This ARISS guide is very useful for schools and communities seeking a voice contact with the ISS. It is a procedure "manual" for a very specific purpose to guide applicants in the process for one specific goal, the contact. While the guide clearly fulfills its purpose and is used widely in preparation, it does not even mention AMSAT (however refers to the ARRL). However, the format and purpose is NOT useful for engaging individuals and/or groups involved in cubesats and amateur radio.
What is needed is a “101 on CubeSats and Amateur Radio” document/guide that at certain levels of detail clearly outlines the benefits, pitfalls and processes involved in using amateur radio within a planned cubesat project. It should preferably be written by AMSAT (available in the store?) however the amateur radio satellite community at large is a great resource. In essence, we need to tell folks not how (necessarily) but why they should include us and clearly outline the benefits (assuming we have a few).
All universities and even schools have in general a very effective communication group/department and their ability to promote their projects for fundraising purposes speaks volume. The lack of engagement by these groups with our community is based on previous experience and/or ignorance. Both of these are something we as a community have to take responsibility for. Negative experience based on cubesat bashing has done a lot of damage (based on very personal experience) and the lack of clearly outlining the benefits, our expertise, specific services and other tangible factors is also a factor.
If, and I say if, engaging the cubesat community is a priority of AMSAT (NA), it will require time, resources and a full commitment by the board and yes, most of all volunteers. What could help is for example having a working group chaired by a VP for cubesats (small satellites) and having the annual meeting in partnership with one of the annual cubesat symposiums for a joint conference. However, the board will have to decide how important that is in comparison to other priorities. In the meantime, it is up to the individuals making an effort on the local level.
My 2 cents, and I am going back working on our local ARISS project.
Stefan
On Wed, Nov 20, 2013 at 11:56 AM, Clint Bradford clintbrad4d@earthlink.netwrote:
Is the guide available ...
This is not the exact one I used for our ARISS contact ... but it is close ...
https://files.secureserver.net/0fgxMFjvG2DaFC
I will upload the other one tonight - to the same folder.
Clint 909-241-7666 - cell
Clint Bradford, K6LCS http://www.clintbradford.com