- AMSAT-BB - mailman.amsat.org

2021 Symposium
by Philip Jenkins 31 May '21

31 May '21

Hi, I haven't seen any posts about the Symposium lately (hoping to attend in person for the first time after the awesome virtual one last year). Just wondering if it is still on for this year (in real life), dates, hotel info, etc. (Still planned for Minneapolis/Bloominginton, as it was tentatively for last year's event?) Just a little over 4 months away... :-) Philip N4HF

2 1

EN57/58 on JO-97 Satellite
by ingejack＠cox.net 31 May '21

31 May '21

I worked a station on JO-97 Satellite on May31,2021 at 1652 utc time who was in Grid EN57/58 I must have received the Call sign wrong as I couldn't find it on QRZ.COM It ended in CT but I think I got the prefix wrong. Did anyone else work this staion that could give me the prefix ?? Thanks JACK KC7MG DM42

3 2

FN02/EN92 6/1
by Bob Liddy (K8BL) 31 May '21

31 May '21

Gridders, Pop-up FN02/EN92 tmrw 6/1 later in day. No set sked as time permits. 73, Bob K8BL

1 0

Reduction of Voice Repeater activation on IO-86 sat
by Yono Adisoemarta 30 May '21

30 May '21

Dear all, Effective immediately the activation of FM voice repeater on IO-86 (the amateur payload on LAPAN-A2/ORARI satellite) will be reduced, to preserve the life of the repeater (already more than 5 years old) while waiting for the successor , the LAPAN-A5. If required for emergency communication, we will activate VR full as usual. Apologize for the inconveniences, 73 de Yono YD0NXX AMSAT-ID Technical Team Sent from my iPhone

1 0

SATPC32Dpller correction sometimes only a single freq
by Bob KD7YZ 30 May '21

30 May '21

Hello AMSAT List Somehow I've messed up many of the Bird's individual CAT-Tuning Doppler correction data . What I now see/hear is that on one Satellite, when I transmit CW, I hear the Dots/Dashes right away on the frequency that was programmed in for that Bird in Doppler.sqf. However, when I tune the VFO away from the initial QRG. my transmit does not follow but rather remains on the exact frequency that I was on at Bird-Rise above the horizon. Now, on some other Birds, when I know she is above the horizon, and I send some dashes, I hear the dashes right away ... and when I move the VFO elsewhere, the Dots/Dashes are tracking my VFO movement. So in one case, I can hear myself no matter where I tune the VFO. In the other cases, in order to hear myself sending, I must return to the initial frequency that SATPC32 puts in for a now "Pass" . Ostensibly that freq is from the Doppler.sqf How do I revert to the initial Doppler.SQF for the birds where I must remain on a single frequency? Then, where did I go wrong for the doppler corrections? I "thought" I was using 'change uplink' but one never knows what I do in the thick of things. -- Best regards, Bob KD7YZ

2 1

Re: Arrow stacking
by Richard Lawn 29 May '21

29 May '21

I’m about ready to try two Arrows as well and recently made phasing lines following Marks article referred to in another post. If the wx ever improves so I can get outside and set up my portable lakeside summer station here in the Poconos I’ll let everyone know how it performs. I made a nonconductive 6.5’ cross-boom out of a piece of 2 pieces of telescoping pvc with a wooden dowel in the center to further improve rigidity. I actually originally made it 10’ and it held up for years at the home qth. I no longer need it there so I cut it down for this new installation. Phasing lines are cut to quarter wave multiples and I used my RigEpert in making these. They are tricky as you have to allow for the connector and the T adapter length so the phasing lines have to be cut a little shorter than a multiple of 1/4 wave. Hopefully mine are close enough. I will try mounting the two antennas at 90 degrees and see what happens. I’ll then try at maybe 45 degrees each with the angles pointing into one another. 73s Rick, W2JAZ -- Sent from Gmail Mobile

1 0

Arrow Stacking? Technical Advice needed.
by kd4iz＠frawg.org 29 May '21

29 May '21

All, I happen to have a pair of the Arrow II handheld SAT antennas available. I wish to use them as a pair set up in crossed polarization. To those who have messed around with various light antenna combinations and have used a pair of Arrows, please let me know your experiences what worked and what did not. Since each antenna has a single 2m and 70cm yagi on it, connecting the 2 element sets will be a little more challenging than one would find for a single band crossed polarized yagi. Obviously one will be set with the 2m elements vert, the other horizontal. So: How have you connected them? What transmission line harness lengths did you use? Was RH or LH polarization a consideration? Was you experiment a satisfactory arrangement? I am going to take the stock 10W diplexers out of line and use something a little more robust to prevent desense and handle more than 10W. I am really not interested in hearing about other antennas. I don't need to be persuaded or dissuaded to do anything else. I have currently have limited resources to put into this, so jumping off the deep end and buying an M2 Leo kit (or even a "crushcraft" pair) is not in the cards. Thanks in advance for sharing your experience. Jack Spitznagel - KD4IZ Assistant Editor - AMSAT News Service Cell: (410) 207-5123 kd4iz(a)arrl.net

4 3

Re: Arrow Stacking? Technical Advice needed.
by Gary 29 May '21

29 May '21

I have done it, and It worked pretty well. My harness was an exact copy of the one in Chapter 7 of the 2nd edition of the "Satellite Experimenter's Handbook" by Martin Davidoff, K2UBC. I have attached a picture which I am not sure will be passed by the reflector, but should make it to you. The one shown has 2.4 GHz helix between the Yagis. Even though I used a non-conductive crossboom, and attached the antennas to it using plastic ty-wraps, I also avoided the crossboom 'hot spots' described by Kent Britain, WA5VJB here: http://www.kk0sd.net/metalboom/metalboom.htm I have no idea how circular the patterns really were, but the system consistently outperformed a single Arrow antenna. The harness was set up for RHCP and used RG-6 and LMR-240 UF coax. I did not use the diplexers, and I did not attempt any switching arrangements. I replaced that setup with the Gulf-Alpha dual band satellite Yagi. That thing was a dream, and one of the dumbest things I have done (and I have done a lot of them) was part with that Gulf-Alpha. If someone wants to sell a Gulf-Alpha please let me know!!! 73 and Good Luck, Joe kk0sd From: kd4iz(a)frawg.org<mailto:[email protected]> <kd4iz(a)frawg.org<mailto:[email protected]>> Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2021 3:00 PM To: 'AMSAT BB' <amsat-bb(a)amsat.org<mailto:[email protected]>> Subject: [AMSAT-BB] Arrow Stacking? Technical Advice needed. All, I happen to have a pair of the Arrow II handheld SAT antennas available. I wish to use them as a pair set up in crossed polarization. To those who have messed around with various light antenna combinations and have used a pair of Arrows, please let me know your experiences what worked and what did not. Since each antenna has a single 2m and 70cm yagi on it, connecting the 2 element sets will be a little more challenging than one would find for a single band crossed polarized yagi. Obviously one will be set with the 2m elements vert, the other horizontal. So: How have you connected them? What transmission line harness lengths did you use? Was RH or LH polarization a consideration? Was you experiment a satisfactory arrangement? I am going to take the stock 10W diplexers out of line and use something a little more robust to prevent desense and handle more than 10W. I am really not interested in hearing about other antennas... I don't need to be persuaded or dissuaded to do anything else. I have currently have limited resources to put into this, so jumping off the deep end and buying an M2 Leo kit (or even a "crushcraft" pair) is not in the cards. Thanks in advance for sharing your experience. Jack Spitznagel - KD4IZ Assistant Editor - AMSAT News Service Cell: (410) 207-5123 kd4iz(a)arrl.net<mailto:[email protected]>

1 0

ARISS News Release No. 21-34
by David Jordan 29 May '21

29 May '21

ARISS News Release No.21-34 Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR aa4kn(a)amsat.org FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE ARISSContact is Scheduled with Students at College of Saint Pierre Marboz, Marboz, France May29, 2021—Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has receivedschedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is thegroup that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students aroundthe globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS). This will be a Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio between the ISS and students fromCollege of Saint Pierre, Marboz. Students will take turns asking theirquestions of ISS Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, amateur radio call sign KG5FYG.French is the language that will be used during the contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprintthat also encompasses the ARISS radio telebridge station. The ARISS team in Casale Monferrato, Italy willuse call sign IK1SLD to serve as the ARISS relay amateur radio ground station. Each student asking a question onthe ARISS radio will be conferenced in from home or social-distancedat school. TheARISS radio contact is scheduled for May 31, 2021 at 3:49 pm CEST (Marboz,France) (13:49 UTC, 9:49 am EDT, 8:49 am CDT,7:49 am MDT, 6:49 am PDT). Collegeof Saint Pierre Marboz (CSPM) is a rural secondary school located in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpeson the border of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté and within the Bresse Region ofeastern France. CSPM’s students in years 3rd - 6th willbe participating in the ARISS contact as well as students from surroundingelementary schools. In anticipation of this ARISS contact, CSPM integratedtopics into their STEM program that highlights space-habitation and space-exploration,the solar system, orbital mechanics, astronomical phenomena, and radio science.Students have also specifically studied/followed the experiments conducted onthe ISS. Student-field trips included a visit to the planetarium Vaulx-en-Velinand attending scientist-led presentations on the universe, the solar system,satellite links, and radio operation. Other student activities includedlearning basic printed circuit boards (e.g. Arduino). Members of the localamateur radio club (F5KBD) and ALTEC Association provided discovery workshopsin the field of radio and space science. Viewthe live stream of the upcoming ARISS radio contact at https://youtu.be/HnPoFku7DXg and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6BkP5ROxk8 . _______________________________ Astime allows, students will ask these questions: 1.Qu’est ce qui vous a poussé à devenir astronaute? 2.Quelle a été la différence de préparation entre les deux missions? 3.Quelles sont vos sensations quand vous quittez la Terre? 4.Est-ce facile de s’adapter à l’impesanteur? 5.Pourquoi est-on impatient et content de repartir dans l'espace quand on y estallé déjà une fois? 6.Si vous vous blessez ou faîtes un malaise dans l’Espace, comment faîtes vous? 7.Pourriez vous vivre toute votre vie dans l'espace? 8.Quelle est votre perception du temps dans la station? du jour et de la nuit?Votre horloge biologique est elle la même que dans l’Espace? 9.Vous préférez marcher sur la Terre ou voler dans la station spatialeinternationale? 10.Il existe le mal des montagnes quand on monte en altitude. Existe-t-il le mêmemal dans l’espace? A-t-on une sensation de vertige quand on sort de l’ISS? 11.Est-ce qu’il peut y avoir des collisions de la station avec des astéroïdes? 12.Quels sont les plus grands dangers auxquels vous êtes exposés? 13.En dehors de la Terre, que voyez-vous à travers les hublots de l’ISS? 14.Vous est il arrivé de ne plus avoir envie de revenir sur la Terre? 15.Qu'avez vous ressenti la première fois lorsque vous avez vu la Terre del'espace? 16.Est-ce qu’à partir de l’ISS, on peut voir les dommages sur l’environnementcausés par l’Homme sur la Terre? 17.Est-ce que l'espace est pollué? 18.Avez-vous noté des modifications dans l’ISS depuis votre dernier voyage? 19.Avez-vous réalisé votre rêve en allant dans la station internationale? 20.Est-ce que vous souhaitez aller sur Mars un jour? Translation: 1.What made you become an astronaut? 2.What was the difference in preparation between the two missions? 3.How do you feel when you leave Earth? 4.Is it easy to adapt to weightlessness? 5.Why are we impatient and happy to go back to space when we’ve already beenthere once? 6.If you hurt yourself or faint, how do you handle it? 7.Could you spend your whole life in space? 8.What is your perception of time in the station? Of day and night? Is yourbiological clock the same as in Space? 9.Do you prefer to walk on Earth or fly on the International Space Station? 10.There’s mountain sickness when you climb high. Is there the same problem inspace? Do you feel dizzy when you leave the ISS? 11.Could there be any collisions of the station with asteroids? 12.What are the biggest dangers you face? 13.Outside of Earth, what do you see through the ISS portholes? 14.Have you ever felt like not wanting to come back on Earth? 15.What did you feel the first time you saw Earth from space? 16.From the ISS, can we see the damage to the environment caused by man on Earth? 17.Is the space polluted? 18.Have you noticed any changes in the ISS since your last trip? 19.Have you made your dream come true by going to the international station? 20.Would you like to go to Mars one day? ARISS– Celebrating 20 Years of Amateur Radio Continuous Operations on the ISS About ARISS: AmateurRadio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture ofinternational amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support theInternational Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the RadioAmateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL),the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASA’s Space communicationsand Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration ofscience, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS doesthis by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew membersaboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students,educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activitiestied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, seewww.ariss.org MediaContact: DaveJordan, AA4KN ARISSPR Likeus on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and@ARISS_status.

1 0

PSAT2: DTMF *and* APRS-to-Voice enabled
by Robert Bruninga 29 May '21

29 May '21

A new feature has been enabled for the Voice Synthesizer on PSAT2 in addition to DTMF grid and DTMF messaging to voice. Now the voice synthesizer is also listening for APRS-to-Voice messages as well. Here is how to use it 1) Remain on the 145.980 uplink and 145.825 downlink for DTMF 2) Using an APRS radio, send an APRS message to PSAT-SAY 3) Begin the first 10 chars of the message with CCCCCC sez 4) Followed by the text to be spoken. 5) CCCCCC is your callsign right-padded with spaces. The satellite should ACK the packet uplink and then speak the text. You can tell if APRS-to-Voice is enabled if this 1 bit is on: XXXX0010. Usually the DTMF bits are also enabled so the telemetry will usually show as 11010010. To do both DTMF and APRS-to-Voice at the same time, the Basic Stamp processor has to check both the DTMF decoder and the packet decoder and so there is a finite chance that a perfectly good uplink might be missed So, just try again. See http://aprs.org/psat2.html Tomorrow I will add this feature to the users manual and post it. Enjoy, Bob, WB4APR

5 6