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Re: Cute 1.7+APDII Latest Banner
by Henk, PA3GUO 10 Jun '08

10 Jun '08

Same here this morning: 09:20utc June 10 437.275 MHz CW cute 87ccadbd392724685c3617 hihi de jq1ytc digion cute 88ccaeba39272568613a17 hihi de jq1ytc digion cute 87cbadb639272469564117 hihi de jq1ytc digion cute 87cbadb93...........17 hihi de jq1ytc digion cute 88ccadba3927256a623d17 hihi de jq1ytc digion cute 87cbadb93928256a654117 hihi de jq1ytc digion cute Henk, PA3GUO

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cubesats
by Robert Turlington 10 Jun '08

10 Jun '08

I have been following the pros and cons, plus the usual gripes,about the recent bunch of cubesats with some interest.Thes are a few points that ought to be taken into account:- 1) transmitted telemetry should be in a format that can be decoded, understood and have meaning to the Amateur Radio community. 2) it should have a valid amateur radio call sign if its to be allocated a frequency in the Satellite section of the Amateur Bands.This will make sure that builders are aware of what Amateur Radio is all about and might even encourage some to get a call sign. 3)all beacon frequencies should be kept clear of linear/single channel comsats i.e. 437 and above and channelised to eliminate the Compass/Cute1.7 situation. RS30 doesn't exactly fit into this stuation because it not a cube sat,but it does fall foul of item 1and to some degree 3) as well) I will now sit back and await the flood? of remarks positive or negative!Regards Robert G8ATE _________________________________________________________________ http://clk.atdmt.com/UKM/go/msnnkmgl0010000007ukm/direct/01/

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Yeasu G-5400B az/el rotor for sale
by Bill Bruno 10 Jun '08

10 Jun '08

Yaesu G-5400B az/el rotor for sale $350. If interested please contact me off list. Bill KB2RC

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AO-51 S BAND downlink
by Luc Leblanc 10 Jun '08

10 Jun '08

On the last morning pass with a max elevation of 7 degrees i was able to copy at 5 degrees and probably lower than that with an unobstructed view. The 2X20 el yagi beam if really working well. "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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AO-51 MODE V.../S
by Luc Leblanc 10 Jun '08

10 Jun '08

Just to correct the title of my previous one it should read MODE V/S "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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AO-51 MODE U/S
by Luc Leblanc 10 Jun '08

10 Jun '08

It's time to try new antenna on S band here is some results BBQ grill with standard linear feed dipole Very strong and deep fades but signal peak at S9 plus 40 not very usable due to the fades Single patch element a lot less fades but signal reach s9=5 at max WI-FI double 20 yagi elements the best up till now few fade but signal peak at s9 plus 50 at max i believe if i was able to rotate the antenna the fades will be eliminated. It is a WI-FI beam "odd shape" the driven element is in a plastic enclosure and the 2 row of 20 elements begin in a 45 degree shape up the 6th diven element and the two row became parallel at the 7th element until the end of the beam. "-" Luc Leblanc VE2DWE Skype VE2DWE www.qsl.net/ve2dwe WAC BASIC CW PHONE SATELLITE

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Re: Cute 1.7+APDII Latest Banner
by Mike Rupprecht 10 Jun '08

10 Jun '08

Hi Colin, can confirm this - yesterday, at the 1820 UTC pass over europe I heard this as well. 73, Mike DK3WN ----- original Nachricht -------- Betreff: [amsat-bb] Cute 1.7+APDII Latest Banner Gesendet: Di, 10. Jun 2008 Von: Colin Hurst<cjhurst(a)bigpond.net.au> > For the last 12 Hours Cute2 has been running this additional banner. > cute 88 cb ae b2 39 2b 29 6e 52 32 17 hi hi de jq1ytc digi on > Not sure what the digi reference applies to. > Colin VK5HI. > _______________________________________________ > 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 > --- original Nachricht Ende ----

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Re: ao-51?
by Andrew Glasbrenner 09 Jun '08

09 Jun '08

The command team is aware of the issue, and will check things out at the first opportunity this evening. Thanks for letting us know via the -bb. 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: "Alan P. Biddle" <APBIDDLE(a)UNITED.NET> >Sent: Jun 9, 2008 10:20 AM >To: amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: ao-51? > >Doug, > >I also clearly heard nothing on the morning passes. My mode S test source >comes in well, so for now I will hold off on panicking. ;) > >Alan >WA4SCA > > >_______________________________________________ >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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Cute 1.7+APDII Latest Banner
by Colin Hurst 09 Jun '08

09 Jun '08

For the last 12 Hours Cute2 has been running this additional banner. cute 88 cb ae b2 39 2b 29 6e 52 32 17 hi hi de jq1ytc digi on Not sure what the digi reference applies to. Colin VK5HI.

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AO-51 Field Day Mode
by Charles Weems 09 Jun '08

09 Jun '08

Does anyone know what mode the AO-51 bird will be set for on Field Day this year? Chip W4PBG

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Re: Cubesat consideration
by Giulio AB2VY 09 Jun '08

09 Jun '08

Hello Aldo, this is the correct way to go and is especially a good news for the interest that involving young students to taking their amateur tickets This is an example of positive interaction between hamradio and university research 73 de Giulio AB2VY ------------------------------ Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Cubesat consideration To: AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org Message-ID: <200806091533.49854.a.marchetto(a)ise.cnr.it> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Hello, Graham and Giulio I'm not involved in any Cubesat activity, but I saw that for the building of Swisssat the local IARU society was contacted, a common working group with the Universities formed, and a number of young electronic student are taking their amateur tickets and being introduced in the amateur activity I personally think this interaction positive. 73 Aldo IZ1ANT ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Sent via amsat-bb(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb End of AMSAT-BB Digest, Vol 3, Issue 292 **************************************** ___________________________________ Scopri il Blog di Yahoo! Mail: trucchi, novità, consigli... e la tua opinione! http://www.ymailblogit.com/blog/

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ao-51?
by Doug Kuitula 09 Jun '08

09 Jun '08

Hi all, I was wondering if AO-51 is in mode V/S yet. Tried listening on the 13:40 utc pass at EN-56 and heard nothing. This only my second time trying s-band so I may have messed up. 73 de Doug KA8QCU

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Re: Cubesat consideration
by Aldo Marchetto 09 Jun '08

09 Jun '08

Hello, Graham and Giulio I'm not involved in any Cubesat activity, but I saw that for the building of Swisssat the local IARU society was contacted, a common working group with the Universities formed, and a number of young electronic student are taking their amateur tickets and being introduced in the amateur activity I personally think this interaction positive. 73 Aldo IZ1ANT

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2008 Amsat Symposium Call for Papers
by Robin Cutshaw 09 Jun '08

09 Jun '08

2008 AMSAT North America Space Symposium 24-26 October 2008, Atlanta, Georgia Call for Papers: This is the first call for papers for the 2008 AMSAT Space Symposium and Annual Meeting to be held October 24-26, 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia. Proposals for papers, symposium presentations, and poster presentations are invited on any topic of interest to the amateur satellite program. An emphasis for this year is an educational outreach to middle and high school students. Another topic if interest is using amateur satellite tracking systems to monitor deep space network objects. In particular, papers on the following topics are solicited: * Students & Education * ARISS * AO-51 * P3E * Eagle * Deep Space Network monitoring * Any additional satellite-related topics. We request a one-page abstract as soon as possible. Camera ready copy on paper or in electronic form will be due by September 1, 2008 for inclusion in the printed symposium proceedings. Papers received after this date may not be included in the printed proceedings. Abstracts and papers should be sent to n8fgv(a)amsat.org

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Cubesat consideration
by Giulio AB2VY 09 Jun '08

09 Jun '08

Hello Graham, what you say is very beautiful and my support is of 100%, but what i know and that brought me to give my opinion is based on what I see in one Italian universitie (not Turin..) There isn't any guy who transports outside its daily study commitment the passion for radio and amateur radio experiments If building a cubesat means creating a study and a future I am the first to agree this, but, if it is only for occupate 3 hours on a laboratory (as unfortunately I have seen for other kind of satellite object where i was involved ...) for me.. do not serve to nothing What I write comes from what I see here in Italy during my last experience , in the rest of the world all things are much better! Long life to any study on space communication Giulio AB2VY ___________________________________ Scopri il Blog di Yahoo! Mail: trucchi, novità, consigli... e la tua opinione! http://www.ymailblogit.com/blog/

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CUTE-1.7+APDII camera Earth Picture
by Mineo Wakita 09 Jun '08

09 Jun '08

http://lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/cute1.7/blog/00_03ver5.jpg http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/cut17apd.htm#bottom (C) Tokyo Institute of Technology This is the effort of the grand station and the result of the reports from many satelliter. Cute-1.7 position at the time of the photography Latitude : N 28.905 deg Longitude: E 146.040 deg Altitude : 620.178002 km de JE9PEL, Mineo Wakita

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Re: SatExplorer ... Programming DDE Interface?
by Clive Wallis 09 Jun '08

09 Jun '08

Simon HB9DRV wrote - >I can provide source code in C++. Thanks, I would like to see the source code. >You can also grab data using Excel of all things !!! Excel wouldn't help in this case, but it might be interesting to try it. I have Excel97, would that work? >I nothing gets posted I'll make sure my code is on my website for you - >>mail me direct if you want. I'll e-mail you direct. Fabio PU2THN wrote - >Hi, follow below the URLs, the first url is a example using word/excel and >is a good start point, in my first C++ DDE App I used this example. >"How to use Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) with Word and Excel from Visual >C++" >http://support.microsoft.com/kb/279721/en >"Implementing DDE Using C++ Classes" >http://www.microsoft.com/DOWNLOADS/details.aspx?familyid=22CA6C9D-45C8-460>9-8169-82FE896184D4&displaylang=en Many thanks Fabio, for these links. I'll have a look. -- 73 Clive G3CWV Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK.

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BOD Nominations
by Dee 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

BB AMSAT People... There is a Bulletin out again this week on the ANS with a call for nominations to the BOD. (open 'til the 15th) Now I know opinions are varied and many, however, besides voting for those that get nominated, please consider nominations of someone that you know who will give reliable decisions and bring your considerations to light. Maybe it is you? Think of following K3IO, W5DID or N4HY. They stepped up and offered to steer the ship. A call for nominations is a time for those to "step up" that have a sincere interest in the smooth running and continued envisions of our founding fathers to keep AMSAT as the premier "HAM" Satellite Organization that it is. A choice opportunity awaits. 73, NB2F NJ AMSAT Co-ordinator Please, no, not a self advertisement, just trying to get some of you to put the channel changer down. Comments, direct to me. Formalities to the BB.

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short notice dx on AO7
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

Hello In about an hour at 2216Z, there will be a mutual footprint between most of the UK and Seattle Wa. CN87. I will be on 145.958 downlink. 73Bob W7LRD Seattle -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

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Latest TLMEcho program version?
by Alan P. Biddle 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

Hi, Is 1.11 the latest version? In Googling around, I found one passing reference to version 1.2 and a lot of dead links and references to earlier versions. Getting interested in telemetry again, and want to see what is out there. Alan WA4SCA

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Re: 9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space
by John Marranca, Jr 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

Am I missing something here? We would all like to see several transponders going up the way they did in the 90's...myself included. But it just isn't going to happen that way anymore. So...a college or other group wants to launch some satellites, and ask for our help? What's the problem? Bill has the right attitude pertaining to these little sats...think of them as "satellites in training". Learning the construction principles, tracking, control from the ground, and collection of telemetry allows for more "useful" birds to built in the future. Now, let's all play nicely again. Have some patience...new toys WILL be coming for us to play with. John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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Britain's Moon shot takes shape
by Trevor 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

The BBC website carries an interview with Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO on why he wants to launch a UK lunar mission. It can be seen at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7433074.stm The audio can be heard at http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7441037.stm 73 Trevor M5AKA --------------- Daily Amateur Radio RSS News: http://www.southgatearc.org/ Email your news items to: editor at southgatearc.org News On Your Website: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/index.htm News On Your PC: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/newsreader.htm Upload Your News: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news.htm --------------- __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

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AO-16 Any updates
by Mike Ryan 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

Hello, While I'm not around for every pass, it seems AO-16 is largely silent. I recall some problems reported by N8MH about a month or so ago. Has the situation changed? Is there any hope for this old bird? Mike WB1AAT

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More About the Cubesats
by John Marranca, Jr 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

QUOTE: "Our access is by examination and not a fee." Art: DON'T even TRY to feed me that line of crap! In the 1990's when the ARRL allowed waivers based upon physical need (a.k.a. handicap), I wen to several VE sessions where applicants thought it was quite funny that they has their chiropractor write a "pass" for them to skip the 13 or 20 WPM code test. My OPINION is this...and if I'm wrong...then I apologize now...but with Amateur Radio being somewhat of an antique radio "service", the idea that any educational entity wishes to utilize HAM frequencies only strengthens our "purpose". The educational entities want to include us...whether it with us helping to collect TLM, tracking, or even...yes...God help us...using "OUR" frequencies. Forgive me if I seem bitter, but that "Spark Forever" antique thinking belongs on 20 meters. John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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Re: AO-16
by John Marranca, Jr 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

With appreciation, thanks for the info on 16. Here's hoping that 16's troubles pass...and that she will once again be able to live again. If not, then I want to go on the record as giving my thanks for the MANY fine QSO's (not grid square contacts) that I have had via AO-16. I miss coffee in the morning, with my daily N5AFV QSO! John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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AO-16
by John Marranca, Jr 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

Any updates on the health/status of our old AO-16??? Been quiet lately.... John KB2HSH -- _______________________________ John Marranca, Jr PBX Technician/Shop Steward CWA Local 1122 BN Systems, Inc Orchard Park, NY (716)972-2006

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SatExplorer ... Programming DDE Interface?
by Clive Wallis 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

Hi, I am currently trying to write a program to get the Doppler shift from SatExplorer, using the Windows Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) interface. I'm having difficulties in understanding and programming the DDE system. Does anyone have any source code (or a URL to one), preferably in C, which would help to point me in the right direction? Alternatively, a step by step description of the procedure would be very helpful. In theory it should be a fairly straightforward task, as the information is defined by three variables - Application SAT_EXPLORER Topic SAT_EXPLORER_DATA Item SAT_EXPLORER_SERVER Any help would be much appreciated. 73 Clive G3CWV Hitchin, North Hertfordshire, UK.

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9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space
by G0MRF＠aol.com 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

Cubesats built by students from universities in Poland Spain Italy Switzerland Romania France and Belgium have been selected for a free ride to low earth orbit. The launch is scheduled on the Vega maiden flight from Kourou at the end 2008 / early 2009 TBC. _http://www.esa.int/esaED/SEM2BPUG3HF_index_0.html_ (http://www.esa.int/esaED/SEM2BPUG3HF_index_0.html) Thanks David

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LVB Tracker MacDoppler
by Roger Swickis 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

I have just received my assembled LVB Tracker box from AMSAT. I would like to control it using my iMac and MacDoppler. I have downloaded the instructions from LVBTracker.com When I turn on the LVBTracker the indicator says I have v0.7, then it says "Warning bad EEPROM data." prior to displaying the az/el data. Should I worry about this or should I simply ignore it? Do I need to install different firmware? I have attempted to calibrate the Trackerbox and have managed it a couple of times, however it doesn't seem to want to retain the azimuth information once I have turned it off and back on again. Any suggestions? (The LVBTracker has both a USB and a DB-9 socket on the back, do I need to open things up and select one or another? ) I have downloaded the FTDIUSBSerialDriver file. It will only install on the main "Macintosh HD" level, and does not allow me to select another location during the installation. I am not familiar with the Mac OS, do the drivers need to be moved to a particular file? The instructions suggest that I "... talk to the LVBTracker using a terminal program ..." Suggesting that I "Setup (via the terminal program) the COM port selected for the FTDI USB device, 9600, N, 8, 1" How do I perform this "setup"? How do I select a COM port via the terminal program on a Mac? (I have done this on a PC for a COM port, but I have no idea how to do it via a USB port on the Mac.) Any suggestions? The instructions say that "All the tracking programs ... have good instructions for setting up a rotor controller." I do not find this to be true for Macdoppler, which has a minimum of instructions. (The LVBTracker instructions mentions "Macdoppler Pro", I only have something called "Macdoppler" do I need to upgrade to Macdoppler Pro?) Under Macdoppler "Preferences", "Rotator", I can select my rotator, and baud rate, but I don't know what serial port I should select. I presume its "usbserial", but it could also be "SerialPort-1", which is also an option. Is "usbserial" the correct serial port to select? (I am controlling my IC-821 somewhat successfully via Macdoppler using "usbserial" and one of the iMac's USB sockets using a CI-V interface cable. I would like to use another USB cable for the rotor control. Do I select "usbserial" for both? (Of course this leaves me a little short of USB sockets, has anyone daisy- chained the radio and rotor control via a single iMac usb jack and one of those multi-usb boxes?) Sorry for all the questions, but I am just about at the stage where I go back to using my old PC and try to get things running using SATPC32 through COM ports, but I would like to control things via the Mac if that is possible. Is there anyone out there who has succeeded in getting the LVBTracker to work via Macdoppler and can help? Thanks, Roger VA7MG

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Re: 9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space
by Tom Clark, K3IO 08 Jun '08

08 Jun '08

Of the satellites listed (according to the list posted at http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished.asp), the following satellites have been coordinated with IARU for use of the amateur satellite spectrum: * Swisscube: Space Center, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Laus * Goliat: University of Bucharest * UWE-2 (but not yet UWE-3): University of Wuerzburg Unisat3 from Rome was launched with AO-51, however the UniCubesat is not listed with the IARU. It appears that the IARU Coordination group knows nothing about the other satellites listed in the press release. But then, it also appears that the recent Russian RS-30 "Jubilee" was apparently unknown/uncoordinated. If any of you are in contact with any of these groups, please stress to them the need for coordination with the rest of the amateur radio/amateur satellite community. Information of the coordination process, along with some recommendations (including a very useful link budget spreadsheet from Jan King W3GEY/VK4GEY) can be found at http://www.iaru.org/satellite/. 73, Tom

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Re: 9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space
by Giulio AB2VY 07 Jun '08

07 Jun '08

Hi Domenico , you are absolutely right! the main problem is that young people involved in projects not even know what is an "hamradio" and what is an "ham spirit" (in Italy this is the situation), so whithout these conditions you can't produce something right for our community think only this: the only satellites "ham-useful" have been produced outside university programs I write this because I personally experienced what it means Only AMSAT have the right spirit ( and experience..) to produce useful object when a university has to create a satellite? turns to us... For Italian University satellities is so 73 de Giulio AB2VY Hi David, G0MRF It seem to me that while the Universities are becaming tennis players we collect telemetry without to be involved in their experiments and this is like to only pick up their balls and run with it. The only difference is that each University receive governement contributions to build the satellite while we radioamateurs invest a lot of personal money to build our own satellite stations. Since the Radioamateur Community make a worldwide service to the Universities my idea is to collect their TLM upon official donations to be used to build our Orbiting Satellites Carrying Amateur Radio i.e. satellites with linear transponders to talk each other. Is the Amateur Satellite Service becaming an endangered species ? It will became an endangered species if P3-E and EAGLE will be not placed in orbit as soon as possible but this requires our contributions ............or not ? Do you like my TLM ?............Please donate ! 73" de i8CVS Domenico ----- Original Message ----- From: <G0MRF(a)aol.com> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Saturday, June 07, 2008 4:29 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] 9 Cubesats selected for free ESA ride to space > Cubesats built by students from universities in Poland Spain Italy > Switzerland Romania France and Belgium have been selected for a free ride to low earth > orbit. The launch is scheduled on the Vega maiden flight from Kourou at the > end 2008 / early 2009 TBC. > > _http://www.esa.int/esaED/SEM2BPUG3HF_index_0.html_ > (http://www.esa.int/esaED/SEM2BPUG3HF_index_0.html) > > Thanks > > David > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___________________________________ Scopri il Blog di Yahoo! Mail: trucchi, novità, consigli... e la tua opinione! http://www.ymailblogit.com/blog/

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[ans] ANS-159 Bulletins
by Dee 07 Jun '08

07 Jun '08

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-159 ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org In this edition: * AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nomination Announcement * 9 Cubesats offered free launch with ESA * News from the 6/3/08 Executive Teleconference * Satellite Shorts From All Over * Direct Shorts * ARISS Status Report for the Week of May 26, 2008 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.01 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nomination Announcement AMSAT News Service Bulletin 159.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 8, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-159.01 Nominations are open for the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors (BOD). The nominations must be in writing and received at the AMSAT office by end of business June 15, 2008. AMSAT-NA member societies or five current individual members may make nominations of fellow members to serve a 2-year term. Three of the seven seats must be filled this year. The board members whose terms are expiring are: Tom Clark, K3IO Lou McFadin, W5DID Bob McGwier, N4HY Prospective AMSAT-NA BOD members generally attend two meetings each year, usually during the first and third quarters of the year. Attendance at the meetings is mandatory. Travel expenses for BOD meetings are paid for by AMSAT-NA. Nominations must be in writing and mailed to: AMSAT-NA Board of Director Nomination 850 Sligo Ave #600 Silver Spring, MD 20910 The nominations with descriptive information about each candidate will be mailed out July 15, 2008. Ballots must be received in Silver Spring,MD by September 15, 2008. Only active members as of July 24, 2008 are eligible to vote. [ANS thanks AMSAT HQ for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.02 9 Cubesats offered free launch with ESA AMSAT News Service Bulletin 159.02 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 8, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-159.02 Cubesats built by students from universities in Poland Spain Italy Switzerland Romania France and Belgium have been selected for a free ride to low earth orbit. The launch is scheduled on the Vega maiden flight from Kourou at the end 2008 / early 2009 TBC. One Belgium cubesat proposes to use D-Star as a communications protocol http://www.esa.int/esaED/SEM2BPUG3HF_index_0.html [ANS thanks David, G0MRF, for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.03 News from the 6/3/08 Executive Teleconference AMSAT News Service Bulletin 159.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 8, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-159.03 The AMSAT Store will be re-opening soon. It has been moved to the new AMSAT server. There will be a series of ARISS/NASA technical meetings in Russia during much of the month of July this year. There will be a technical meeting in Phoenix about SuitSat-2 hardware the weekend of 14 June. We will be updating the specification and determining what hardware can be developed, tested and delivered to Russia by the end of the year. [ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.04 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 159.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 8, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-159.04 The 2008 Dayton Forum presentation of Rick Hambly, W2GPS AMSAT President is now available for viewing online at mms://media.wmfd.com/amsat/W2GPS_2008_forum.wmv Also available is Bob McGwier's 2008 AMSAT Engineering update mms://media.wmfd.com/amsat/EngMovie08.wmv The other 2008 Forum presentations will also be available soon. There will be an ANS announcement. Thanks to Rob and Gunther Meisse and WMFD for hosting the video. Note: The following satellites have been dropped from the AMSAT Keplerian Data List: UARS Cat # 21701 OO-38 Cat # 26063 MO-46 Cat # 26548 UWE-1 Cat # 28892 LIBERTAD-1 Cat # 31129 [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.05 Direct Shorts AMSAT News Service Bulletin 159.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 8, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-159.05 + Technical papers are solicited for presentation at the 27th Annual ARRL and TAPR Digital Communications Conference to be held Septem- ber 26-28, 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. The submission deadline is July 31, 2008. Please send papers to: Maty Weinberg, ARRL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111. + Stefan, VE4NSA says his 1:1 scale model kit of the Delfi-C3 satel- lite is in the prototype stage. A photo of the project can be found at http://www.wincube.ca/Delfi.html. This model will be available as pdf files for you to print (and cut and glue) in the next few weeks from the Delfi-C3 website. Stefan invites radio amateurs to also see his released AO-51 scale model at http://www.msig.ca/AO-51.html. + This past week the Cute-1.7 + APD II cubesat team ran a 24hour test of the APD sensor. FM telemetry packets were transmitted on 437.475 MHz. Please forward any received telemetry to Hiroki Ashida via email to hiroki(a)lss.mes.titech.ac.jp. + Yuta Araki, JQ1YGV wrote from Nihon University to inform you of the update of the analysis software for the SEEDS cubesat. The new ver- sion of the analysis software is "Downlink Code for Distribution Ver.2.0.3" at: http://cubesat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/english/download_e.html [ANS thanks for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.06 ARISS Status Report for the Week of June 2nd, 2008 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 159.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 8, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-159.06 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Status Report June 2, 2008 1. School Contact Status Planning continues for Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contacts; however, the level of school contacts will drop temporarily due to crew time constraints. 2. NASM Space Day Article Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) and Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) members participated in the National Air and Space Museum celebration on Space Day. The event was covered in a local paper. To view the article in the Southwester (page 11), go to: http://swdc.org/news/Southwester_JUNE_2008.pdf 3. Terrestrial School Contact Successful On Tuesday, May 27, European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Roberto Vittori, IZ6ERU, spoke by telephone with students from primary schools San Giuseppe and De Gasperi in Italy. He answered 20 questions posed to him by the students. Approximately 400 people were present during the hour long question and answer session. Newspapers covered the event. These schools plan to participate in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact in the fall. Photos and detailed information on this activity have been posted to the ARISS-Europe Web site. See: http://www.ariss-eu.org/2008_05_27.htm 4. ESA Article on DRS Contact An Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact took place with Delta Researcher Schools (DRS) on Friday, May 23 at Space Expo, Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The European Space Agency (ESA) posted a write-up on this educational event to its Web site. See: http://www.esa.int/esaHS/SEMEZ8NKRGF_education_0.html 5. Astronaut Training Status Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, participated in an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) training session on Tuesday, May 27. Fincke is scheduled to fly in October 2008 as the commander of Expedition 18. [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 73, This week's ANS Editor, Dee Interdonato, NB2F nb2f at amsat dot org

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AO-51
by Vincenzo Mone 07 Jun '08

07 Jun '08

Hi to the list, I would like to know if AO-51 is sending frames. I can hear it but cannot decode none. Thanks in advance. 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 *************************************** ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** ***************************************

2 1

Need CM86 (or CM96)?
by John Mock KD6PAG 07 Jun '08

07 Jun '08

I'll be in CM86 this Saturday afternoon (maybe early evening) if anyone needs it. CM86 is the western half of Santa Cruz (California) and ALOT of ocean. I might do a couple of passes in CM96 on Sunday morning (and possible another afternoon pass in CM86 if it's unusually convenient). -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer) P.S. West Coast folk, don't neglect the Pacific passes as we have a rover going up through BC into AK right now. Yesterday on AO-27's Pacific pass, i was the only other station on. UTC AZ EL Location Sat Local time Sat 07Jun08 20:00-20:10 144 104 63 6.8 Santa Cruz? SO-50 (Sat 13:00 PDT) Sat 07Jun08 21:26-21:39 130 67 3 22.3 Santa Cruz AO-27 (Sat 14:26 PDT) Sat 07Jun08 21:38-21:52 205 124 32 78.0 Santa Cruz SO-50 (Sat 14:38 PDT) Sat 07Jun08 23:04-23:19 184 262 339 41.0 Santa Cruz AO-27 (Sat 16:04 PDT) Sat 07Jun08 23:20-23:32 259 317 15 14.9 Santa Cruz SO-50 (Sat 16:20 PDT) Sun 08Jun08 02:11-02:26 146 71 357 39.0 Santa Cruz? AO-51 (Sat 19:11 PDT) Sun 08Jun08 14:22-14:34 35 91 148 13.7 Freedom, CA AO-51 (Sun 07:22 PDT) Sun 08Jun08 16:00-16:14 6 285 206 52.5 Freedom, CA AO-51 (Sun 09:00 PDT) Sun 08Jun08 20:27-20:40 175 109 46 22.3 Santa Cruz?? SO-50 (Sun 13:27 PDT) Sun 08Jun08 20:59-21:10 113 62 11 12.2 Santa Cruz?? AO-27 (Sun 13:59 PDT)

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Idea
by D. Mynatt 07 Jun '08

07 Jun '08

In the last AMSAT Journal, Dr Shuch addressed the issue of education from the perspective of students and teachers. I would like to add one other idea to an otherwise excellent piece, and that is 'what are the experts doing'? I would like to propose that AMSAT or the education side of the organization, establish teaching centers where students can go for more than just Field Days. I promote an idea of a center where large antenna arrays are installed, accessible via the internet, controllable by schedules appointments, overseen by the AMSAT experts, and acting as established communications centers or ground stations to as many different flights as possible. I'm talking with M2 and ISIS about antennas and such, but wonder what comments and ideas the group would have about the idea. Any other ideas to address the need for new members, new interest, and involved kids? Dave ===== http://sciencecenter.no-ip.org SID ID: S-0258 APRS UI-View KA0SWT LAT: 38'16.278" N LON: -104'40.537" W Alt: 4780ft DM78

3 2

Updated of analysis software of SEEDS
by Yuta Araki 07 Jun '08

07 Jun '08

Dear All, I'm Yuta Araki at Nihon University (JQ1YGV). First of all, thank you very much for much kind cooperation! We are grateful to you all. I'd like to inform you of the update of analysis software of SEEDS. A new version of the analysis software is "Downlink Code for Distribution Ver.2.0.3". Please download analysis software from the following website http://cubesat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/english/download_e.html Please continue your favors toward the reception cooperation about SEEDS in the future. Thanks again! Best Regards, Yuta _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/ Nakamura&Miyazaki Lab., Department of Aerospace Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nihon University Yuta Araki E-mail: araki(a)forth.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp _/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/

1 0

70cm antenna SWR problem solved?
by Michael Tondee 07 Jun '08

07 Jun '08

After several unsuccessful attempts at solving my 70cm antenna problem while it was still on the mast, I resolved today to just go ahead and get it down off there. Not that big a deal to do really and besides I've been thinking of rebuilding the whole shootin match anyway. I was able to use my 2 meter SWR meter after a fashion once I got the antenna inside. I could see fluctuations in the amount of power the antenna was taking as I tried various things. The problem lies in the area of the matching and feedpoint of the driven element. Again those of you familiar with the WA5VJB " cheap yagi" concept will know that the driven element is bent back upon itself forming a U shaped section on one side. Those less familiar with the design might not understand this but there's something going on right there. Either with the spacing between the legs of the U or the braid and center conductor being too close together at that point where they are soldered. Changing the spacing of the U legs didn't seem to help but spreading the center conductor and shield out from each other right where they are connected to the DE made a marked difference. I suspect it's because at this point they are very close to the "matching area" of the antenna. Hope that makes sense. At any rate I have decided to rebuild both my 70cm and 2 meter antenna. I will keep 11 elements on 70cm but I'm going from 4 to 6 elements on 2 meters. The other change will be to replace the boom material. I used PVC pipe before and the antennas have developed a bit of a sag along their booms. I will be using wooden booms coated with spar varnish this go around and possibly add reinforcement if any sag appears evident. BTW, both of these are linearly polarized as I don't have an SWR analyzer to figure out velocity factor on cable while making phasing harnesses. Maybe someday! Thanks much for everyones help and 73, Michael W4HIJ

3 5

GO-32 Status -- does not sound healthy
by Bruce Semple 06 Jun '08

06 Jun '08

Did anybody hear the 06/06/2008 - 0155z pass -- It does not sound good ..

3 2

Re: Yaesu VX-8R
by Clint Bradford 06 Jun '08

06 Jun '08

> What do you mean by not true full duplex? It is a dual-RECEIVE unit. Not a true, full-duplex unit like the Icom IC-W32a was (where you can TX on one band and simultaneoulsly monitor the other band). Clint Bradford, K6LCS 909-241-7666

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Re: Yaesu VX-8R
by Clint Bradford 06 Jun '08

06 Jun '08

A reading of the preliminary owners manual, and conversations with Vertex Standard. I have been involved in the amateur and commercial radio industries for several years. I wouldn't publish misinformation anywhere. Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666 >> The VX-8R is *not* true full-duplex. >> > Forgive me for not taking you at your word, but can you tell us how > you know that?

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To the Moon, Alice...
by Clint Bradford 06 Jun '08

06 Jun '08

If you want to make it to the moon but don't have the chops to be an astronaut, the deadline is approaching to at least send your name around Earth's orbiting rock. June 27 marks the last day to enter your information on the Web to send your name to the moon with the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). Your name will be incorporated in a database and loaded onto a microchip built into the LRO spacecraft. The service is free and comes with a printable certificate assuring you that you are indeed a part of the LRO experience. http://lro.jhuapl.edu/NameToMoon/index.php Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

2 1

Yaesu VX-8R
by Clint Bradford 06 Jun '08

06 Jun '08

...I live in vague hope for the Yaesu VX-8... The VX-8R is *not* true full-duplex. Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666

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Re: Kenwood THD7AG availability
by John Mock KD6PAG 06 Jun '08

06 Jun '08

> At dayton, here is what I heard... they can no longer get about > a handful of parts. The radio has been in production for 10 > years! Of the handful of parts, they have come up with some > substitutes for all but one of them. There is still one tiny > chip transistor that has no substitutes and impossible to find. > Unless they can solve that problem, they are stuck... That is MOST unfortunate! It is important to operate in full-duplex in Mode J-FM, and with the demise of the Icom IC-W32A, the Kenwood TH-D7AG was the only HT available which had that capability. Every other multi-band HT available commercially tries to be a scanner from DC-to-daylight, and that is inherently incompatable with full- duplex operation. I believe that the number of people who can't hear their own downlink has alot to do with the amount of chaos on the FM satellites. Please, please, PLEASE!! AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-*, lobby the amateur radio manufacturers to make another satellite-friendly HT! This is important to the future of amateur radio. -- KD6PAG (Networking Old-Timer, Satellite QRPer)

3 2

Question about SEEDS telemetry...
by Mark VandeWettering 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

So, I've been having a mild amount of fun using my Python code to track the various recently launched cubesats, and especially SEEDS II, which I find to be really easy to receive. My script drives the frequency control on my FT-817, and allows me to get easy recordings that by just aiming my Arrow at the spot it tells me to. I record these onto my laptop, and then process them into spectrograms for fun. For instance, a couple of days ago, I got the following: http://brainwagon.com/images/seeds2-tlm2.jpg Each horizontal pixel is 1/50th of a second, making the width of each row 20 seconds, and the full set of SEEDS II housekeeping telemetry is about 100 seconds. If you work through the picture, you can confirm that I didn't make any mistakes when I copied the telemetry as: JQ1YGU SEEDS G4 01DF37DF CF1 FFE 007 00A 000 000 009 007 ABE AAC A94 AEA 11 0000 0001 0001 0001 55DD B1 40 30 Using the documentation for SEEDS that is available online, I decoded this as: Satellite Callsign: JQ1YGU Satellite ID: SEEDS Satellite Mode: G4 Satellite Time: 15703023 sec Li-ion Battery Voltage: 4.04 v Bus Voltage: 5.00 v Solar Cell 1 current: 0.78 ma Solar Cell 2 current: 1.11 ma Solar Cell 3 current: 0.00 ma Solar Cell 4 current: 0.00 ma Solar Cell 5 current: 1.00 ma Solar Cell 6 current: 0.78 ma Temperature Li-ion Battery 1: -1.41 degC Temperature Li-ion Battery 2: -0.53 degC Temperature Transmitter: -2.27 degC Temperature Receiver: -4.48 degC So, here's the question. This was a nighttime pass over CM87, and we see that the satellite must have been in eclipse, as its solar panels are generating almost now power, and the temperatures are pretty low. Is this common for the cubesat during eclipse passes. It dawns on me that my inability to get it transmitting in SSTV or digitalker mode might be that I have been catching almost exclusively night time passes (curse my day job). Looking back through the list, I've seen housekeeping telemetry where the temperatures are 40 degC or even higher. Is the variation in temperature really that great? Is it just that the thermal mass being low causes relatively deep cycling? Just thinking... Mark KF6KYI

1 0

Re: beyond telemetry
by andy thomas 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

Friend, AS far as I know, the only satellite sending SSTV at the moment is SEEDS. You will need to doppler track the saetllite and use a downloaded program like MMSSTV. Receive in FM, good luck! You will see some historic images from Mir on my website http://www.andythomas.eu and the system is not set up yet on the ISS. Weather satellites are outside the Amateur bands, on 136 MHZ or near, and need a wide IF bandwidth receiver and a different progra-rm -this is not sstv. best wishes andy G0SFJ __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

1 0

Re: Possible SWR problems with 70cm antenna
by i8cvs 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

----- Original Message ----- From: "Charles Heisler -K3VDB-" <ceheisler(a)comcast.net> To: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 1:41 AM Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: Possible SWR problems with 70cm antenna > At 01:56 PM 6/4/2008, you wrote: > > >To measure the VSWR with accuracy you can build by your self a set of > >inexpensive directional couplers ranging from 100 MHz to 10 GHz using > >semirigid coax cables as described into the RSGB Microwave Handbook Volume 2 > >pages 10.13 to 10.18 > > > >73" de > > > >i8CVS Domenico > > Hello Domenico > > I am interested in building the directional coupler that you > mentioned above > > Thanks for any help > Charlie > K3VDB > FM19qv > Hi Charlie K3VDB Unfortunately all messages sent to you and to other people via @comcast.net are bouncing back because apparently there is not compatibility between @comcast.net and @tin.it Please send me another email address. 73" de i8CVS Domenico

1 0

PO-28
by Vincenzo Mone 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

Hi to the list, I would like to know if the PO-28 is still alive and if it can be heard. I just had a pass with an elevation of 90 degreese but could not heard nothing on 429.950 Mhz. Anybody can give me more information abt it? Thanks in advance. 73 de Enzo IK8OZV EasyLog 5 BetaTester EasyLog PDA BetaTester WinBollet BetaTester D.C.I. CheckPoint Regione Campania Skype: ik8ozv8520 *************************************** ***** GSM +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** SMS +39 338 9749786 ***** ***** FAX +39 328 7244294 ***** *** 2nd e-mail: vimone(a)tin.it *** ***************************************

1 0

Rainer, DJ9BV SK
by i8cvs 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

Hi All, I just received the sad news that Rainer Bertelsmeier, DJ9BV , has become silent key. He was a famous yagi designer and the formal editor of DUBUS magazine. for many years. To get more information about Rainer's activity put only DJ9BV on Google 73" de i8CVS Domenico

1 0

Re: Remoted rotator controller
by Lowell White 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

In my "someday stack" I have about 50 fiber-optic to DB-15 opto-isolator transceivers. I have flirted with the idea of using them and (some long run of) fiber optic cable (when found cheap enough) to run remote control for rotors. This does, of course, presume AC power is available at the tower and that there has been appropriate interface creation for either end. If someone wants to give that a go I will provide a pair or two of the transceivers. Kind regards, Lowell K9LDW ------ Original Message ------ Received: Thu, 05 Jun 2008 06:09:25 AM CDT From: "i8cvs" <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> To: "AMSAT-BB" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org>, "Scott Townley" <nx7u(a)cox.net> Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Remoted rotator controller > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Scott Townley" <nx7u(a)cox.net> > To: <amsat-bb(a)AMSAT.Org> > Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2008 5:51 AM > Subject: [amsat-bb] Remoted rotator controller > > > Contemplating my Yaesu G-5400 and not so fond of the idea of running 2x > > 6x18AWG cables nearly 200'...(more accurately, paying for them). > > Has anyone ever put the controller at the antenna base and instead ran the > > computer<->controller wires the long distance between the computer > > interface and the control box? Seems like it would be a lot cheaper, in > > the sense of fewer wires of a smaller gauge, and not so much worry about > > voltage drop etc. My setup is low to the ground, so the control box would > > be ground-mounted in a weatherproof shelter. The "digital" run would be > > the 200' or more, and the "analog" or "power" run only 20' or so. If done > > the traditional way these lengths would be reversed. > > Or is this a stunningly dumb idea for reasons yet-unknown to me? > > > > Scott Townley NX7U > > Gilbert, AZ DM43di > > mailto:[email protected] > > http://members.cox.net/nx7u > > > Hi Scott, NX7U > > Theoretically it should work but are you sure that your antennas will always > moving in AZ and EL according to your computer program or are you obliged > to go time to time upstairs over the roof just in doubt to verify the > situation ? > > When the control box is normally installed in the shack you run wires that > are 24 Vac for the motors and wires that are 0 to 5 V dc for the > potentiometers. > > If you install the control box over the roof you must run a 200' cable > between the rear 8 pin External Control DIN connector and your PC but pins > 4-2-5-3 are the high impedance wires connected to your PC to switch the > relays RY1-RY2-RY3-RY4 located into the control box. > > Only less than 1 mA between each pin 4-2-5-3 and ground is enough by > your PC to activate each relay so that the above long run wires are more > suscettible to get noise or RF interference or low insulation by the umidity > disturbing the system operation. > > Best 73" de > > i8CVS Domenico > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sent via AMSAT-BB(a)amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb >

1 0

Remoted rotator controller
by Scott Townley 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

Contemplating my Yaesu G-5400 and not so fond of the idea of running 2x 6x18AWG cables nearly 200'...(more accurately, paying for them). Has anyone ever put the controller at the antenna base and instead ran the computer<->controller wires the long distance between the computer interface and the control box? Seems like it would be a lot cheaper, in the sense of fewer wires of a smaller gauge, and not so much worry about voltage drop etc. My setup is low to the ground, so the control box would be ground-mounted in a weatherproof shelter. The "digital" run would be the 200' or more, and the "analog" or "power" run only 20' or so. If done the traditional way these lengths would be reversed. Or is this a stunningly dumb idea for reasons yet-unknown to me? Scott Townley NX7U Gilbert, AZ DM43di mailto:[email protected] http://members.cox.net/nx7u

3 2

SEEDS doing fine (CW) (June 6, 7:50utc)
by Henk, PA3GUO 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

Just a snapshot taken while sat was <5 degrees elevation (437.475MHz) Seeds-II CW telemetry: jq1ygu seeds g401ed964dd42ffe77a08fd000d31ad1a8a649b2ad5ade1100000001000100015803b64034 jq1ygu seeds g401ed99c9d3fffe6950d0c7b3e3138170a4c99aac2acb11000000010001 Henk, PA3GUO http://www.qsl.net/pa3guo

1 0

Possible SWR problems with 70cm antenna
by Michael Tondee 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

I'm having some problems with a homebrew lineasrly polarized "cheap yagi" for 70cm. I don't have any success hearing myself on VO-52 or AO-7. This antenna used to work reasonably well for both. The way the power out meter on my radio acts, it leads me to believe I may have an SWR issue. Unfortunately I don't own or have access to an SWR meter or anylyzer capable of working at 70Cm. I'm going to take a wild shot in the dark here and ask the bb because I sure don't know. Would it be possible to put my 2 meter SWR meter in the 70cm line and at least get a ballpark figure of SWR? Or would the reading be so far off, it would be useless? I'm not intending to try and tune the antenna in this manner, I just want to get some indication as to if SWR is indeed the problem. I must confess I don't know what the frequency range determining elements of an SWR bridge are. I must have missed that at some point or the other. Any other ways to determine if I have an SWR problem without a meter? It's just not in the budget to buy one right now. Any suggestions are appreciated. Tnx and 73, Michael, W4HIJ

6 6

Beyond Telemtry....
by great trouble 05 Jun '08

05 Jun '08

Hello, I almost complete the down link chain to receive telemetry. (feeling good as i do it 1st time) Now I am looking forward to get images as well but don't know how to perform this interesting and valuable task. Following were the questions that disturbin me QUESTIONS How can I receive images? what are the required equipments necessary to accomplish the task? There are some satellites which provide images using CCD. Is it possible to receive and process their images? Kindly guide me. Regards, What lies behind us....&.....what lies before us....... are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.

1 0

UNI_TRAC 2003 AND WISP ??? HELP
by CWBILL＠bellsouth.net 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

HI ALL, TRYING TO SET UP MY NEW UNI_TRAC 2003 WITH MY WISP PROGRAM. HAS ANYONE TRYED THIS? MY WISP PROGRAM KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THE TWO BIRDS I PUT IN THE KEPS DATABASE THAT THE GSC. CANNOT FIND THESE SATELLITES, GO-32 AND AO-51. I CHECKED THE DATABASE AND BOTH BIRDS ARE THERE. I AM ENTERNG THE NORAD 2-LINE ELEMENTS IN THE DATABASE MY UNI_TRAC DIRECTIONS. IF THER IS CHANGES I HAVE TO DO TO THE WISP PROGRAM IN USING THE UNI_TRAC 2003 I SURE WOULD THANKFUL FOR SO HELP. BILL [WD4DHJ]...

1 0

Kenwood THD7AG availability
by joe cassano aka jmario 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

All I've wanted to purchase a Kenwood THD7AG for several weeks but the place that I usually purchase from has been saying (on their web site) that the D7 is out of stock for more than a month. I called them and I was told that Kenwood is basically noncommittal and perhaps even evasive when asked about future THD7 shipments. Did anyone who attended Dayton happen to engage any Kenwood reps in a conversation about the THD7? If so would you tell us what you heard? The THD7AG is presently listed on the Kenwoodusa'a web site. Inquiring minds would like to know what is going on here... My list of possibles are RoHS compliance issues (aka tin whiskers are in your future), someone is trying to avoid the classic Osborne-I to Osborne-II sales and marketing debacle prior to introducing a follow on to the D7, or perhaps the market is too small to justify continued manufacturing... JoeC K3FMA

6 5

DO-64 heard over VK
by David 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

Hello All, Just hear DO-64 over VK (2008/06/03:23:40 UTC). Even managed to see the S-meter go to S7 on my FT-817 - nice and loud. First reception of DO-64 since 22nd May and 10 attempts. 73 de David VK5DG

6 7

Re: DO-64 heard over VK
by Andrew Glasbrenner 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

Maybe everyone in this discussion should take note that DO-64 has a working transponder onboard. Should we travel back in time and rescind the Oscar numbers for DO-17 and UO-11 while we are at it? 73, Drew KO4MA -----Original Message----- >From: i8cvs <domenico.i8cvs(a)tin.it> >Sent: Jun 4, 2008 2:08 PM >To: Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF <nigel(a)ngunn.net>, john heath <g7hia(a)btinternet.com> >Cc: amsat <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: DO-64 heard over VK > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Nigel Gunn G8IFF/W8IFF" <nigel(a)ngunn.net> >To: "john heath" <g7hia(a)btinternet.com> >Cc: "amsat" <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> >Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2008 6:12 PM >Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: DO-64 heard over VK > >> How about stop whinging. >> If you don't want to know about the "non transponder" sats then edit them >out of your keps download. >> Spacetrack allows you to compile a favourites list. >> >> >> john heath wrote: >> > How about Oscar numbers issued only for satellites with working >> > transponders. >> > >> > 73 John g7hia >> > >Hi John, G7HIA > >For Oscar numbars issued only for satellites with working transponders >I suggest to use the "imaginary numbars" as for example OSCAR j73 > >73" de > >i8CVS Domenico > > > >_______________________________________________ >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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2.4 GHz Downconverters Are In Stock Again
by K5GNA＠aol.com 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

Hello All: My 2.4 GHz downconverters and corner reflectors are back in stock, ready for immediate shipment. I have just shipped the downconverters to all who were on my waiting list and had previously responded. Anyone interested in my downconverters or parts can check them out on my website -- it has been updated. _www.k5gna.com_ (http://www.k5gna.com) Please contact me for quotes on shipping at the website or at: _k5gna(a)aol.com_ (mailto:[email protected]) TNX & 73, Bob K5GNA **************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4?&NCID=aolfod00030000000002)

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2.4 GHz Signal Sources & Downconverters
by K5GNA＠aol.com 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

To All: Thanks to all that have responded. I have a large number of 2.4 GHz weatherproof Signal sources available for $19.95, but I only had listed 2 at a time on Ebay (there listing fees are too high). I have increased the quantity, so they will be available for all those who want one. Ebay seller = K5GNA Webpage = _www.k5gna.com_ (http://www.k5gna.com) there is a link here at the top for my Ebay items. Anyone who doesn't want to use Ebay can contact me directly. Check them out on Ebay for pictures, links and other Info. The G0ORY links go into some detail on what other things that you can do with these Gardiner downconverters and how to get into them. I now have the 12 MHz computer crystals to ship with the sources at no extra cost. These put you at about 2400.020 MHz There are still plenty of the TSI 2.4 GHZ K5GNA downconverters available -- they will not be on Ebay for a while, just here on the AMSAT BB. TNX & 73, Bob K5GNA **************Get trade secrets for amazing burgers. Watch "Cooking with Tyler Florence" on AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/tyler-florence?video=4?&NCID=aolfod00030000000002)

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Icom 706 FM Narrow
by K & R Yoksh 04 Jun '08

04 Jun '08

Hello, I discovered something last night while working AO-51 and wanted to share it with the group. Thanks for the many short QSOs on AO-51 last night, BTW. I use two Icom 706Mk2g radios as my satellite station. Although I've read through the manual for my radio many times, I wasn't aware that Icom included a wide and narrow FM capability in this radio. This is not to be confused with WFM receive (which this radio can also do), for commercial radio and TV audio reception. After checking out page 23 of the manual, I can better understand this, but honestly, it might have been a good idea for Icom to spell this out a little better! When selected, the narrow filter is active in both transmit and receive. According to Google, the wide FM setting has a maximum of 4.8 KHz deviation, and the narrow FM setting has a maximum of 2.4 KHz deviation. The standard AM/FM filter (FL-23) is 15 KHz wide, and the narrow filter (FL-94) is 8 KHz wide. Armed with this new piece of information, I experimented with using the narrow filter on my receive radio last night on AO-51 with very noticeable results! The filter eliminated much of the background noise, and I also noted that the S meter reading displayed typically 2 S-units higher with the narrow filter enabled, FWIW. If you use a 706 on the birds, you might want to check out menu M3, and select FIL while in FM mode. 73, Kyle Yoksh K0KN Olathe, Kansas

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TELECOMASIA
by Gopal Madhavan 03 Jun '08

03 Jun '08

I have been asked to coordinate all arrangements for the IARU exhibition stall in Bangkok Thailand in connection with Telecom Asia early September, and was wondering if we could get a small model of any of the recently launched satellites for the exhibition and also other printed material regarding satellite activity for distribution? If you have pictures of any of the launches etc we can add them to the moving display that is planned. On hearing from you I will send you the address in Bangkok where the material has to be sent. Thanks in advance Gopal VU2GMN Gopal Madhavan "Shreyas" Apartments 128(old63) Greenways Road Chennai - 600 028 Tel: 91 44 2493 7724 / 4230 3129 Mobile: 91 94440 18452 E-mail: vu2gmn(a)gmail.com

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AO-51 model is available
by Stefan Wagener 03 Jun '08

03 Jun '08

Hi folks, I had some questions regarding the AO-51, Delfi-C3 and other cardboard models. AO-51 (75% scale): Yes, it is available for download at: www.msig.ca/AO-51.html Yes, it is available for free (if you like it please donate to AMSAT). Delfi-C3: It will be available at the Delfi team website @ TU Delft. It is still a work in progress and I hope to have the prototype done in a few days. After that I will finish the pdf files for distribution. Yes, as mentioned above, once it is available and you like it, please consider a donation to AMSAT. Other models: I might look at P3E at one point once it is launched and final photos and details are available. No, it will not be a 1:1 scale ;-) Hope this helps, As always, have fun and enjoy the hobby. 73, Stefan VE4NSA

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Delfi-C3 model (Scale 1:1) coming soon
by Stefan Wagener 03 Jun '08

03 Jun '08

Hi folks, The next model of an amateur radio satellite is just around the corner. Thanks to the great folks from the TU Delft (Delfi-C3 team) and their timely information, a new cardboard model in the scale 1:1 is almost done. I am still playing with the antennas and writing the instructions. You can see the almost completed prototype at: http://www.wincube.ca/Delfi.html The model will be available as pdf files for you to print (and cut and glue) in the next few weeks from the Delfi-C3 website. Will let you know. So get your glue ready and during those rainy nights build a great model for the club station or your radio shack. Hope you look it. 73, Stefan VE4NSA

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Colorado Rep
by D. Mynatt 03 Jun '08

03 Jun '08

Any rep here in southern CO that would be willing to assist us in getting a comprehensive ground station setup? Dave ===== http://sciencecenter.no-ip.org SID ID: S-0258 APRS UI-View KA0SWT LAT: 38'16.278" N LON: -104'40.537" W Alt: 4780ft DM78

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RS-30-cw only?
by David 03 Jun '08

03 Jun '08

Hello All, Just listened to RS-30 pass over VK. Only heard CW telemetry on 435.315, didn't monitor 435.215. Which one has the 'wefax/sstv' type signal? Or is it only turned on over Russia? 73 de David VK5DG

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Cute-1.7 : FM Packets for 24hours
by Hiroki Ashida 03 Jun '08

03 Jun '08

Dear All, I'm Hiroki Ashida at Tokyo Institute of Technology (JQ1YCZ). I'd like to inform you about our satellite's operation. We started a long-run (continuous 24hours) of the APD sensor at 11:30, Jun 3 (UTC) and it will be turned off on 11:30, Jun 4(UTC). During the APD is turned on, the APD status packet can be heard everywhere in the world. FM packets are transmitted on 437.475MHz and packet formats are available in the following web-page. http://lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/cute1.7/fm_mode_apd_e.html 4A-51-31-59-54-43-3E-4A-51-31-59-43-5A-3A-D0-30-77-B8-03-16-99 For exapmle, according to an above APD status packet we can obtain informations as; 4A-51-31-59-54-43-3E-4A-51-31-59-43-5A-3A : Header(JQ1YTC>JQ1YCZ) D0 : APD Packet ID (Fixed) 30 : Status Code APD Status : Operational HV Status : Set Value = Output Value Temp Correction : Active Data Mode : Counter Valid Detector : APD A APD Gain : Gain 30 Threshold : 219mV 77 : Temperature 0x77 = 119 -> (119/255)*91.712-48.569 = -5.7 [degC] B8 : High Voltage 0xB8 = 184 -> (184/255)*396.5 = 286 [V] 03-16-99 : Counter 0x1699 = 5785 -> 5785 * 2^3 = 46280 Latest TLE from NORAD is; Cute-1.7 + APD II 1 32785U 08021C 08154.79960534 .00000134 00000-0 24077-4 0 664 2 32785 097.9934 214.7536 0014695 178.3289 181.7972 14.81362228 5275 Though the observation data will be stored in FRAMs, we'd like to know a real-time status of the APD during the observation. Your kind reports will be highly appreciated! Best Regards, Hiroki Ashida Cute-1.7 + APD II -- Hiroki Ashida <hiroki(a)lss.mes.titech.ac.jp> Laboratory for Space Systems Department of Mechano-Aerospace Engineering Tokyo Institute of Technology TEL/FAX : +81-3-5734-2644 Room 554, Ishikawadai 1st Bldg, Tokyo Institute of Technology 2-12-1 O-okayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan

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Field Day and D0-64
by kc6uqh 03 Jun '08

03 Jun '08

To All, I notice that the VU linear transponder is listed on the chart as functional but the report says non opreational. Looking for current info and and any info that pertains to possible Field Day operation of this bird. Thanks, Art, KC6UQH

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If you use QRZ.COM to lookup call info - Please read this !
by Ronald Nutter 03 Jun '08

03 Jun '08

The data center that QRZ has the servers has had a fire and they are without power and have had to shut down the generators at the request of the Houston FD. Please check the following URL for up to date info - http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/01/the_planet_houston_data_center_fire/ Ron KA4KYI AMSAT Area Coordinator - Missouri

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WD9EWK from DM34, DM34/DM35, and DM25/DM25 on 31 May (long)
by Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) 02 Jun '08

02 Jun '08

Hi! Now that I've been back in Phoenix for a couple of days, I can scribble a little about my Saturday activities. From a hamfest in central Arizona in the morning to more satellite operating at two other locations in the state, it was a fun day. Saturday morning at the Prescott (AZ) Hamfest (grid DM34sn): http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=34+34.429+n+112+29.790+w&i… I had an AMSAT table at the 2nd annual Prescott Hamfest, presented by the Yavapai Amateur Radio Club and the Verde Valley Amateur Radio Association (two central Arizona radio clubs). This hamfest was in an area with a few basketball courts surrounded by buildings and a small hill. My table was at the entrance to the hamfest area, so anyone walking into the hamfest area saw it. The hamfest was officially going to run from 8am to 2pm local time (1500-2100 UTC), but people were milling around the area just before the official opening time and by 2030 UTC all of the sellers had left or were packing up. A small event, but a nice way to avoid the heat in the desert back home in Phoenix. I worked stations on the two morning AO-51 passes (1439 and 1619 UTC) using the normal 145.920/435.300 MHz transponder. The first station in the log on the 1439 UTC pass was another hamfest - Richard N2SPI at the Rochester (New York) hamfest. Thanks for the contact, to start out my day! I was able to make 11 more contacts with stations across the USA and Mexico. On the later pass at 1619 UTC, the low elevation (maximum elevation of 14 degrees) and local surroundings (school gymnasium and hills) made this one tough. I only made 2 QSOs near the middle of the pass. Along with the AO-51 passes, I did attempt the VO-52 pass at 1754- 1807 UTC - a western pass, with maximum elevation of 70 degrees. I could hear myself, but unfortunately made no QSOs. I think my AOR AR8200Mk2B receiver has sharp SSB filtering, and not enough options for tuning steps without using extremely small steps to help tune the downlink signals. My FT-817ND is more than enough to be heard by that satellite. I'm still working on this, and may try another receiver or possibly another FT-817 as a portable all-mode full-duplex satellite station. Once the hamfest's raffle prizes were awarded after 2015 UTC, I went to get lunch and drive north toward the DM34/DM35 grid boundary for several passes. Saturday afternoon on the DM34/DM35 grid boundary (specifically, grids DM34tx and DM35ta): http://www.geocities.com/va7ewk/ao51/20080419-DM34tx_DM35ta_GPS_readout.jpg http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=35+0.00+n+112+23.132+w&jsv… This spot, off a state highway, is about 15 miles/24km south of the I-40 freeway just inside the Prescott National Forest and about 35 miles/56km north of the hamfest site. I was at the same location on 19 April after another event in Prescott, so I knew what to expect in terms of working the satellites. I was able to work 2 AO-27 and 2 SO-50 passes from here, one pass for each satellite in each direction, before I drove to Kingman for the evening AO-51 passes. The first passes to the east (AO-27 at 2128-2135 UTC, SO-50 at 2136- 2148 UTC) had the typical activity from all over the USA and Mexico. I heard - and worked - Allen N5AFV on Enchanted Rock in Texas (grid EM00), along with 8 others (2 Mexican and 6 US stations) on AO-27. For the SO-50 pass, I worked N5AFV again, along with 4 other US stations and 1 Mexican station. After updating my logbook with all the contacts I had made to this point, I stuck around this location for the western passes - AO-27 at 2308-2315 UTC, SO-50 at 2315-2329 UTC. In keeping with what appeared to be the trend for the day, I only worked 3 stations on each of those passes. When SO-50 went out of range, I quickly secured my gear and made the 110-mile/177km drive to Kingman so I could find a spot on the DM25/DM35 boundary in time for the evening AO-51 passes. Saturday evening in Kingman, Arizona, near the I-40 freeway and old route 66 on the DM25/DM35 grid boundary (specifically, grids DM25xf and DM35af): http://www.geocities.com/va7ewk/ao51/20080531-DM25xf_DM35af_GPS_readout.jpg http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=35+13.437+n+114+0.00+w&ie=… This location is on the east end of Kingman, north of the I-40 freeway and at the west end of the longest remaining stretch of the old US route 66 that once went from Chicago to Los Angeles. There are lots of mountains around Kingman, and this location was in the area where they would bother me the least for satellite passes while on the DM25/DM35 boundary. I found an empty lot east of Route 66 near railroad tracks, where I parked and took a picture of my GPS receiver's display on the rear bumper of my truck before setting up my equipment. I waited for the first AO-51 pass at 0149-0204 UTC, an eastern pass with maximum elevation of 45 degrees. A very nice pass. I planned to use the second AO-51 transponder (145.880/435.150 MHz) up here, and that worked well for this pass. During that 15-minute pass, I worked 11 stations - 8 in the USA, 3 in Mexico. I was told there was more activity on the normal 145.920/435.300 MHz transponder while I stayed on the second transponder, but the activity was steady and I had no need to move over to the normal transponder. When AO-51 returned for the 0329-0342 UTC pass, a lower pass to the west (maximum elevation of 19 degrees), I talked to myself for several minutes on the second transponder. When it was becoming apparent nobody else was going to show up, I moved over to the normal transponder and made 3 contacts during the remaining time. I logged contacts with two California stations and Gerry VE4GTB in Winnipeg - the last contact, and only Canadian contact, this day. Hearing Gerry call me was a huge surprise, as I did not realize the footprint went that far east on that late pass. After the pass, I packed up my gear, stopped for a quick dinner, and made the 3.5- hour drive back home to finish this busy day. I made a total of 49 contacts from these 3 locations - 14 from the hamfest, 21 from the DM34/DM35 grid boundary, and 14 more from the DM25/DM35 grid boundary. DM25 is the 12th different Arizona grid I have operated from since March. If anyone who worked me from these locations wants to receive a QSL card, please e-mail me with the QSO details. I'll drop a card in the mail if you're in the log. Including the drive from Phoenix to Prescott on Friday evening and looking around Prescott and Kingman, I drove a total of 530.6 miles (853.7km). Thanks to Terry KB7TRE with the Yavapai Amateur Radio Club for inviting me to the hamfest, Ray W1OTH (a YARC and AMSAT member) for helping me at the table during the hamfest, and to all stations making contacts with WD9EWK during the day and evening. 73! Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/

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Call info available
by w0dxz＠aol.com 02 Jun '08

02 Jun '08

You can get the same info from www.arrl.org...... they have a call sign database Bob W0DXZ

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Re: Yubileiny downlink spectrum overlaps AO-51 downlink
by G0MRF＠aol.com 02 Jun '08

02 Jun '08

In a message dated 02/06/2008 16:25:21 GMT Standard Time, oz1my(a)privat.dk writes: Hi all, Please this is just a technical matter :-) Here this afternoon with Yubileiny AOS at 1430 UTC and AO-51 with AOS at 1441 UTC in Copenhagen, the downlink spectrum of Yubileiny was strong when listening to the AO-51 frequency. Hello Ib. Oh dear, no frequency co-ordination! A week or so ago I looked at the transmission from Yubileiny and it was almost constant amplitude over a 4800Hz bandwidth slowly reducing beyond that. If you allow for the practical width of our IF filters and the fact doppler can shift the frequencies by +/- 10kHz, at 435MHz, then Yubileiny and AO-51 will encounter each other from time to time. Thankfully the orbits are very different so it's a minor (but avoidable) inconvenience. Thanks David

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IARU Region 1 Cavtat VHF/UHF/uW papers
by Trevor 02 Jun '08

02 Jun '08

There are a number of papers of interest to the satellite community that will be discussed aat the IARU Region 1 (Europe/Africa) conference at Cavtat in November, see IARU-R1 Cavtat papers available http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may2008/cavtat_papers.htm 73 Trevor M5AKA __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

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RHCP or LHCP for FM birds
by ww3s＠zoominternet.net 02 Jun '08

02 Jun '08

Thanks to Dom, I now have the phasing harness instructions for the cushcraft, now, shoudl I set ot for RH or LH polarization? What birds will be the best choice for field day?

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Yubileiny downlink spectrum overlaps AO-51 downlink
by OZ1MY 02 Jun '08

02 Jun '08

Hi all, Please this is just a technical matter :-) Here this afternoon with Yubileiny AOS at 1430 UTC and AO-51 with AOS at 1441 UTC in Copenhagen, the downlink spectrum of Yubileiny was strong when listening to the AO-51 frequency. Yubileiny is on 435.315 MHz and AO-51 on 435.300 MHz. During some of the pass they were at the same Az. angle. Since their orbit is much different it will change over the year. The spectrum from Yubileiny is very broad when transmitting the APT like modulation. Also the signal is very strong. It helped to use FM Narrow on the IC-910. I still hope they have included a transponder in Yubileiny. 73 OZ1MY Ib

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phasing harness for A144-20
by WW3S 02 Jun '08

02 Jun '08

Anyone know how to assemble the three pieces of the Cushcraft A144-20 beam? Wanting to try a satellite station for field day.

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Re: JUBILEE and other frustrations,
by i8cvs 02 Jun '08

02 Jun '08

----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Bruninga" <bruninga(a)usna.edu> To: <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org> Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 4:00 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: JUBILEE and other frustrations > > There seems to be a proliferation of satellites > > using the Amateur bands as cheap down links, > > and using Radio Amateurs as a cheap way of > > collecting their data. It is MY personal belief > > that a satellite should only use our hard-earned > > and much coveted frequencies if they REALLY do > > carry an Amateur Radio payload... I.E. > > a Transponder! > > While I too like to see transponders, I do not like to see all > the negativizim, hate and rabble-rousing against those who > actually get something into space. The self-richeous nay-saying > comments are about as practical as these: > > "Those HF contesters should not be using the Amateur Bands, they > should be passing useful communications or traffic!" > > "Those Traffic passers are not real amateur operators, because > they will not respond with QSL's!" > > "Those old fud rag chewers on HF think they own the frequency. > They should let others use the frequency for more useful > communications" > > "Those FM commuters are just wasting air time, saying the same > old thing every day. Why don't they just use a cell phone!" > > "Those AM guys are just wasting 6 KHz of spectrum, they should > be made illegal on the amateur bands" > > "Who wants to look at all those SSTV pictures, Its just the > same old post-card! They should not be using 3 KHz of bandwidth > for such stupid applications"... > > "Those Winlink guys are killing amateur radio by turning the > bands into an automatic communications system." > > "Those Echolink and IRLP links are bad for ham radio. Why don't > they just use HF or a phone if they want to talk to someone far > away." > > "Those Radio control Airplanes operating on the Amateur band > should never be there, they are not communications". > > "Those experimental Balloons just transmit pictures and > telemetry, without a transponder, they have no purpose in > Amateur Radio" > > And on and on... > > Face, it.. Ham radio is as rich in applications as there are > innovative and resourceful people. If you want something done, > then go do it. If you don't like what others are doing with > their hobby, then get out of the way. > > Public negativizim and constant complaining never accomplishes > anything except darken our collective hobby. Save that for the > politicians who are supposed to respond to their constituents. > For a hobby that is just the collective "us" with each licensed > individual having the same equal opportunities as everyone else, > complaining about what others do is just pointless. > > Bob, WB4APR > Hi Bob, WB4APR You cannot get out of the way those Amateur Radio users actually requesting OSCAR's Satellites with on board transponders because the Amateur Satellite Service started when in 1972 OSCAR-6 was launched and thousand's of the above maltreated and by you offended HF users decided to abandone the Amateur Service to enter into a more bright and promising Amateur Satellite Service. The above thousand's HF users invested worldwide a lot of money and a lot of efforts to convert their HF stations into VHF/UHF/SHF Satellite Stations with the purpose to get a more communication efficiency against the problems due of propagation using short waves. Without the above prerequisite the Amateur Satellite Service never would had spring up. Read please this "Brief History" written into page-1 of the AMSAT-UK OSCAR-13 Operations and Technical Handbook 1989 "Amateur radio satellites have gone through three phases; phase 1: experimentation to find the possible; phase 2: long life, low orbit satellites to gain experience; and phase 3: high altitude orbits with complex transponding and control systems. Phase 1 started when OSCAR-1 was launched on 12 December 1961 and phase 2 was led by OSCAR-6 in October 1972. Amsat's first attemp for phase 3 (the satellite known only as phase 3A ) failed when the experimental Ariane rocked plunged into the South Atlantic in May 1980 . Amsat second attemp for phase 3 partially succeeded in June 1993 when OSCAR-10 was released into space . The world's radio amateurs after more than 10 years of low orbit satellites and associated short visibility periods, at last tasted Amsat's policy of equivalence to a permantly open 14 MHz band with practically world wide communications. OSCAR stands for Orbital Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio and a satellite is a package equipped with solar cells, batteries, receivers, and transmitters, aerials and control electronics. The batteries are charged by the solar cells whenever the satellite is in sunlight. Signal received in part of one amateur band are retransmitted in part of another amateur band. Unlike terrestrial, single frequency, analog repeaters ,the satellite relay system (called a transponder ) will translate linearly any type of narrow-band signal such as CW, SSB, RTTY, NBFM, or AM although only the first four are recommended, being power-efficient and RF low duty cycle -------------------- Bob, This is why the above thousands Satellite Experimenter's and User's mostly coming from the HF are actually waiting for P3-E and her transponders. Read again please: ".................when OSCAR-10 was released into space . The world's radio amateurs after more than 10 years of low orbit satellites and associated short visibility periods, at last tasted Amsat's policy of equivalence to a permanently open 14 MHz band with practically world wide communications." I hope that the original unchanged AMSAT's policy will be now clear for you. 73" de i8CVS Domenico Past President AMSAT-Italia

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Re: JUBILEE and other frustrations,
by Edward Cole 02 Jun '08

02 Jun '08

Without getting into the issue too much. I would remind the project managers that their constituency (and contributors or potenitial contributors) rely on periodic progress reports on developing satellite projects. This complaint is not new to amsat-bb (we heard it for AO-40), so it should not be news to project managers. We all realize that the builders and creators are working hard and puting in many volunteer hours, but for the greater satellite community to keep interested and supporting they need to hear what is happening (fairly frequently). That does take some time and effort away from direct project work but is very neccessary for a volunteer run organization. When looking for news on P3E I can find little on-line that is recent (most dates two years old), or is only in german language (which I do not read/speak). Even if things are at a full standstill the supporting membership is owed an occassional update. That may generate a few "grousing remarks" from a few but that goes with the task. Amsat Journal does attempt this to a degree, but I think the summary remarks should be given either on Amsat-bb or ANS which is available to all. Regular news tells the general satellite community that the leadership cares about their support. It would be good if P3E were to share on Amsat-bb or at least post more regular reports to Amsat-DL website. As an Amsat-NA field op I get questions that I am not able to answer...that should not happen very often. Certainly the basic stuff like how are the new satellite projects coming and when can we expect them to be launched. Since AO-10/13 there has been a long wait for the next full HEO sat. AO-40 did not last long enough and it has been a few years since then! A lot of folks are trying to be patient and need some words to help them keep the faith. ***************************************************** 73, Ed - KL7UW BP40iq, 6m - 3cm 144-EME: FT-847, mgf-1801, 4x-xp20, 185w http://www.kl7uw.com AK VHF-Up Group NA Rep. for DUBUS: dubususa(a)hotmail.com *****************************************************

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Cubesat report over VK
by David 01 Jun '08

01 Jun '08

Hello All, On the pass just finished (2008/06/01: 2315 UTC) CUTE1.7 - CW telemetry heard and sent, COMPASS - not heard while monitoring CUTE1.7 SEEDS - digitalker / SSTV mode DO-64 silent on both downlink frequencies as usual. 73 de David VK5DG

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Satellite Prediction Listing (SPL) Web Service Online
by Phelps Williams 01 Jun '08

01 Jun '08

Satellite Prediction Listing (SPL) is up and running. Utilizing a REST interface HTTP GETs are used to specify the propagation parameters. This web service is meant to be used by web or desktop apps removing the necessity to integrate an orbital propagation model into the application. Currently the SGP model is being used. The entire Celestrak library is available as well as the classified TLEs published by Mike McCants. An autoupdate satellite library manager automatically refreshes the local cache of celestrak and classified tles. The entire library is flushed every 24 hours allowing for new additions to Celestrak to be added. Celestrak seems to be the best alternative to directly grabbing Space-Track.org elements which would violate the usage agreement if I understand correctly. All available spacecraft listed here: http://www.williamslabs.com/sat/validSats.py Output formats include XML, HTML, and the Keyhole Markup Language (KML) allowing integration into Google Maps and Google Earth very easily. Documentation and instructions on how to use the service are available here: http://www.williamslabs.com/sat Sample Google Maps / Earth integration examples here: http://www.williamslabs.com/sat/docs/kmlexamples.php SPL uses the Open Source KepCalc Python library available here: http://sourceforge.net/projects/kepcalc KepCalc provides a simple propagation library with nearly identical implementations in C#, C++, Python, and Java. Here are some examples of SPL: All default parameters: http://www.williamslabs.com/sat/spl.py 100 samples of satellite Libertad-1 on May 1st between 00:00:00 and 12:00:00 UTC: http://www.williamslabs.com/sat/spl.py?Satellite=31128&TimeStart=2008-05-01… A pass of default sat Genesat-1 over an update New York observer, one sample every 30 seconds: http://www.williamslabs.com/sat/spl.py?ObserverAltitude=300.0&ObserverLatit… Current position of the ISS in XML format: http://www.williamslabs.com/sat/spl.py?Output=xml&Satellite=25544 Position of AO-51 (28375) over the past hour with a sample every 60 seconds in KML format (try saving file as test.kml and load with Google Earth): http://www.williamslabs.com/sat/spl.py?Satellite=28375&Output=kml&TimeSpan=… Feedback and questions are very welcome. -Phelps Williams KI6GST

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Re: JUBILEE and other frustrations,
by Wayne Estes 01 Jun '08

01 Jun '08

Joe K7ZT wrote: Is it too much to ask for just a little bit of accountability for projects that exist as a result of public donations? If any organization can't do that then they shouldn't solicit donations. It is really a very simple concept. One shouldn't get their head snapped off just for asking the question about the status of a given satellite project! Wayne W9AE replies: AMSAT is a volunteer organization. Are you volunteering to fix this accountability problem? Wayne Estes W9AE Oakland, Oregon, USA, CN83ik AMSAT Area Coordinator

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Re: Official document about Yubileiny
by Peter Guelzow 01 Jun '08

01 Jun '08

Hi Andy, just back from our AMSAT-DL satellite symposium and AGM... andy thomas wrote: > I have the following from Moscow (have slightly altered the Babel Fish!!): > ...... > Papkov, A.P. " > Thanks a lot for this hint !!! RS-14 , OSCAR-21 with AMSAT-DL's RUDAK-2 was build in Kaluga by a team under the direction of Aleksander Papkov, RA3XBU. I met him personally in Kaluga, together with Leonid Labutin, ex-UA3CR... I have already asked my friends from AMSAT-R, but have no answer yet. But at that time I did not knew that RA3XBU is again involved and this should help now indeed... best 73s Peter DB2OS

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Possible telemetry system DOKA-B for Yubilieiny
by andy thomas 01 Jun '08

01 Jun '08

I'm pretty certain I have found some diagrams about the telemetry control of the YUBILEINY satellite: http://microsat.sm.bmstu.ru/pic/schemebig.gif shows the command station at Kaluga and http://microsat.sm.bmstu.ru/pic/Doka-b.gif shows the "DOKA-B" telemetry command system. The documents are on a website deveoted to the Baumanets microsatellite but as the mission is very similar (similar scientific- educational project) I think it's likely that this is the control system used. Note the modem interface within the radio section of DOKA-B and interfacing directly into the main board. I looked at the screenshot from "Cool edit" and it struckme thatthere was a tone (synch?) at 24 kHz throughout, with 5 frames per second at what looked to me as 8 frequency separated tones per frame. Does that give 5*8 = 40 bits per second? and does the 8 bits imply a direct serial transfer (8N1, etc) ? So I'm thinking now that it isn't WEFAX/APT and could be a direct serial portinto the onboard PC. 73 de andy G0SFJ __________________________________________________________ Sent from Yahoo! Mail. A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html

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Re: New satellies / Shuttle question
by G0MRF＠aol.com 01 Jun '08

01 Jun '08

Hello Bruce, Thanks for the positive response. Batting ideas around sometimes produces a concept that is a winner, so the more ideas voiced the better. Interleaving a response into your mail will be difficult so I'll do this list style. 1) Cubesats and amateur radio. Yes, Delfi C3 is the best but sadly one of the very few to carry a usable communications package. It's been a pleasure meeting the Delft students at the annual AMSAT-UK colloquium at Surrey University for the last few years. They started by asking us hundreds of questions, but by last summer it was the AMSAT members who were sitting back during the D -C3 presentation asking questions about their satellite and the innovative Op-amp (not MMIC) based transponder design. I'm certainly looking forward to hearing it in a couple of months time. 2) Batteries or not? An interesting topic. Certainly DO-64 and AO-7 have made the point that batteries are not essential and have in the past caused the demise of many AMSAT spacecraft. I have suggested placing the equivalent of a solid state relay in series with the battery a few times before. Basic idea is that when the battery fails, usually short circuit, it can be isolated allowing the spacecraft to be run in sunlight directly from the panels. Taking the topic forward a little.....How about Ultra capacitors as an alternative storage medium? I haven't checked the following, but if it's incorrect I know I can expect a reply from someone on the BB. Ultracapacitors are available at e.g. 470 Farads at 2.5V If we take 3 in series we have an energy store with useful voltage. But what can it power? 470F x 3 in series = 156F with a max voltage of 7.5V So total energy stored in Joules is E = 0.5 x CV ^2 or E = 0.5 x 156x (7.5 ^2) or 4387 Joules Now, and this where my memory gets a bit blurred.... Isn't the Joule a "Watt second" ? So, does this mean this small array of capacitors could supply 1 Watt to a load for about 1 Hour or 3600 seconds? - I included a bit of loss there for a buck-boost converter and not taking the voltage down to zero. The downside could be what happens when a highly ionised particle impacts at high velocity with a charged Ultracapacitor. But that could be tested. 3) 29MHz antennas. Yes that would be a challenge. On receive it's not a problem as the natural noise level is very high but path loss is very low indeed. A loaded whip or even a loop or ferrite antenna could work. On transmit the higher the efficiency the better, but again low pass loss works in our favour. Regards David In a message dated 01/06/2008 02:04:27 GMT Standard Time, ve9qrp(a)gmail.com writes: On Sat, May 31, 2008 at 5:40 AM, <G0MRF(a)aol.com> wrote: > > Hi Edward / group. > > Most current construction or feasility study is centered on P3E / Eagle / > Intelsat /HEO where launch opportunities are rare and costs are high. > > Perhaps we should look at this problem from another viewpoint. Start with > what launch opportunities AMSAT can afford and then retake the technology > initative and investigate what minaturised payloads can we launch for that price? > > For example. Imagine a 2 or 3U cubesat type structure, or even one half the > size of AO-51 on last weeks Russian launch to 1500km. With payloads reduced > to transponders and a basic onboard computer and an Electrical Power System, > it would be feasable to put RF comms equipment into a decent orbit on 29MHz > 145MHz 435MHz with an RX on 1269. > For bands higher than 13cm doppler is a problem and path loss is quite high. > It may not be possible to provide the necessary DC power for transmitters > in a small structure. David: I asked the same question at the end of a thread decrying the lack of HEO satellites, hoping to start a conversation on the topic. Let's have one here. The best of this group is when we bat around ideas such as this. First, very soon we will have a great basis for future discussion in Delfi C3. Already, though, it shows that a 3x cube can hold transponder and deploy enough solar for a good transponder U/V (judging by its fantastic downlink now). Could we replace the science on board D C3 with a battery of chargeable cells and still stay within the cubesat weight requirements? Or, even more radically, can we do without batteries, given how we can live with AO-7 and D C3? My guess is that deploying a 29MHz antenna could be hard with that limited space. But it would represent a fascinating challenge. Perhaps the hardest part would be finding a ride to high LEO without propulsion. My sense is that Cubesats work economically because there are lots of them. Won't university groups interested in remote sensing see this as something worse than what they have with low LEO, for a greater cost? Maybe we could get a bunch of projects interested in high LEO together for one launch. Or, perhaps we could help one of the national groups that still have access to their countries' launch facilities, such as Japan or India or China. These might include a p-pod or two in a high LEO launch as a charitable act: much cheaper than a micro-sat. > Talking of DC power, the number of cubesats that fail due to power problems > is huge. The answer is to get inventive with deployable solar arrays. With > the engineering excellence AMSAT possesses it should not be impossible to > arrange a structure where the entire outer layer contains extra solar cells that > are deployed after seperation from the launcher. Imagine a 3U cube which in > orbit becomes a 3U box of electronics covered in cells, with an extended outer > 3U shell that deploys forming a 6U structure producing nearly double the DC > power. The 6U structure also makes antenna design easier A neat idea. What about film solar panels that would be unfurled once in orbit? I think these probably have such a lower efficiency that they wouldn't be worth the extra area they might cover. In any case, Delfi C3 gives a pretty great worst-case scenario. > For a slightly more risky idea.....small satellite propulsion. Again, > perhaps 3U cube, with the last section comprising a small motor. A single burn > unit could provide a really nice elliptical LEO orbit, perhaps 680km to 2000km. > Wouldn't that be interesting. I notice that there is an Austrian university > team who have developed a cubesat sized ion propulsion system asking if > anyone would like to try it. So, while this may initially seem a 'wild idea' it > is based on technology that is very nearly a reality. Regarding the ion propulsion, what if we were willing to wait a year or two before use, so that all solar energy went into boosting the orbit for that time? And then there's the transponder. How efficient could a SDX be? William, PE1RAH, is working on cubesat format UV transponders, I think. > Worth investigating? I really think we should look into S-band downlink, too. The stats on s-band in HEO might be scary, but I think in LEO it would still be high enough signal to be great fun. And we'd be colonizing an important band. > David G0MRF

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K3SZH
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 01 Jun '08

01 Jun '08

Nice picture of Joe- K3SZH in the latest Journal. Great accomplishment Joe. Keep trying my friend! 73 Bob W7LRD -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

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STS-124 = 32960 ???
by jean-claude.aveni 01 Jun '08

01 Jun '08

Spacetrack TLE : 1 June 08:30 UTC STS-124 (DISCOVERY) ?? 1 32960U 08027 08153.27675889 -.00053252 00000-0 -22731-3 0 39 2 32960 051.6444 098.4754 0008800 053.2742 097.0211 15.84240828 60 88/73 tk5gh -- *Jean-Claude Aveni* Tel portable : *06 80 92 38 79* Courriel prime : jean-claude.aveni(a)wanadoo.fr '' alternate : aveni(a)lma.cnrs-mrs.fr Site web à l'URL : http://astro-notes.org Call radio amateur : TK5GH

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New satellies / Shuttle question
by G0MRF＠aol.com 31 May '08

31 May '08

Hi Edward / group. Most current construction or feasility study is centered on P3E / Eagle / Intelsat /HEO where launch opportunities are rare and costs are high. Perhaps we should look at this problem from another viewpoint. Start with what launch opportunities AMSAT can afford and then retake the technology initative and investigate what minaturised payloads can we launch for that price? For example. Imagine a 2 or 3U cubesat type structure, or even one half the size of AO-51 on last weeks Russian launch to 1500km. With payloads reduced to transponders and a basic onboard computer and an Electrical Power System, it would be feasable to put RF comms equipment into a decent orbit on 29MHz 145MHz 435MHz with an RX on 1269. For bands higher than 13cm doppler is a problem and path loss is quite high. It may not be possible to provide the necessary DC power for transmitters in a small structure. Talking of DC power, the number of cubesats that fail due to power problems is huge. The answer is to get inventive with deployable solar arrays. With the engineering excellence AMSAT possesses it should not be impossible to arrange a structure where the entire outer layer contains extra solar cells that are deployed after seperation from the launcher. Imagine a 3U cube which in orbit becomes a 3U box of electronics covered in cells, with an extended outer 3U shell that deploys forming a 6U structure producing nearly double the DC power. The 6U structure also makes antenna design easier For a slightly more risky idea.....small satellite propulsion. Again, perhaps 3U cube, with the last section comprising a small motor. A single burn unit could provide a really nice elliptical LEO orbit, perhaps 680km to 2000km. Wouldn't that be interesting. I notice that there is an Austrian university team who have developed a cubesat sized ion propulsion system asking if anyone would like to try it. So, while this may initially seem a 'wild idea' it is based on technology that is very nearly a reality. Worth investigating? David G0MRF In a message dated 30/05/2008 23:22:37 GMT Standard Time, vk3jed(a)gmail.com writes: At 12:15 AM 5/31/2008, Edward Cole wrote: >Once you total the costs it may actually be cheaper to build a new >satellite and launch it! >Back the effort for P3E and Eagle/P4. That too, yes, a new bird would be the easiest approach indeed. Still, as I said, it was interesting contemplating how such a recovery might be achieved with today's technology. :) 73 de VK3JED

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ANS-152 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
by JoAnne Maenpaa 31 May '08

31 May '08

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-152 ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor(a)amsat.org In this edition: * AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nomination Announcement * SatPC32 Version 12.8 Released * FCAL Mission Patch Winners * Satellite Shorts From All Over * Two Opportunities to Fly Your Name and Callsign in Space * ARISS Status Report for the Week of May 26, 2008 SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.01 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nomination Announcement AMSAT News Service Bulletin 152.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 1, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-152.01 Nominations are open for the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors (BOD). The nominations must be in writing and received at the AMSAT office by end of business June 15, 2008. AMSAT-NA member societies or five current individual members may make nominations of fellow members to serve a 2-year term. Three of the seven seats must be filled this year. The board members whose terms are expiring are: Tom Clark, K3IO Lou McFadin, W5DID Bob McGwier, N4HY Prospective AMSAT-NA BOD members generally attend two meetings each year, usually during the first and third quarters of the year. Attendance at the meetings is mandatory. Travel expenses for BOD meetings are paid for by AMSAT-NA. Nominations must be in writing and mailed to: AMSAT-NA Board of Director Nomination 850 Sligo Ave #600 Silver Spring, MD 20910 The nominations with descriptive information about each candidate will be mailed out July 15, 2008. Ballots must be received in Silver Spring,MD by September 15, 2008. Only active members as of July 24, 2008 are eligible to vote. [ANS thanks AMSAT HQ for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.02 SatPC32 Version 12.8 Released AMSAT News Service Bulletin 152.02 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 1, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-152.02 Erich Eichmann DK1TB has released SatPC32, version 12.8, a satellite tracking program which now contains improvements for Windows Vista compatibility, CAT control of multiple radios, and CAT control of Icom half-duplex radios. Erich Eichmann DK1TB has donated SatPC32 to AMSAT, so all proceeds support amateur satellite programs. Please support amateur satel- lites by registering your copy of SatPC32. A demo version may be downloaded from the author's web site: http://www.dk1tb.de/indexeng.htm. Some users of the new SatPC32 v12.8 have experienced a few minor problems with this release and Erich is investigating these reports. Registered SatPC32 users may use their existing registration code to activate the downloaded new version. New users are encouraged to purchase a registration code from AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL, or AMSAT-UK. The online store is down at the moment but you may purchase a regis- tration code by calling Martha at the AMSAT office at 888-322-6728. Version 12.8 will not be available on CD until the existing stock of 12.7 CDs is depleted. Here are the changes listed in the 12.8 "What's New" file: + The setup program has been updated to the the latest 32-bit Vista compatible version of Installshield Express. + The CAT steering functions of SatPC32 have been expanded to now include the ICOM IC-706MKIIG, IC-7000 and compatible radios. + Full duplex satellite operation with 2 separate radios for uplink and downlink has been improved. Numerous devices can be combined, e.g. the Yaesu semi-duplex transceivers with each other or with Icom semi-duplex radios or single band radios or Icom radios with each other. + The Vista compatibility has been improved. + SatPC32 now includes a simple text editor that can alternatively be used besides Notepad to edit auxiliary files (data files, i.e. Doppler.SQF). + Further improvements include operation of narrow FM mode of the IC-910H. The program now shows the file date of the selected Keplerian data file. CAT steering of the FT-736R has been fixed. [ANS thanks Erich Eichmann, DK1TB for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.03 FCAL Mission Patch Winners AMSAT News Service Bulletin 152.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 1, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-152.03 Ivan Galysh, KD4HBO wrote on behalf of the FCAL satellite mission, "Now that FCAL is down, I went through all the emails sent with FCAL data. I received data from Mike Ruppercht DK3WN, Armando Mercado N8IGJ, Bent Bagger representting AMSAT-OZ, and Edward Chuang BX1AD." Ivan continued, "All will receive an FCAL mission patch plus a mission coffee mug. One surprise about the mission patch. These are STP mission patches that have flown on the space shuttle when FCAL and ANDE were released. I will include the letter of authentication that indicates these patches flew in space. Thanks for all your help. Hope to do it again soon." [ANS thanks Ivan, KD4HBO for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.04 Satellite Shorts From All Over AMSAT News Service Bulletin 152.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 1, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-152.04 + Congratulations are in order for 10 year old Piyumi, VE4WPL in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada for making her first satellite contact on AO-51. She used an Icom IC-W32A handheld at 5 watts with an Arrow antenna to make the contact. + Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK represented AMSAT at the Yavapai Amateur Radio Club (YARC) and Verde Valley Amateur Radio Club (VVARA) joint hamfest on Saturday, 31 May 2008. He set up an AMSAT table at the hamfest and provided on-air demonstrations using the AO-51 satellite. + Allen, N5AFV was also active in promoting amateur radio satellite activity on the weekend of May 31 - June 1. On May 31 Allen op- erated via satellite from the second highest point in Texas at the top of Enchanted Rock. June 1 gave Allen the opportunity to operate using the Ten Ten International club call sign, W6OI from 20th Annual Ten Ten Hill Country Picnic. QSL information for both operations is to N5AFV with an SASE. + Richard, N2SPI managed the AMSAT Booth at the 2008 Rochester (NY) Hamfest this weekend. He was also on the air with live satellite demos. If you have an opportunity to promote AMSAT at a hamfest near you contact Martha at AMSAT HQ for materials. + Martian weather data from the Canadian Space Agency's weather station aboard the Mars Phoenix lander can be viewed on your computer using tool available from http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/. Mac OSX 10.4.3 (or higher), or Vista is required. (Via UniverseToday.com). + Word has been received from VU2POP that AMSAT-India has completed construction of the Hamsat-2 transponder built by one of their student members. They are now working on flight plans for an orbit similar to to VO-52 and hopefully higher if possible. [ANS thanks everyone for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.05 Two Opportunities to Fly Your Name and Callsign in Space AMSAT News Service Bulletin 152.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 1, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-152.05 Although not totally amateur satellite related many AMSAT folks still enjoy all aspects of space exploration so here are a couple of fun things for you to enjoy, and perhaps involve young folks also. Send your name to the moon ... NASA invites everyone to take advantage of the opportunity to send your name to the Moon on board the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The LRO mission site has a form to send your name, embedded into a compu- ter chip, into orbit around the moon. The link to sign up is: http://lro.jhuapl.edu/NameToMoon/index.php. More information about the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission can be found at: http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/moonfacts.html. Send your name into solar orbit ... Kepler is NASA's first mission capable of detecting Earth-size and smaller planets in the habitable zone of solar-like stars. Planned to be launched from Kennedy Space Center in February 2009, the space- craft will be launched into orbit around the Sun. When you submit your name, you may also chose to provide a message of 500 words or less of why you think the mission is important. Your will be stored on a DVD and rocketed into space on board the Kepler spacecraft. The link to sign up is at: http://namesinspace.seti.org/ The deadline to submit your name for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission is June 27, 2008; the deadline to submit your name for the Keppler Mission is November 1, 2008. [ANS thanks NASA, SETI, and UniverseToday for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.06 ARISS Status Report for the Week of May 26, 2008 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 152.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. June 1, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-152.06 1. Delta Researchers School Contact Successful On Friday, May 23, Delta Researchers Schools 2008 Space Expo in Noordwijk, the Netherlands, experienced an ARISS contact via tele- bridge station WH6PN in Hawaii. Garrett Reisman, KE5HAE, answered 15 questions posed to him by children from twelve Dutch primary schools. The audio for this event was fed into the EchoLink AMSAT (101 377) and JK1ZRW (277 208) servers. Photos and audio will be posted on the ARISS-Europe Web site when available. 2. ARISS Delegate Receives CQ's Radio Hall of Fame Award ARISS delegate and mentor Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, was inducted into CQ magazine's Amateur Radio Hall of Fame for making a sig- nificant contribution to amateur radio and our planet. This award is given to persons who not only excel in personal performance in amateur radio, but also give back to amateur radio in a significant manner. On May 16, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran a web story covering this news. See: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/05/16/10100/?nc=1 3. ARRL QST Articles on ARISS Activities The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) June QST published an item under "Media Hits" (page 12) about Yi So-yeon launching to space to perform ARISS ham activities. Also posted in the June QST is a Field Day multi-page insert. Under ideas for fun things to do on Field Day is a suggestion for hams to listen for general contacts being made from the International Space Station. 4. ARISS International Team Meeting Held The ARISS monthly meeting was held on Tuesday, May 20. Topics of discussion included the ARISS Face to Face Meeting to be held in Moscow in July and the status of SuitSat-2. Minutes have been posted. See: http://www.rac.ca/ariss/arisstel2008-05-20.htm [ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information] /EX In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office. 73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

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QuakeSat KISS status
by Mineo Wakita 31 May '08

31 May '08

I decoded today, 21:39:00UTC 31May2008, QuakeSat KISS signal after a long time using online_kiss.exe and kissdump.exe programs. 436.675MHz(+4kHz) FSK, 9600 bps, KISS http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/quakesat.htm#7 #2: QuakeSat Fri Jan 1 00:55:28 1988 Jiffies: 329794 [ 0d 00h 54m 58s ] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Battery 12 Volts Ch #0 : 4.149 V Battery 34 Volts Ch #1 : 4.153 V Solar Bus Volts Ch #2 : 2.940 V Negative 5V Ch #3 : -5.022 V Positive 5V Ch #4 : 4.922 V IR Horizon Sensor Ch #5 : 2.929 Test Command Out Ch #6 : 3.272 Battery 12 Current Ch #7 : -0.008 A Battery 12 Sign Ch #8 : -0.032 A Battery 34 Current Ch #9 : -0.007 A Battery 34 Current Ch #10 : 0.020 A Solar Panel 1 Current Ch #11 : 0.000 A Solar Panel 2 Current Ch #12 : 0.001 A Solar Panel 3 Current Ch #13 : 0.002 A Solar Panel 4 Current Ch #14 : 0.000 A Solar Panel 5 Current Ch #15 : 0.000 A Solar Panel 6 Current Ch #16 : 0.000 A Solar Panel 7 Current Ch #17 : 0.001 A Solar Panel 8 Current Ch #18 : 0.025 A Solar Panel 9 Current Ch #19 : 0.000 A Solar Panel 10 Current Ch #20 : -0.001 A Solar Panel 11 Current Ch #21 : 0.000 A Solar Panel 12 Current Ch #22 : 0.000 A Transmitter Current Ch #23 : 0.000 A Pos 5V Current Ch #24 : 0.001 A Transmitter Temp Ch #25 : 38.885 C CPU Temp Ch #26 : 53.534 C Battery 12V Temp Ch #27 : 31.747 C Battery 34V Temp Ch #28 : 32.459 C Pos 5V Temp Ch #29 : 52.076 C Neg 5V Temp Ch #30 : 41.581 C Inner Structure Temp Ch #31 : 34.155 C PL Receiver Temp Ch #32 : 32.290 C Boom Temp Ch #33 : 23.846 C --------------------------------------------- Name: Mineo Wakita / JE9PEL, JAMSAT member Mail: ei7m-wkt(a)asahi-net.or.jp URL : http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ QTH : Yokohama Japan, GL:pm95tj Date: Jun 1, 2008 ---------------------------------------------

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My first satellite contact
by Piyumi Perera 31 May '08

31 May '08

Hi to the BB, My name is Piyumi Perera and I am a 10 year old YL living in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Today I was so excited because I made my first satellite contact on AO-51 at 00:52 UTC. It was an even more special contact for me as the station was from Alaska, KL7XJ. I used an Icom IC-W32A handheld at 5 watts with an Arrow antenna. I thank KL7XJ for making my first satellite contact possible. It was a lot of fun, and hope to make more satellite contacts in the future. 73, Piyumi Perera VE4WPL - EN19

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NASA TV STS 124 coverage here
by John Price 31 May '08

31 May '08

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/ -- N4QWF Amateur Radio Operator AO-7,AO-16,AO-27,SO-50,AO-51,VO-52 Internet N4QWF(a)AMSAT.ORG Echolink node #110903 Formerly KC4AHW VK3FEZ Amsat Member #27845 DXCC #33,478 VUCC SAT #135 WAS SAT #296 51 on 51 #13 LON -79.256 LAT 37.459 Grid FM07il >From the Foothills of the Blueridge *Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming - "WOW, What a ride!"

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Re: My first satellite contact
by Clint Bradford 31 May '08

31 May '08

>My name is Piyumi Perera...I made my first satellite contact on AO-51... CONGRATULATIONS, Piyumi! Now work it some more...and you can work SO-50...WELCOME to this aspect of our hobby! Clint Bradford, K6LCS -------------------------------------- Clint Bradford, K6LCS / KAF3359 909-241-7666 - cell

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Re: Test Gear for 1.2/2.4Ghz Equipment
by Mark L. Hammond 31 May '08

31 May '08

Hey John! For monitoring 1.2GHz transmissions (power out, SWR) I can highly recommend the Diamond SX-1000. It's a nice meter for the price. Look it up online; one of the many nice features is 2 radio inputs and the ability to switch between them. For a 2.4G signal source--search for the board designed by G0MRF. It's a nice signal generator to make sure the 2.4GHz receiving system is working. I bought one of these a while ago and have appreciated having it handy many times. Hope that info helps! Glad to see you moving towards L and S band ops :) 73, Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]

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RS-30
by dobarrows＠aol.com 31 May '08

31 May '08

I am looking for RS-30 keps. I couldn't find RS-30, but I could find keps for 32957U on Celestrak new launches with another name. Is this the correct set? -- de W8IJ

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Re: RS-30
by Mineo Wakita 31 May '08

31 May '08

In Space-Track: 32953 YUBILEINY 2008-025A CIS 2008-05-23

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Test Gear for 1.2/2.4Ghz Equipment
by John Henderson N4NAB 31 May '08

31 May '08

Need some advice on test gear, signal source, swr measurement for L and S band. Just got 1.2 board for 910H and have unit on order for 2.4 from SSB. Home brewing antennas and need some way to check/adjust. My MFJ is only good for up thru 70cm. John John Henderson N4NAB 212 Bayside Drive Cape Carteret, NC 28584

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SATPC32 version 12.8 SuM glitch?
by Alan P. Biddle 31 May '08

31 May '08

Hi, I have been working through the new 12.8 version, and so far everything is working perfectly, with one possible exception. When I start the SuM program, I get an error message, "datei nicht gefunden" (Data not found). When I clear the error message, SuM runs, but the data is clearly not for my QTH. The SuMListen program works fine, and the data is consistent with another program known to be correct. Could someone with version 12.8 installed try the SuM program and see what you get? I am not a moon bounce person, so my interest is purely academic. Alan WA4SCA

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Re grizzles
by don 30 May '08

30 May '08

I'm surprised that the trolling occurring on the BBS has aroused such strange reactions. Surely there is a place for all space endeavors to be discussed, rationally, on this BBS (nearly said BS there!). Personally speaking I have had great help from many on this list, including some whose (political/technical) views differ from mine. I well remember the replies that I got from A way off topic subject a few months ago that really, really helped me out.I guess that a lot of the help etc that is provided from a request on the BBS is not seen by the majority simply because the replies are direct to the the original poster, maybe we (I) should dual post, and annoy a lot of the casual "skimmers" on the BBS? As to having "moderators" controlling the NA AMSAT BBS I'd have to say no. Why, well I feel that a lot of (most) folk that post are trying to find an answer to a question or simply throw something into the ring and check back for an Answer or may be open their mailbox to see if a reader has replied directly. I'm sure others on the BBS can relate to my experiences, and can see the value in leaving the (basically self moderating) bbs as it is. 73, Don ZL1THO

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Shuttle question
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 30 May '08

30 May '08

Hello I'm sure this question has been bounced around the BB in past. I simply don't recall (senior moment) the results. With all the TONS of stuff they regularly pack up there, it seems logical (another senior moment), that an extra few pounds wouldn't even be noticed, maybe even more than a few pounds. Then we can figure a way to get it even higher than the ISS. Just thinking of a way to get more of a foot in the shuttle door. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

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primestar/feed 4 sale
by w7lrd＠comcast.net 30 May '08

30 May '08

Hello I'm trying to make some room in the garage (xyl edict). I have a 36X30 inch primestar dish with 5 1/2 turn helix feed, that is currently surplus to my needs. All it needs is a downconverter. This design was proven on AO-40 (sobsob). For pictures, details, price, shipping etc, contact off list. 73 Bob W7LRD Seattle -- "if this were easy, everyone would be doing it"

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Re: SatPC32 V12.8
by George Henry 30 May '08

30 May '08

For the Icom radios, an additional handshaking line must be connected to prevent the program from trying to write to the radio while it is transmitting. CAT control will not work unless this signal is wired up. See the file SatpcISS.txt in the SatPC32 folder for details. 73, George, KA3HSW -----Original Message----- >From: James Denneny <57JNDenneny(a)comcast.net> >Sent: May 30, 2008 10:24 AM >To: amsat-bb(a)amsat.org >Subject: [amsat-bb] SatPC32 V12.8 > >V12.8 is up and running. I learned the hard way that it is essential (as >instructed) to copy all SatPC32 files into a new folder I named SatPC32_127. >Then totally uninstall SatPC32 including removal of folder. Then, do a >regedit removal of all vestiges of SatPC32 values before installing V12.8. >I could then copy all my setup, keps etc from the SatPC32_127 folder to >V12.8. > > > >One thing noted - when running SatPC32ISS V12.8, the CAT feature is not >working with my IC910H. The CAT works with the regular SatPC32 v12.8 >program. Is this normal? > > > >Jim K7EG >Auburn WA >

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