Jugnu', requesting the Global Amateur Radio fraternity to provide the CW Beacon signal Report along with the plain decoded morse message, if possible. Any help in this regard would be greatly appreciated, as this would be very helpful to evaluate various ob-board system performance. 'Jugnu' beacon is at 437.275 MHz, OOK. The reports can be sent to the following mail ID.s wmy(a)isac.gov.in shantag(a)iitk.ac.in The predicted TLE's: JNU 1 99999U 11072A 11285.24724444 .00001785 00000-0 96625-3 0 1235 2 99999 20.0506 66.7109 0018405 5.1080 190.7439 14.11338922 19 SRM 1 88888U 11072A 11278.34967500 .00001077 00000-0 60876-3 0 1233 2 88888 20.0603 97.4017 0010015 338.6461 208.4324 14.09199968 14 Thanks in advance and looking forward to your valuable reports. 73 de Mani, VU2WMY Secretary & Station-In-Charge Upagrah Amateur Radio Club VU2URC ISRO Satellite Centre HAL Airport Road, Bangalore-560 017. Phone:(O)91-80-25082054/2598/2192 Mobile: 91-80-98803 41456 E-mail ID: wmy(a)isac.gov.in vu2wmy_mani(a)yahoo.com isrohams(a)yahoo.com ----- Forwarded message from shantag(a)iitk.ac.in ----- Date: Tue, 11 Oct 2011 20:06:56 +0530 From: Shantanu <shantag(a)iitk.ac.in> Subject: Satellite Beacon Tracking Request To: wmy(a)isac.gov.in Dear Sir, We will be thankful if you can track our satellite beacon after launch. You are requested to kindly post our satellite details on various HAM groups to track our satellite beacon after launch. Our satellite beacon is at 437.275 MHz, OOK. Thanks. Shantanu Agarwal ----- End forwarded message ----- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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SRMSAT
by Sanjay Srikanth Nekkanti 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Dear Folks, "SRMSAT" a Nano Satellite from SRM University and "Jugnu" from IIT kanpur, India have been successfully placed in orbit at 11:32 Am IST. I would request the Hams all over the world to track the satellites and send in the beacon data to the following address. KC2YQJ(a)arrl.net and sanjaynekkanti(a)gmail.com SRMSAT beacon is at 437.425 MHz Jugnu beacon is at 437.275 MHz Thanking you, 73 AB3OE, Sanjay Srikanth Nekkanti.

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KiwiSAT Camera
by Fred Kennedy 12 Oct '11

12 Oct '11

Hi Guys, Been asked by the student that is running some tests on the very simple camera that we are installing on KiwiSAT, what the cost would be of a commercial satellite surveillance camera. He has not found any prices despite web searching - and I haven't done much better! He wants to contrast the cost of our simple unit to a proper industrial one in a .ppt presentation on his findings. Can someone out there in the business give us an idea of the range from the simplest to the most sophisticated? (Has to be mega bucks!) ( Cost of ours ?- about $100! But flown successfully and reliably (for our purpose) on several Cubesats!!!) Thanks Fred Kennedy ZL1BYP KiwiSAT Project Leader

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Geostationary Satellites
by ka9qjg 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

Hello Hope Everyone is doing Well, I know people say no such thing as a dumb question So here goes What is the reason We do not have any Type of geostationary Satellites. Is it because they are for World Wide Use and If stationary one could Hit it 24/7 and Maybe park there butt on it and Run a Beam and Amp and take it over Thanks 73 De Don KA9QJG

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Endeavour's Pink Slip Transferred
by Clint Bradford 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

Michael Curie Headquarters, Washington 202-358-1100 michael.curie(a)nasa.gov RELEASE: 11-343 NASA TRANSFERS ENDEAVOUR TITLE TO CALIFORNIA SCIENCE CENTER WASHINGTON -- NASA transferred title and ownership of space shuttle Endeavour to the California Science Center (CSC) during a ceremony Tuesday at the center in Los Angeles. The transfer is the first step toward CSC receiving Endeavour in the latter half of 2012. "NASA is pleased to share this wonderful orbiter with the California Science Center to help inspire a new generation of explorers," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said. "The next chapter in space exploration begins now, and we're standing on the shoulders of the men and women of the shuttle program to reach farther into the solar system." Bolden announced April 12 that CSC was one of four institutions nationwide to receive a shuttle. After display preparation and post-mission work are complete, NASA will deliver Endeavour on the 747 shuttle carrier aircraft to Los Angeles International Airport. >From there, the shuttle will be driven through the streets of Los Angeles to its destination at the Science Center in Exposition Park. "Endeavour now will begin its new mission to stimulate an interest in science and engineering in future generations at the science center," California Science Center President Jeffrey Rudolph said. For information about where all the retired space shuttles will be displayed, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/transition/placement/index.html -end- Clint Bradford clintbradford(a)mac.com

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India PSLV C-18 Launch with Jugnu and SRMSAT Webcast
by JoAnne Maenpaa 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

Hello Everyone, Here is one news item that will happen before the weekend ANS bulletins are sent out: The PSLV C-18 launch from India's Satish Dhawan Space Centre [SDSC], in Shriharikota, India will be webcast live at http://www.isro.org/. The expected launch time is 05:30 UTC October 12. The Jugnu team is requesting CW beacon signal reports along with the plain decoded morse message be sent to the following mail IDs: wmy(a)isac.gov.in shantag(a)iitk.ac.in The SRMSat reports can be sent to: sanjaynekkanti(a)gmail.com Jugnu Frequency: CW Beacon - 437.275 MHz (17dbm) SRMSAT Frequency: CW Beacon - 437.425 MHz (10dbm) Preliminary TLEs from ISTRAC (ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network): SRM 1 99999U 11072A 11278.34967500 .00001077 00000-0 60876-3 0 1233 2 99999 20.0603 97.4017 0010015 338.6461 208.4324 14.09199968 14 http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/amsat-bb/48hour/msg90110.html (amsat-bb) More information and a countdown clock can be found on-line at: http://srmsat.in/ -- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM k9jkm(a)amsat.org Editor, AMSAT News Service

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Re: KickSat - a personal spacecraft of your own in space
by Zac Manchester 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

Hi All, In response to Trevor's questions, the current board design is about 3.2 cm x 3.2 cm x 4 mm. At that size, we can fit about 200 in a 1U CubeSat (stacked 3x3x22). We're pretty sure we can thin that down a little more by using thinner PCBs. If we get way more than 200, we can always go to a 2U or 3U CubeSat. What I'd really like to do, however, if we can get enough sponsors, is to make a custom ASIC. If we can make custom silicon, we can get the size and the price way down. This may not be realistic this time around, but it is something I really want to pursue if I can get the money. As far as power, the Sprites are around 10 mW, and yes, they need solar power, so they won't operate through eclipse. They do, however have a bank of capacitors to buffer the power coming out of the solar cells, so tumbling won't be a problem. Thanks, Zac

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SatPc32 kepler Data
by Howard Kowall 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

Hello all I have an older laptop that has no internet connection,I run Satpc32 on my main computer that has internet connection and I am able to update the kepler data.I want to use the kepler data from my main computer,and copy it to my laptop via USB flash drive.I cant seem to find the kepler folder in the SatPc32 folder.Has anyone one shared the kepler data. Thanks to all who read and reply in advance Howard VE4ISP

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Re: Geostationary Satellites-HEO MEO
by Dee 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

All, As most of you know me, I am one of the voices in the crowd within satellite circles and have been accused of having my own agenda. I am a fixture at many hamfests here in the New Jersey Area and wherever I can present to the Amateur community the aspects of satellite activity and promote AMSAT's proliferation. I give many talks and dog and pony shows to various clubs. My motto is "I work for donations!" I am glad this thread was ongoing since I come across this type of thinking all the time. It's a good discussion since AMSAT membership is declining and Satellite enthusiasm is dwindling, so I read. While this area of insuring plans for HEO and MEO birds is one of my pet projects, AMSAT itself has re-addressed itself to LEO activities because of financial reaches that present launches are out of the normal (?) abilities of AMSAT to obtain. My many unscientific polls as to why hams are not rejoining AMSAT nor assisting future funding shows that they think we have to put up HEO or MEO birds to attract them back into the fold. Of course this doesn't make sense and it doesn't add to our present coffers to even think about these type of birds. Yes, it costs money to do these things. In the past, there were negotiations behind the scenes with a GEO-Sync satellite company to add our payload to one of these birds. Company was sold, contacts were lost and so went that avenue. As with an AO-40 type satellite, we had numerous items made by our supporting volunteers and many, many, many volunteer hours to see that satellite came to fruition. Volunteers even gave up precious vacation time to work on this project. A minimal cost launch by Arianne certainly provided a great opportunity. Some of our people went by the wayside since then and we lost engineering staff to fall back on. As Dan, N8FGV, points out to us all is that our dreams are still there. We need to reactivate those spirits as he indicates. One person stated, "I am willing to ante up $4000-I need to convince 4,999 of my friends to do the same." We are all Amateurs in this satellite area and as pioneers in Ham Radio, we must reinvent ourselves to continue to be prominent in building sats with real actual launches rooted out where we can. We have dedicated people now in active building projects for slots available for launch. My hat is off to them and I will always support their efforts. Having functioning packages on the ready is a big plus- Look at ARISsat-1 and that was a super job by "OUR" staff to step up and act before the deadline. (We don't need no stinkin' UHF antenna!) (OOPS?) Dan provides us with answers to all these questions of why and why not. Read his input as well and I think this thread needs the answer of how much is the Amateur community willing to contribute to keep these higher orbiting satellite ideas alive. Anyone have a "RICH" uncle to donate something to this superfund? I think that we need a spark - incentive - or a benefactor to step up to get us on the launch pad at the right spot. Lottery tickets seem to be the American dream (HI, HI). Please feel free to "thank" our many sincere volunteers that keep publications coming, transponders appearing, protecting frequency allocations, monitoring rule proposals, Symposiums happening and informational updates accurate. 73, Dee, NB2F NJ AMSAT Coordinator -----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Daniel Schultz Sent: Tuesday, October 11, 2011 2:03 AM To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Geostationary Satellites It is true that a Geo bird would only cover 1/3 of the Earth, but it would ALWAYS be there, with no need for antenna rotors or keps or a computer for tracking. It would be like picking up a telephone. It would be wonderful for emergency service in a disaster area. It could provide high speed digital communications on the amateur microwave bands in places where the internet is not available. Geosynchronous orbit slots are allocated by transponder frequency. On the amateur radio bands we are free to locate a satellite anywhere we can get to because we don't share our frequencies with commercial transponders. The reason we don't have any high altitude satellites is all about the money. We amateurs created the small satellite business. Back in the old days the big boys laughed at our cute little toy satellites, but they did allow us to bolt them to a launch vehicle for free or for very low cost. The experts were certain that our homebrew satellites wouldn't last a week without expensive mil-spec electronic components. We amateurs proved that small satellites were useful and thus created a market that we are now priced out of. The launches that used to be free can now be sold to paying customers for millions of dollars. Many of the companies in the small satellite business were founded by Amsat alumni. We amateurs are a non-commercial service, by law, with no product or service that we can sell to raise the $10 million that we would need to buy the sort of launch that we once got for very cheap. We cannot participate in the market economy because the law prohibits us from making money from our activity, which puts us at a huge disadvantage in competing for launches against those satellite owners who can make money. If future access to space is going to be limited to those with a good business plan then we might as well pack it in as satellite builders. The educational-industrial complex has no place for "amateurs" working alone in their basements and garages without any sort of formal academic plan and no supervision by management. Nobody in the commercial or government world cares if we can talk to Japan or Europe on amateur satellites or collect rare grid squares. It is all about education, which I am all in favor of except that I question if there really is such a crying shortage of engineers in the world. The students building their little Cubesats are going to find out someday that working for Lockheed Martin or Boeing or NASA is a far, far different world than their experience in building Cubesats. The Cubesats are a useless diversion but are popular with the powers that be because they allow young college students to build a satellite and deliver it to the launch pad. They are too small to carry the type of payload that we need to do effective communications in a high altitude orbit. The students and their sponsors don't care if the satellite actually works on orbit because they will have graduated by the time it is launched. They recognize that the world wide network of hams is a valuable resource for tracking and telemetry collection, but they use amateur radio frequencies without giving back anything to support the basis and purpose of amateur radio. If we are ever again going to have high altitude satellites for world wide DX and supporting high rate digital communications on our amateur microwave bands we will need to find clever ways to get larger satellites such as Eagle into higher orbits. We also screwed up with the failure of AO-40. We could have had 10,000 or more Amsat members right now if that satellite had worked as designed. Even if we could raise the bucks to build another one, there is no chance of getting another Ariane 5 launch. Amsat-DL has not been able to find any launch for the smaller Phase 3E satellite for any amount of money that we can think about paying. The way we did things two decades ago is not how we are going to do things now. Maybe we will never again have an Amsat-designed and built satellite but perhaps we can place a transponder on someone else's satellite in return for some sort of added value to them. There is money available for education support, maybe we can get some of it if we appeal to the right people. Maybe we can carry science experiments for NASA or some other agency if we provide operations support with telemetry and command. Maybe we can tap the same funding sources that the Google lunar competitors are getting. I don't have the answers, except that we will need to be just as clever as our predecessors were 50 years ago if we are ever going to have high altitude, high performance amateur satellites in our future. Dan Schultz, N8FGV _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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Re: KickSat - a personal spacecraft of your own in space
by Trevor . 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

Hi Zac, I wish you well with the project it's a great idea. I'd like to clarify the number of sprites that will be carried on the first 1U CubeSat. The website says: "KickSat is a CubeSat - a standardized small satellite that we can easily launch. It is designed to carry hundreds or even thousands of Sprites into space and deploy them in low Earth orbit." Now looking at the picture showing the size of the boards for the initial deployment you aren't going to get 100's into a 1U CubeSat. How many will be deployed ? I gather the Sprites have a very short lifetime, just days rather than months. Can you clarify the power level that will be used. Is it 10 milliwatts or lower ? and is that power only available when the Sprite's solar panels are illuminated ? 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Re: geostationary satellite:thinking outside the box
by andy thomas 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

I wonder if we could build a LEO uplinking to and downlinkingf rom a geosationary satellite on its spare transponder capacity? Initially by AX25 packet from ground to the LEO sat on our frequencies, then by license up to the geo which would see the leo longer than a ground station would? just my 1 penny worth... 73 de andy g0sfj

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% in EM55
by wa4hfn＠comcast.net 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

The 5 in em55 award info can be seen on QRZ lookup WA4NVM or WA4HFN . Skeds are ok too. Several donations to AMSAT have been made from this award Thank you

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WD9EWK @ Tucson AZ hamfest and post-hamfest activity, 22 October
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

Hi! The hamfest season out here in Arizona is about to start. I will be at the Old Pueblo Radio Club's annual hamfest in Tucson AZ a week from Saturday, on 22 October 2011. This is a week later than usual, since this hamfest has normally taken place the same weekend as the Scouting Jamboree on the Air event. The hamfest will be at the usual location in Tucson, at the Kino Sports Complex along the north side of Ajo Way at Forgeus Avenue, east of the I-10 freeway and the baseball stadium (grid DM42me). The hamfest officially runs from 7am-noon (1400-1900 UTC), although people start showing up before sunrise and many leave before noon. During the hamfest, WD9EWK will be on whatever FM and SSB satellites are available doing on-air demonstrations. On the SSB birds, I try to park about 5-10 kHz above the center of the transponders, depending on other activity and QRM/QRN. Please feel free to call WD9EWK during those demonstrations and say "hello" to the crowds. After the hamfest, I plan on driving either to the DM51bx/DM52ba or DM52ax/DM53aa grid boundaries in southeastern Arizona to work some passes on my way home. I have operated from both of these grid boundaries earlier this year - DM51bx/DM52ba in early May, and DM52ax/DM53aa in late March - and try to visit these locations when I attend hamfests in southern Arizona. If you have a preference on which boundary I should try to work from after the hamfest, please e-mail me directly. I can't guarantee I will go to the spot you would prefer, but it helps to know what people are interested in hearing on the birds. As with the hamfest demonstrations, I am prepared to work both FM and SSB from wherever I go out there. As with my other trips away from the Phoenix area, there is no need to send me a QSL request to get a WD9EWK QSL card for a hamfest QSO or a QSO from one of those grid boundaries. Just e-mail me the QSO details - if you're in the log, you'll get a card. QSOs will also be uploaded to the Logbook of the World system as WD9EWK, including the grid(s) and county for each QSO. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Re: KickSat - a personal spacecraft of your own in space
by Zac Manchester 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

Hello All, Sorry for taking so long to respond here on the AMSAT-BB - I know I've spoken with some of you separately by email through kickstarter, but I wanted to make sure I responded to everyone's concerns. In response to Andreas' comments about wanting to use his own hardware to listen to the Sprites, this is exactly the sort of thing I want to encourage, and why I initially posted here. I posted a brief "Amateur Radio Information" item in the FAQ on kickstarter with some of this information, but I'll try to cover everything here. The Sprites will all be on the same frequency in the 70 cm band, and each will use a unique PRN spreading code so they can be identified. The hardware you'll need to receive these signals will be a yagi, rotator, LNA, and software defined radio (SDR) interface. We've been using a USRP box from Ettus Research along with GNU Radio, but the USRP is pretty expensive, so we're trying to make everything work with the FUNCube dongle (http://www.funcubedongle.com/). To work with the FUNCube, we have to make sure the signal bandwidth is < 80 kHz (it's currently around 100 kHz). I'll be posting all the details of our setup as we refine it, as well as all the code for the SDR. Even if you don't sponsor a Sprite, it would be great to have more people on the ground listening in. Everything we're doing will be documented, open-sourced, and freely available online. We will most definitely abide by all regulations and apply for frequency coordination with the IARU. We haven't taken that step yet because we have to actually be slotted for a specific launch first. This is also why we don't know our exact frequency yet. Please let me know if you have any additional questions. Thanks, Zac

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Re: Geostationary Satellite
by Howie DeFelice 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

I agree with much of what Dan, N8GFV, says. Our best hope of a high altitude satellite is probably a hosted payload on a GEO sat. To make that viable we need to consider the entire mission. GEO satellite operators are a for-profit business and every aspect of a commercial satellite has a dollar value. The major items are spectrum, power and fuel. Since hams bring their own spectrum, that is a no cost item for us. If we need to use satellite power then we would need to pay the market rate for the percentage of the total satellite resource used for the design lifetime of the satellite, typically 15 years. If the payload can be disabled by the operator we may be able to negotiate a pay as you go plan so that we don't have to pre-pay 15 years worth of power. Developing very power efficient transponder systems will reduce our costs. Trading bandwidth for power by using digital encoding, strong FEC, regenerative transponders with DSP signal enhancement will all aid in the reduction of the power required to close a link. The other big cost factor is fuel. As previously stated here, station keeping is a critical element in GEO satellites and with the advances of component technology, a satellites lifetime in orbit is determined primarily by the amount of station keeping fuel it can carry. The more fuel, the longer the satellite life, the more time the operator can use to recover their investment and make money. Every ounce added to the satellite affects the cost of the launch and possibly the amount of fuel that can be carried on board. Whether this is the case or not, the added satellite weight WILL add to the launch cost that we would have to pay. The good news is that the AMSAT community and the satellite operators have common interests in making satellites less expensive and more efficient. By building on the technology pioneered in ARISSAT-1 we MAY be able to get some cooperation from a commercial operator to deploy a technology demonstration package as a hosted payload. This might be more probable than one thinks. Satellite operators are EXTREMELY conservative and don't deploy new technology until it is thoroughly proven. The commercial satellite market is running out of real estate. Many of the big operators are at over 80% capacity. Since they are for-profit organizations, they are running out of product quickly and will not be able to grow their business. All the major operators are investing large amounts of money to promote a hosted payload business where government and scientific users can bring their own bandwidth to a transponder or payload on the operators platform. A low cost, high performance, innovative payload COULD be a great advertising tool for a commercial operator. The operator would get the payload for zero cost and could also get part of the launch cost subsidized by AMSAT in return for a real world, open source demonstration tool. If we build this payload along the lines of Tom Clark's C-C rider concept with a 5 GHz up/ 3 GHz. down transponder we can probably even use the satellites low gain telemetry antenna, further reducing payload costs. Sorry for the lengthy post but I have been thinking about this for a while and this seemed like a good opportunity to finally put it in writing. HowieAB2S

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Am-Comm Clear Speech Base DSP Filter For Sale
by Alan P. Biddle 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

I am doing some shack cleaning. This unit was originally sold by Am-Comm. Since then, the basic electronics have been repackaged, sometimes combined with a speaker, and sold by various companies. My experience is that most of the time it is amazing, though rarely it does very little. The exact improvement depends on the signal, type of noise, levels, etc. It made the difference on AO-40 around apogee. http://www.eham.net/reviews/detail/1041 Currently West Mountain Radio is selling a similar unit, with an adjustable threshold added: http://www.westmountainradio.com/product_info.php?products_id=clr_dsp The unit is perfect mechanically and electrically. $80 including shipping in North America. Please contact me off list. Alan WA4SCA

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2011 AMSAT Space Symposium Hotel Reservations
by Martha 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

People - I have contacted the Wyndham hotel in San Jose CA and they have agreed to move the cutoff date for room reservations to *October 24th*. The phone number is 408-453-6200 and the reservation block code is AMSAT. The Symposium is November 4th - 6th with an optional tour on Sunday. For more information, go to the AMSAT website. Don't forget to register for the meeting and the banquet at the AMSAT store found on the website. -- 73- Martha

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Re: Geostationary Satellites
by Daniel Schultz 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

It is true that a Geo bird would only cover 1/3 of the Earth, but it would ALWAYS be there, with no need for antenna rotors or keps or a computer for tracking. It would be like picking up a telephone. It would be wonderful for emergency service in a disaster area. It could provide high speed digital communications on the amateur microwave bands in places where the internet is not available. Geosynchronous orbit slots are allocated by transponder frequency. On the amateur radio bands we are free to locate a satellite anywhere we can get to because we don't share our frequencies with commercial transponders. The reason we don't have any high altitude satellites is all about the money. We amateurs created the small satellite business. Back in the old days the big boys laughed at our cute little toy satellites, but they did allow us to bolt them to a launch vehicle for free or for very low cost. The experts were certain that our homebrew satellites wouldn't last a week without expensive mil-spec electronic components. We amateurs proved that small satellites were useful and thus created a market that we are now priced out of. The launches that used to be free can now be sold to paying customers for millions of dollars. Many of the companies in the small satellite business were founded by Amsat alumni. We amateurs are a non-commercial service, by law, with no product or service that we can sell to raise the $10 million that we would need to buy the sort of launch that we once got for very cheap. We cannot participate in the market economy because the law prohibits us from making money from our activity, which puts us at a huge disadvantage in competing for launches against those satellite owners who can make money. If future access to space is going to be limited to those with a good business plan then we might as well pack it in as satellite builders. The educational-industrial complex has no place for "amateurs" working alone in their basements and garages without any sort of formal academic plan and no supervision by management. Nobody in the commercial or government world cares if we can talk to Japan or Europe on amateur satellites or collect rare grid squares. It is all about education, which I am all in favor of except that I question if there really is such a crying shortage of engineers in the world. The students building their little Cubesats are going to find out someday that working for Lockheed Martin or Boeing or NASA is a far, far different world than their experience in building Cubesats. The Cubesats are a useless diversion but are popular with the powers that be because they allow young college students to build a satellite and deliver it to the launch pad. They are too small to carry the type of payload that we need to do effective communications in a high altitude orbit. The students and their sponsors don't care if the satellite actually works on orbit because they will have graduated by the time it is launched. They recognize that the world wide network of hams is a valuable resource for tracking and telemetry collection, but they use amateur radio frequencies without giving back anything to support the basis and purpose of amateur radio. If we are ever again going to have high altitude satellites for world wide DX and supporting high rate digital communications on our amateur microwave bands we will need to find clever ways to get larger satellites such as Eagle into higher orbits. We also screwed up with the failure of AO-40. We could have had 10,000 or more Amsat members right now if that satellite had worked as designed. Even if we could raise the bucks to build another one, there is no chance of getting another Ariane 5 launch. Amsat-DL has not been able to find any launch for the smaller Phase 3E satellite for any amount of money that we can think about paying. The way we did things two decades ago is not how we are going to do things now. Maybe we will never again have an Amsat-designed and built satellite but perhaps we can place a transponder on someone else's satellite in return for some sort of added value to them. There is money available for education support, maybe we can get some of it if we appeal to the right people. Maybe we can carry science experiments for NASA or some other agency if we provide operations support with telemetry and command. Maybe we can tap the same funding sources that the Google lunar competitors are getting. I don't have the answers, except that we will need to be just as clever as our predecessors were 50 years ago if we are ever going to have high altitude, high performance amateur satellites in our future. Dan Schultz, N8FGV

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Sat demo on VO-52
by Rodney Waln 11 Oct '11

11 Oct '11

hi, i know it is short notice but i have been asked to do a SAT demo during a ham meeting tommarrow, 10-12-2011/ 0137z the only pass that lines up with that time is VO-52 i will be around 145.910 USB if possable give me a shout, i will be working portable from the rare DN71 grid HI HI, Rodney, kc0zhf WY Amsat area Coordinator

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Re: Geostationary Satellites
by Lowell White 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

Short answer: Money. They are much more expensive than the little LEO's, CubeSat's, etc. 73, Lowell K9LDW ------ Original Message ------ Received: Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:27:53 PM CDT From: "ka9qjg" <ka9qjg(a)wowway.com> To: <AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org> Subject: [amsat-bb] Geostationary Satellites > Hello Hope Everyone is doing Well, I know people say no such thing as a dumb > question So here goes What is the reason We do not have any Type of > geostationary Satellites. Is it because they are for World Wide Use and If > stationary one could Hit it 24/7 and Maybe park there butt on it and Run a > Beam and Amp and take it over > > > > Thanks > > > > 73 De Don KA9QJG > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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JOTA this weekend
by Tom Schuessler 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

Jamboree on the Air is the annual joint activity between Scouting and Ham Radio. Held worldwide for 48 hours on October 15th and 16th. Many Amateur Radio groups all over the world will be helping Scouts and Guides make contacts via various modes and bands, including our satellites. I will again be managing the JOTA effort at the National Scouting Museum in Irving, Texas using call K2BSA/5. Although this is a daytime only operation Saturday, we hope to run SSB and FM passes of VO-52, AO-27 and AO-51 as well as tracking some beacon passes. Unfortunately there are no good ISS passes for our part of the US during the daytime hours. My encouragement to the satellite community is to please give way to any of these JOTA groups you might hear throughout the weekend. We have a wonderful opportunity to influence the upcoming generation of potential Hams and successful JOTA contacts work toward that end. In short, Let the Scouts have the birds this weekend, or at least, give a JOTA station a call. You will be glad you did and the Scouts will be quite impressed. Tom Schuessler 2713 Lake Gardens Drive Irving, Texas 75060 972-986-7456 214-403-1464 (Cell) n5hyp(a)arrl.net

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KickSat - a personal spacecraft of your own in space
by Zac Manchester 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

Hello, I'm launching a project in my spare time that some AMSAT members might be interested in. I'm a graduate student in Aerospace Engineering at Cornell, and I've been working on a ChipSat/Femtosatellite called Sprite for the last several years. I want to launch a CubeSat full of Sprites into low Earth orbit to demonstrate their viability in space. I'm raising money to build the hardware via the Kickstarter website (kicksat.org). Donors who sponsor a sprite will get to name it and specify the text that it will transmit. A group or club can also sponsor a fleet of Sprites together. I'm doing this to try to get more people involved in spaceflight. I want to make it easy enough and cheap enough so that anyone can take part. Please check out my page on Kickstarter for more information - kicksat.org Thanks, Zac Manchester

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Re: Geostationary Satellites
by Tony Langdon 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

At 09:24 AM 10/11/2011, Bob- W7LRD wrote: >simple reason money money!!Â WeÂ should all >pool our Visa cards and create another AO-40 (sobsob). Oh, if I had the money, I'd love to chip in something for another AO-40 like bird, but not so keen on its originally planned orbit, because down here, the elevation would have been less than 20 degrees most of the time, except near perigee, when there's not a lot of places within the footprint. I wonder what a good "compromise" orbital inclination would be for a P3 type amateur sat. Equatorial orbits make it hard for higher northern latitudes, while high inclination orbits make southern hemisphere access more difficult. 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com

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Re: KickSat - a personal spacecraft of your own in space
by Tony Langdon 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

At 09:07 AM 10/11/2011, Trevor . wrote: >--- On Mon, 10/10/11, Tony Langdon <vk3jed(a)gmail.com> wrote: > Still >seems a strange choice of frequency, given that GSM > phones use >these frequencies in many parts of the world. ITU Region 1 seems to >be moving closer to permitting unlicensed low power use, RFID etc, >around 915-921 MHz but as you say the rest is mobile phones. Given >there is no mechanism to command these Sprite ChipSats so they are >only on over the USA the use of 902 MHz would seem inapropriate. 73 >Trevor M5AKA Australia has allowed unlicenced low power devices in the range above 915 MHz for some time, and they seem to coexist with GSM phones "next door". 73 de VK3JED / VK3IRL http://vkradio.com

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Re: SRMSAT Keps and Down Link Details
by Dinesh Cyanam 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

Hi Drew, Thank you for your wishes… Well it is a Nanosat. Shouldn't have called it a cubesat… my bad… As far as I am know, there is no possibility of a secondary communications mission. I have graduated from the University so the information I have is kind of limited. They have asked me and other Ham radio operators to track the satellite. Hence, I have posted it here. Will let you you if I hear anything about a secondary communications mission. Also, Pete, WB2OQQ, reported that he was not able to load the TLEs into his tracking program. I believe the email system has reformatted the keps. So now the keps can be downloaded from here: http://dinesh.cyanam.net/dl/SRMSAT_TLEs.txt 73 Dinesh KC2YQJ > ------------------------------ > > Message: 8 > Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:36:51 -0400 (GMT-04:00) > From: Andrew Glasbrenner <glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com> > To: Dinesh Cyanam <dinesh(a)cyanam.net>, amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: SRMSAT Keps and Down Link Details > Message-ID: > <5265569.1318271811579.JavaMail.root(a)elwamui-cypress.atl.sa.earthlink.net> > > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Hi Dinesh, > > Is this a cubesat, or a microsat? The webpage indicates it is 286mmx286mmx294mm and 10kg, which is more the size of AO-51 than a 100mm^3 cubesat. > > Is there any possibility of a secondary amateur communications mission? > > Good Luck with the launch. > > 73, Drew KO4MA > > > -----Original Message----- >> From: Dinesh Cyanam <dinesh(a)cyanam.net> >> Sent: Oct 10, 2011 1:43 PM >> To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >> Subject: [amsat-bb] SRMSAT Keps and Down Link Details >> >> SRMSAT, A cubesat developed by the students of SRM University, India will be launched on October 12th, 2011 along with the Megha Tropique satellite on the PSLV-C18 launch vehicle from ISRO's spaceport in Sriharikota, India. >> >> Payload Details: >> SRMSAT will monitor the green house gases in near infrared region (900nm - 1700nm). >> >> Launch Date and Time: >> October 12, 2011 >> 0530 hrs UTC >> >> Telemetry down link and CW beacon on the same frequency: 437.425 MHz (10 dbm) >> (Telemetry decoding info will be posted soon) >> >> Preliminary TLEs from ISTRAC (ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network): >> SRM >> 1 99999U 11072A 11278.34967500 .00001077 00000-0 60876-3 0 1233 >> 2 99999 20.0603 97.4017 0010015 338.6461 208.4324 14.09199968 14 >> >> Website: http://srmsat.in >> >> All Radio Amateurs are requested to track SRMSAT and provide us with the reception reports via AMSAT-BB mailing list or via email to KC2YQJ <at> arrl.net >> >> 73 >> KC2YQJ >> Dinesh Cyanam >> >>

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for sale
by Dads 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

I have for sale a elevation and Azimuth controller Model KR-5600A Which is compatible to a 5400 It has a problem though. The elevation works 100 percent The Azimuth doesn,t turn my rotor I consider this a tech special I will sell it as is for $75.00 plus shipping in CONUS payment by US postal money order. Jerry w0sat

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Geostationary Satellites
by ka9qjg 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

Thanks for all the Fast answers I "am glad it was NOT for the reasons I have been hearing for 40 Yrs , That Some Ham radio Operators Would Fig out a Way to be the Biggest and Baddest on the Bird and the ones on it all the time and not sharing with others , Everyone knows the Type Thanks Again Don KA9QJG Yrs ago I had a 8ft C/KU Band System It was fun searching the Skies

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Re: KickSat - a personal spacecraft of your own in space
by Howie DeFelice 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

I had several email exchanges with Zac earlier in the year when the call went out for Amateur involvement. I was trying to get enough information to attempt to put together a hardware decoder for the spread spectrum signal. The Cornell team seemed only interested in having hams send in data files of broadband collections from a USRP radio. While these receivers are very common in educational and commercial labs, they are not that common in ham shacks. In my opinion, if the Cornell team wants to generate interest inside the ham community, they need better information on the typical capabilities of the average operator. The greater the appeal, the more support they will get. HowieAB2S

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Re: SRMSAT Keps and Down Link Details
by Andrew Glasbrenner 10 Oct '11

10 Oct '11

Hi Dinesh, Is this a cubesat, or a microsat? The webpage indicates it is 286mmx286mmx294mm and 10kg, which is more the size of AO-51 than a 100mm^3 cubesat. Is there any possibility of a secondary amateur communications mission? Good Luck with the launch. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: Dinesh Cyanam <dinesh(a)cyanam.net> >Sent: Oct 10, 2011 1:43 PM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] SRMSAT Keps and Down Link Details > >SRMSAT, A cubesat developed by the students of SRM University, India will be launched on October 12th, 2011 along with the Megha Tropique satellite on the PSLV-C18 launch vehicle from ISRO's spaceport in Sriharikota, India. > >Payload Details: >SRMSAT will monitor the green house gases in near infrared region (900nm - 1700nm). > >Launch Date and Time: >October 12, 2011 >0530 hrs UTC > >Telemetry down link and CW beacon on the same frequency: 437.425 MHz (10 dbm) >(Telemetry decoding info will be posted soon) > >Preliminary TLEs from ISTRAC (ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network): >SRM >1 99999U 11072A 11278.34967500 .00001077 00000-0 60876-3 0 1233 >2 99999 20.0603 97.4017 0010015 338.6461 208.4324 14.09199968 14 > >Website: http://srmsat.in > >All Radio Amateurs are requested to track SRMSAT and provide us with the reception reports via AMSAT-BB mailing list or via email to KC2YQJ <at> arrl.net > >73 >KC2YQJ >Dinesh Cyanam > >

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Boy Scouts Jamboree on the Air 10/15 - 10/16
by George Henry 09 Oct '11

09 Oct '11

On Saturday, October 15th, I will be on the satellites as WA9BSA from the Three Fires Council (Illinois) Camporall for Jamboree on the Air. I plan to try all workable passes of the FM and linear sats, between 1400Z and 2200Z (if set up in time, I may start even earlier), using both an HT and my 910H (QRP) with an Arrow antenna. The scouts will participate by holding & aiming the antenna, logging, and may even make some contacts (although in the past, they've been pretty mic-shy). More than 5000 scouts have registered for the Camporall, and we anticipate several hundred passing thru the amateur radio demo area throughout the day. In addition to the satellites, we will have HF stations operating on several of the published JOTA frequencies, +/- QRM (see http://www.scouting.org/jota/operators_guides.aspx), and will attempt a sked with the World Scout Bureau station in Geneva, Switzerland. Be sure to give JOTA stations a chance on the birds this coming weekend! 73, George, KA3HSW

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ARRISAT Certificate
by James Luhn 09 Oct '11

09 Oct '11

Please do not spam me for asking about a ARRISAT reception certificate as I am in no hurry and I know all concerned are special and appreciated volunteers. On August 10 I sent in a reception report along with a recording of the audio. Should I have received a certificate by now? Perhaps I should resend my report. I am so excited to have received the satellite. A certificate would be nice to have but reception is what really counts. A big thank you to all involved. 73, -james W5AOO

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ARISSat-1 over Europe
by PE0SAT 09 Oct '11

09 Oct '11

Are there stations in Europe that receive ARISSat-1 telemetry or other data? I tryed last week and yesterday evening but nothing was received. Are the batteries completly drained and therefor no activity when the Sat is in the dark :-) 73 Jan PE0SAT

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EM25 / EM26 - Sep 29th
by Gail A Mcdaniel 08 Oct '11

08 Oct '11

I will be making a quick trip to Arkansas tomorrow and will try working the following passes depending on weather... SO-50 - 09/29/2011 @ 1726z - EM25 AO-27 - 09/29/2011 @ 1743z - EM25 AO-27 - 09/29/2011 @ 1919z - EM26 possibly EM25/26 grid boundary. 73, Gail - KB0RZD

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AO-51 demostration at the University of Colima
by Omar Alvarez 08 Oct '11

08 Oct '11

Thank so much to: K5OE CO6CBF W4HLR K7MYK KI4OTG KD6NFD K8YSE ND9M XE2BHL W0PTI AA5PK K4MOA For the QSOs during the demostration at the University of Colima. All the students start their firts class to be a hamradio so excite listened on the frecuency. Attach you a photo after the pass. Regards Omar XE1AO DK89df ******************************** M.C. Omar Alvarez Cárdenas Facultad de Telematica, U de C 316 1075 xe1aom(a)ucol.mx omar_ac(a)hotmail.com ********************************

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Happy B-Day, Parkes!
by Clint Bradford 08 Oct '11

08 Oct '11

Aussies celebrate 50 years of "The Dish." http://www.cio.com.au/article/402613/australia_celebrates_50_years_dish_/?f… Clint Bradford

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Re: 5500 rotor problem
by Jeff KB2M 08 Oct '11

08 Oct '11

And why wouldn't it be accurate, especially if it is the same part? They're both 450 degree systems. 73 Jeff kb2m -----Original Message----- From: R Oler [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, October 07, 2011 22:41 PM To: glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com; kb2m(a)comcast.net Cc: Amsat BB Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Re: 5500 rotor problem LOL I bet that was accurate...Robert WB5MZO > From: glasbrenner(a)mindspring.com > Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2011 21:53:44 -0400 > To: kb2m(a)comcast.net > CC: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: 5500 rotor problem > > My 5500 has had a 450 motor in it for about 8 years :) > > It was cheaper to buy a used rotor than the motor from yaesu parts. > > 73, Drew KO4MA

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oscar 17
by jerry keeton 08 Oct '11

08 Oct '11

I heard the packets also , checked the sats path and found NO-44 was passing . Don't remember the time , but a strong signal for NO-44 . Jerry WB5LHD

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Fwd: Dove oscar 17
by Paolo Mattiolo 08 Oct '11

08 Oct '11

Hi mike I don't remember the precise time, but it was 10 minutes before i wrote my email. I was deliberately following do-17 with the last tle downloaded for Orbitron. I simulates that time on orbitron and verify if another sat was in range. At the same time IO-26 was over my head, but his beacon is in 435 mhz!! 73 de in3aqk On Sat, Oct 8, 2011 at 3:54 PM, Mike Rupprecht <mail(a)mike-rupprecht.de>wrote: > Hi Paolo, > > DOVE-17 is certainly dead. I think you heard NO-44 or FAST-2. What time was > it? > > 73 Mike > DK3WN > > -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- > Von: amsat-bb-bounces(a)amsat.org [mailto:[email protected]] Im > Auftrag von Paolo Mattiolo > Gesendet: Samstag, 8. Oktober 2011 15:10 > An: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org > Betreff: [amsat-bb] Dove oscar 17 > > Hello, is it possible that Dove oscar 17 DO-17 is still alive? > Today I've tried to monitor it at 145.825 and I've received 2 packets from > the telemetry. > Unfortunately I had not the packet decoder switched on and I'm not sure. > > DO-17 was the first satellite that I've received in 1991!! > > 73 de in3aqk > > > -- > Paolo Mattiolo > Software developer > > http://www.mattiolopaolo.com > cell:347 9454207 > skype:paolomattiolo > msn:[email protected] > twitter:IN3AQK > > ham call sign: IN3AQK > IQRP N° 715 > _______________________________________________ > 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 > > -- Paolo Mattiolo Software developer http://www.mattiolopaolo.com cell:347 9454207 skype:paolomattiolo msn:[email protected] twitter:IN3AQK ham call sign: IN3AQK IQRP N° 715 -- Paolo Mattiolo Software developer http://www.mattiolopaolo.com cell:347 9454207 skype:paolomattiolo msn:[email protected] twitter:IN3AQK ham call sign: IN3AQK IQRP N° 715

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Dove oscar 17
by Paolo Mattiolo 08 Oct '11

08 Oct '11

Hello, is it possible that Dove oscar 17 DO-17 is still alive? Today I've tried to monitor it at 145.825 and I've received 2 packets from the telemetry. Unfortunately I had not the packet decoder switched on and I'm not sure. DO-17 was the first satellite that I've received in 1991!! 73 de in3aqk -- Paolo Mattiolo Software developer http://www.mattiolopaolo.com cell:347 9454207 skype:paolomattiolo msn:[email protected] twitter:IN3AQK ham call sign: IN3AQK IQRP N° 715

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ISS Keps
by Kevin Deane 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

So here we are again, Amsat shows the ISS in the right spot but the keps it gives out for automatic updates are around 6 minutes off again. I know about the boosting and why they are off, just dont ubderstand WHY they are good on the online tracker and not anything else? Kevin KF7MYK

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ANSR Flight 64
by saguaroastro＠cox.net 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

All, the Arizona Near Space research group will be launching a high altitude balloon with a ham radio payload on Saturday at 0900 mst (1600ut) from Maricopa, AZ, about 30 miles south of Phoenix. the balloon will be carrying a cross band repeater and APRS digi and an SSTV system. Expected burst altitude is about 90,000+ feet. this should give a foot print of about 450ish miles at max altitude. If it stays in the central AZ area, this would reach out into SoCal, Western New Mexico, southern Utah & Nevada and northern Sonora I'll be trying to work the Cross band repeater and if time allows the APRS digi. Detail including frequencies and such are at www.ansr.org. Kevin KF7MYK, if it get high enough, you should be well in range. This sounds like something you';d be interested in. Listen for my call. 73 Rick K7TEJ

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SimpleSat - a slight variation on the SatPC32 Observer2 module
by Thomas Doyle 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

I am looking for someone who will read a small amount documentation and has lots of experience and a little time to check out a program I have written. It seems to work but I have a question about it. It looks for possible satellite passes where communications between two different grid locations is possible. Back in the day it was a real challenge to work Hawaii - I remember pouring over mounds of paper trying to find a pass that would work. It was a real thrill when it actually worked. I thought it would be interesting to write a little program to automate the process. You are probably thinking - I have a great csh script that was written by Harold that would do it. I am not looking for another program I am just trying to determine if mine is working correctly. The Observer 2 module in SatPC32 served as a starting point. After I wrote it and was testing it I found that it took a while to find a pass when you are operating on the limit of coverage or if there are no valid passes. It is the age old question - when looking for something how do you know if it does not exist or if you have just not looked long enough. I decided to try and eliminate the satellites that simply would not work based on the distance between the two locations. It was fairly straightforward to use the TLE data to calculate the altitude and from that the central angle and from that the "width of swath". I found the "width of swath" term in a reference and think it is the only really cool term in orbit mechanics. I am not sure my "width of swath" value is correct. I first tried checking it by looking at the SatPC32 3D display and visually comparing the width of the range circle to the width of South America - this seemed fairly close. After the program was working I found that when the distance between the two locations was less than the "width of swath" a valid pass was found and when it the distance was greater there were no valid passes so I am fairly sure it is at least close. The program displays TLE generated altitude, central angle and "width of swath" for each of the satellites it is using in the search. If someone could take a peek at these values and let me know if they think they are correct I would appreciate it. The program does not use these values it just displays them. At present the program searches every quarter second over a 1 week time period to find a pass. If I am sure the "width of swath" value is correct I will eliminate the passes that have no chance and extend the search time. The program uses .NET and is very easy to use. Ease of use has always been an interest of mine so this is about as easy as it gets. There is a help file accessible from the help menu. Reading it before you try it out would be a good idea. You can download the program from here. It is a zip file. Un-Zip the files it into a folder and run the SimpleSat.exe file. No install is required and the three files it will create are stored in the same folder as the SimpleSat.exe program. It does nothing to the registry. It downloads sat data from the net so use a computer connected to the net when you run the program. I used Dreamweaver to create this beautiful web page. http://www.tomdoyle.org/simplesat/simplesat.html Please respond off the board if you have information on my "width of swath" question. tnx & 73 W9KE tom ...

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Office Closed
by Martha 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

The AMSAT Office will be closed on Monday, October 10th in observance of Columbus Day. We will reopen on the 11th -- 73- Martha

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Its not your Keps
by John Heath 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

Hi Kevin, I doubt the problem is your keps if you have an up to date set from any of the sources suggested. You might want to check the following: Your PC clock may not have the correct time There may be something in an initialisation routine that has set a default time zone, or an offset from UTC This can be tricky with some PC's and software. You might have to set your PC clock to UTC. Entering your lat/long, East or West of the Grenwich (0) meridian. There is no convention on this some programs want a plus sign ahead of your longitude some a minus. Those are the things that have caught me out in the past. BTW - dont expect agreement to the second between different tracking software. Its only a prediction and not all programs use the exact same algorithms to do the calcs. Good Luck 73 John G7HIA

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Mars Science Laboratory Enclosed In Aeroshell
by B J 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/news/msl20111005.html http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery/pia14755.html http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery/pia14756.html http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery/pia14757.html http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery/pia14758.html More pictures at: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/multimedia/gallery/gallery-index.html 73s Bernhard VA6BMJ @ DO33FL

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2011 AMSAT Space Symposium
by Martha 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

People -* In one month*, AMSAT will hold the 2011 Space Symposium and Annual Meeting. The venue is the Wyndham hotel in San Jose, CA. Please do not hesitate to make your hotel reservations. Information can be found on the AMSAT website along with the registration form for the meeting and banquet. -- 73- Martha

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G5500 Elevation Rotator Short Circuit?
by Clive Wallis 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

I wonder if this is a known fault. Recently the fuse on my G5500 blew. The problem seems to be a short on one of the motor circuits. Checking the DC resistance at the control end, the resistance of one winding is 1.2 ohms, whereas all the other windings are 4.6 ohms. I could understand a motor burning out and going open circuit, but a short circuit seems less likely. I'm wondering if it could be a short on the cable at the rotator end, where it is subject to much bending. There's about 15 metres of cable. Any thoughts would be much appreciated. Unfortunately, at the present time I'm not able to inspect the rotator. It's stuck in the horizontal position, so I will still be able to use the antenna for low elevation passes. 73 Clive G3CWV Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK

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AO-27 Site Status
by Clint Bradford 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

Forgive me if it has been answered recently - But does anyone know when the AO-27 site may be back up? Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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Good URL for updating keps HRD
by Kevin Deane 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

Does someone have a link for the good ISS keps again? I think it was posted but I spaced it. Not one of these: celstrck.com or amsat.org both bad. Thanks! Kevin KF7MYK

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Old Maplin Electronics Kit for UoSat 2 Reception
by David Johnson 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

Hi, About 25 years ago Maplin Electronics (UK) provided a RX kit for FM reception of UoSat 2 it had doppler correction by changing the vxo by reading the discriminator voltage and adjusting it. Does anyone have one of these kits lurking on their shelf, either built of still a bag of bits? Please contact me off-line. 73 Dave, G4DPZ

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ISS
by Kevin Deane 07 Oct '11

07 Oct '11

Figures I miss the pass everyone is on. Hope to catch someone tonight or this morning. Mostly beacons on the west coast, however I did get a human this morning... Kevin KF7MYK

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Univ. of Pittsburgh satellite demo (corr.)
by Helmuth Kump 06 Oct '11

06 Oct '11

(Will be using Pitt's call sign on their grounds, W3YI.) I will be visiting the Panther Amateur Radio Club at Pitt this Friday afternoon and evening, signing W3YI in FN00. Please say hello to the hams at Pitt, we'll be on AO-51 at 2131, and later on, AO-7 at 0005. 73 Doc, KT3L

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Gpredict
by Clint Bradford 06 Oct '11

06 Oct '11

I need a couple user comments regarding Gpredict, please. A friend just told me it needed to be added to my TRACKING page at ... http://web.me.com/clintbradford/Work-Sat/Tracking.html ... and I just cannot devote time to play with it until late in the week. Easy to install? Easy to enter current location? Painless Keplerian data updates - and able to choose WHICH Kep data you want to use? MANY thanks! Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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Winners of Space App Competition announced
by Trevor . 05 Oct '11

05 Oct '11

The AMSAT-UK FUNcube team are among the winners in a competition to fly an Android App on the amateur radio Smartphone satellite STRaND-1 due for launch next year. Details at http://www.uk.amsat.org/2011/10/05/winners-of-space-app-competition-announc… 73 Trevor M5AKA

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Univ. of Pittsburgh satellite demo
by Helmuth Kump 05 Oct '11

05 Oct '11

I will be visiting the Panther Amateur Radio Club at Pitt this Friday afternoon and evening, signing KT3L portable in FN00. Please say hello to the hams at Pitt, we'll be on AO-51 at 2131, and later on, AO-7 at 0005. 73 Doc, KT3L

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Uni_trac 2003 Hardware
by Al Ozias 05 Oct '11

05 Oct '11

I am looking for the Uni_Trac 2003 hardware (serial port input, metal box). If you know where I may find one at a resonable cost please contact me diectly via email. Al - N7EQF

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