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Tom’s Show Last Sunday
by Clint Bradford 12 Aug '20

12 Aug '20

Great job, Tom, at the online QSO Extravagana! Videos from the event are posted for another week or so … If you missed Tiom LIVE, you can watch the recording. www.qsotodayhamexpo.com Clint K6LCS work-sat.com Sent from my iPhone

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Re: [amsat-bb] 70cm LNA
by Zach Metzinger 12 Aug '20

12 Aug '20

On 08/12/20 14:26, Kevin Elliott wrote: > Not wanting to use this with a transceiver, mostly just for my 70cm QFH with SDR for satnogs. Aware of any other 70cm and 2m LNAs that perform well for receive-only? Hello Kevin, I've heard good things about LNA4ALL (https://lna4all.blogspot.com/), which has a high IIP3 and low NF. The +33dBm IIP3 would help with overload issues on the LNA itself, but the high gain (+23dB) would then overload your SDR/rig with those, now amplified, high-power out-of-band signals. If you added an appropriate filter, such as the one I used, to the output, then you'd have a good solution. --- Zach N0ZGO

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Cubesat Design Specification update call for review
by Bruce Perens 12 Aug '20

12 Aug '20

Cal Poly wants feedback for their new spec at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5418c831e4b0fa4ecac1bacd/t/5f24997b6… "The original CDS introduced the CubeSat Standard to the world almost two decades ago. It defined the physical and electrical characteristics for a 1U and 3U size CubeSat and included requirements for interfacing with the only CubeSat dispenser available at the time, the Poly-Pico Orbital Deployer (P-POD). Since then the industry has expanded to include more standard sizes and additional dispensers with more available options. To accommodate these new advancements, the CDS has been retooled to be more flexible and inclusive of developments within the industry. Requirements that were originally written specifically for the P-POD will encompass requirements for all dispensers currently available. It is also the intention for the new revision of the CDS to identify the available options on dispensers that are widely available for use. Currently that list is limited to dispensers that publish their specifications online, but can be updated as dispenser companies make that information available to us. The CDS will also define all U configurations in one document with one set of requirements for ease of reference."

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Another mailing list?
by Michael B 12 Aug '20

12 Aug '20

I thought I had subscribed to the digest version of this list, but apparently I subscribed to the drama version. Is there a mailing list that focuses on the technical aspects of amateur satellite use? For example, I would like to know of SSTV events and other operational aspects. I don't care to know about infighting of AMSAT members and officers. Does anyone have some suggestions? Thank you in advance. Michael

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Re: [amsat-bb] 70cm LNA
by Zach Metzinger 12 Aug '20

12 Aug '20

On 08/12/20 13:54, Kevin Elliott wrote: > Are there any complete built filters to inline by chance from any retailer? Hello Kevin, I do not know of anyone offering this filter, and it isn't something you'd want to transmit through. I don't even know how much power it would survive before releasing the magic smoke (probably < 1W). The SAW filter is on the output of the LNA chip, so it is switched out during TX. You could take your LNA apart and tack this in to achieve the same effect. You'd laugh at the component-on-it's-side soldering job with 30ga wire-wrap wire, but it works! I plan to lay out a board and release it to the community with build instructions. However, I have another project or two in front of that before I have free time. --- Zach N0ZGO

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ME to HI for WAS--Possible at present?
by Wes Baden 11 Aug '20

11 Aug '20

Any ideas about the following? My QTH is in Maine, FN54, 120 feet ASL. I'm closing in on WAS, but the problem is going to be Hawaii. From my rough calculations, I need a SAT that has a 4500+ mile footprint, meaning an apogee of 1200+ miles, and even then any operating window will be pretty short. Current MEO satellites do not seem to offer a window quite that big, or am I missing something? In theory, I guess, I could go to Mt. Washington, NH (fortunately only 90 miles away) and a KH6 could go up on a volcanic peak there, to try to make use of over-the-horizon signal bending. But I'm not sure if even that would work at the present time, and in any case I can wait if a better MEO or an HEO bird is in the offing in the next few years. Does anyone know if ME-HI will be possible in the future, and if so when? WAS SAT is on my bucket list. Of course I envy all of you to the west of me, who can contact HI, but on the other hand it is nice to be only 3200 or so from London, 3800 miles from Berlin. We are all prisoners of our locations, at least until another HEO satellite is in orbit again. Thanks for feedback. And by the way, I'm always happy to sked with anyone needing FN54, not the rarest grid in ME but a challenge for many stations, especially out west or so they tell me. 73, Wes NA1ME

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RS Satellite Robot
by Gary 11 Aug '20

11 Aug '20

A question came up on Facebook about a QSL from a satellite. I remember some of the RS Satellites carried a 'Robot' which would QSO you with a serial number. You could then send that information to Box 88 in Moscow and receive a QSL. A quick Google search did not turn up any pictures of the cards. I would love to see one, and I am sure they are out there. Anyone have any links? 73, Gary "Joe" kk0sd

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Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2020-08-11 16:30 UTC
by aj9n＠aol.com 11 Aug '20

11 Aug '20

Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2020-08-11 16:30 UTC Quick list of scheduled contacts and events: Sorry gang for the lack of a heads up but we just found out about this contact today. (***) GAGARIN FROM SPACE. Performing a radio amateur session with schoolchildren of Tatarstan, Russia, direct via RZ4PXO (***) The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be RSØISS (***) The scheduled astronaut is Ivan Vagner (***) Contact was successful for: 2020-08-07 11:18 UTC (***) Kopernik Observatory & Science Center, Vestal, NY, direct via K2ZRO The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The scheduled astronaut is Chris Cassidy KF5KDR Contact is go for: Fri 2020-08-21 18:23:40 UTC 29 deg ######################################################################################################################################## A multi-point telebridge contact means that each student will be on the telebridge from their own home. ************************************************* ARISS is very aware of the impact that COVID-19 is having on schools and the public in general. As such, we may have last minute cancellations or postponements of school contacts. As always, I will try to provide everyone with near-real-time updates. The following schools have now been postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19: Postponed: No new schools Cancelled: No new schools The ARISS webpage is at https://www.ariss.org/ Watch for future COVID-19 related announcements here also. Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. The main page for Applying to Host a Scheduled Contact may be found at https://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html ARISS Contact Applications (United States) Note, all times are approximate. It is recommended that you do your own orbital prediction or start listening about 10 minutes before the listed time. All dates and times listed follow International Standard ISO 8601 date and time format YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS The complete schedule page has been updated as of 2020-08-11 16:30 UTC. (***) Here you will find a listing of all scheduled school contacts, and questions, other ISS related websites, IRLP and Echolink websites, and instructions for any contact that may be streamed live. https://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf https://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.txt The successful school list has been updated as of 2020-08-11 16:30 UTC. https://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/Successful_ARISS_schools.rtf The ARISS webpage is at https://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. The main page for Applying to Host a Scheduled Contact may be found at https://www.ariss.org/apply-to-host-an-ariss-contact.html ARISS Contact Applications (United States) The ARISS webpage is at https://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. Message to US Educators ARISS Contact Applications (United States) The Proposal Window of February 1, 2020 to March 31, 2020 has now closed. For future proposal information and more details such as expectations, proposal guidelines and proposal form, and dates and times of Information Webinars, go to www.ariss.org. Please direct any questions to ariss.us.education(a)gmail.com. About ARISS: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEAM) topics by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students in classrooms or public forms. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities learn about space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org. ******************************************************************************** ARISS Contact Applications (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) Schools and Youth organizations in Europe, Africa and the Middle East interested in setting up an ARISS radio contact with an astronaut on board the International Space Station are invited to submit an application from September to October and from February to April. Please refer to details and the application form at www.ariss-eu.org/school-contacts. Applications should be addressed by email to: school.selection.manager(a)ariss-eu.org ARISS Contact Applications (Canada, Central and South America, Asia and Australia and Russia) Organizations outside the United States can apply for an ARISS contact by filling out an application. Please direct questions to the appropriate regional representative listed below. If your country is not specifically listed, send your questions to the nearest ARISS Region listed. If you are unsure which address to use, please send your question to the ARISS-Canada representative; they will forward your question to the appropriate coordinator. For the application, go to: https://www.ariss.org/ariss-application.html. ARISS-Canada and the Americas, except USA: Steve McFarlane, VE3TBD email to: ve3tbd(a)gmail.com ARISS-Japan, Asia, Pacific and Australia: Satoshi Yasuda, 7M3TJZ email to: ariss(a)iaru-r3.org, Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) https://www.jarl.org/ ARISS-Russia: Soyuz Radioljubitelei Rossii (SRR) https://srr.ru/ ****************************************************************************** ARISS is always glad to receive listener reports for the above contacts. ARISS thanks everyone in advance for their assistance. Feel free to send your reports to aj9n(a)amsat.org or aj9n(a)aol.com. Listen for the ISS on the downlink of 145.8Ø MHz. ******************************************************************************* All ARISS contacts are made via the Kenwood radio unless otherwise noted. ******************************************************************************* Several of you have sent me emails asking about the RAC ARISS website and not being able to get in. That has now been changed to https://www.ariss.org/ Note that there are links to other ARISS websites from this site. **************************************************************************** Looking for something new to do? How about receiving DATV from the ISS? Please note that the HamTV system has been brought back to earth for troubleshooting. Please monitor ARISS-EU or ARISS-ON for the very latest news on the troubleshooting efforts. If interested, then please go to the ARISS-EU website for complete details. Look for the buttons indicating Ham Video. http://www.ariss-eu.org/ If you need some assistance, ARISS mentor Kerry N6IZW, might be able to provide some insight. Contact Kerry at kbanke(a)sbcglobal.net The HamTV webpage: https://www.amsat-on.be/hamtv-summary/ **************************************************************************** ARISS congratulations the following mentors who have now mentored over 100 schools: Francesco IKØWGF with 140 Satoshi 7M3TJZ with 138 Sergey RV3DR with 135 (***) Gaston ON4WF with 123 **************************************************************************** The webpages listed below were all reviewed for accuracy. Out of date webpages were removed, and new ones have been added. If there are additional ARISS websites I need to know about, please let me know. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school events is 1394. (***) Each school counts as 1 event. Total number of ARISS ISS to earth school contacts is 1327. (***) Each contact may have multiple schools sharing the same time slot. Total number of ARISS supported terrestrial contacts is 48. A complete year by year breakdown of the contacts may be found in the file. https://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/arissnews.rtf Please feel free to contact me if more detailed statistics are needed. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ The following US states and entities have never had an ARISS contact: South Dakota, Wyoming, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, and the Virgin Islands. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ QSL information may be found at: https://www.ariss.org/qsl-cards.html ISS callsigns: DPØISS, IRØISS, NA1SS, OR4ISS, RSØISS **************************************************************************** Frequency chart for packet, voice, and crossband repeater modes showing Doppler correction as of 2005-07-29 04:00 UTC https://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/news/ISS_frequencies_and_Doppler_correcti… Check out the Zoho reports of the ARISS contacts https://reports.zoho.com/ZDBDataSheetView.cc?DBID=412218000000020415 **************************************************************************** Exp. 62 now on orbit Chris Cassidy KF5KDR Anatoli Ivanishin Ivan Vagner **************************************************************************** 73, Charlie Sufana AJ9N One of the ARISS operation team mentors

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Another call for forensic accounting and an inventory
by Joe Leikhim 11 Aug '20

11 Aug '20

That is sort of what has happened to the NRA! I doubt we have any "grifters" in AMSAT. To be safe, look out for any Jaguar owners as Jeremy Clarkson of Top Gear points out. That said the P&L statement should be reviewed. Locally, our ex mayor decided to buy a failing golf course with our stormwater funds to save it from development. An action clearly benefiting only one neighborhood. Depending on who you talk to on a given day, it is either making or losing money. This is a case where the P&L needs to be made public. "Yes. I see the “plot” clearly now. A few grifters decided the best way to get “rich" was to join a ham radio organization. They would lay low for 10-30 years so as not to arouse suspicion. They would volunteer their time and efforts for decades to provide an smokescreen so other members wouldn’t suspect that they would one day steal money and inventory from the coffers and then refuse to provide a detailed accounting when requested… Jeff, KE9V" -- Joe Leikhim Leikhim and Associates Communications Consultants Oviedo, Florida JLeikhim(a)Leikhim.com 407-982-0446 WWW.LEIKHIM.COM

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QUESTION
by Rosa & Robert Fitzpatrick 10 Aug '20

10 Aug '20

WHAT GOING ON WITH AO-92 . I HEAR IT IS IN SAFE MODE.IS THER A PROBLEM WITH AO-92 ??????BOB/KB5SQG

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