AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-093
The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and information service of AMSAT, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including 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.
The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor [at] amsat.org
You can sign up for free e-mail delivery of the AMSAT News Service Bulletins via the ANS List; to join this list see: https://mailman.amsat.org/postorius/lists/ans.amsat.org/
In this edition:
* AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention -- Call for Volunteers * Kerry Banke to be honored with the 2022 Hamvention Special Achievement Award * NASA On The Air (NOTA) Special Event Stations * VUCC Satellite Awards/Endorsements For April 1, 2022 * New GridMasters * ARISS News * Upcoming Satellite Operations * Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events * Satellite Shorts From All Over
ANS-093 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
To: All RADIO AMATEURS From: Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation 712 H Street NE, Suite 1653 Washington, DC 20002
DATE 2022 Apr 3
AMSAT at the Dayton Hamvention -- Call for Volunteers
The Dayton Hamvention is six weeks away!
It is time to be creating your shopping list and making your travel plans.
We've had a good response so far to our call for volunteers, but we could really use another 10-15 people.
The 2022 Hamvention is May 20-22 in Xenia, Ohio. Would you consider helping AMSAT at the Hamvention this year?
The interaction with AMSAT members, satellite operators, designers, and builders makes the whole experience a lot of fun. Meet or renew acquaintances, exchange operating tips, and find out what antennas, software and equipment other AMSAT members use.
If you're an experienced operator, great! We can use you and your experience.
If you've never operated a satellite before, but want to learn more, that's OK. We can use your help too.
Whether you're available for only a couple of hours or if you can spend the entire weekend with us, your help would be greatly appreciated.
Please send an e-mail to Phil, w1eme at amsat.org if you can help. Thank you!
[ANS thanks Phil Smith, W1EME, AMSAT Dayton Hamvention Team Lead, for the above information]
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Kerry Banke to be honored with the 2022 Hamvention Special Achievement Award
The Hamvention awards committee recently announced that Kerry Banke, N6IZW, has won the 2022 Hamvention Special Achievement Award for his efforts in the design, development, manufacturing, and human spaceflight certification of the ARISS Multi-Voltage Power Supply (MVPS). The MVPS is a foundational element of the ARISS next generation radio system, which is now on-orbit. The Hamvention Special Achievement Award is given each year to a deserving amateur that has made an outstanding contribution advancing the art and/or science.
Now retired, Banke spent most of his career in the research and development of electronics systems as a microwave RF (Radio Frequency) electrical engineer. This included 14 years as Qualcomm engineer, developing innovative microwave wireless technologies. Kerry’s electronic interests span DC (Direct Current) to light with particular interest and expertise in microwaves. His ham radio operations have included transmissions on 136 kHz through Laser. Since 1982 he has served as host of the San Diego Microwave Group’s monthly meeting, sharing his expertise with other hams of like interest.
Mr. Banke’s exceptional support to Human Spaceflight Amateur Radio began in 1994 where he served as a school technical mentor and certified ground station for the Shuttle Amateur Radio EXperiment (SAREX) program. When NASA transitioned from the Shuttle to the International Space Station (ISS), Kerry became an exemplary member of the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) hardware team. For seven years, working from his home and electronics lab garage in La Mesa, California, Mr. Banke led the circuit design, breadboarding, flight circuit board layout, assembly, and testing of the MVPS. The MVPS, which occupies a volume roughly the size of two stacked reams of paper, can connect into different ISS power sources (120 VDC and 28 VDC) and simultaneously power up to 18 devices with multiple voltage level input needs.
ARISS USA Executive Director, Frank Bauer, said “The ARISS team is proud of Kerry’s sustained exemplary support to ARISS. His contributions to our next generation radio system are transformative, enabling expanded ARISS operations for ham radio operators and enhanced STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education outcomes for youth.” Through this system 60 to 80 foreign and domestic ARISS school contacts are conducted each year with 150,000 to 200,000 students, teachers, and members of the public engaged. Amateur radio operators also enjoy over 100,000 digital and voice repeater connections from this radio system each year.
[ANS thanks ARISS-USA for the above information]
+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ The 2022 AMSAT President's Club coins have arrived! To commemorate the 50th anniversary of its launch on October 15, 1972, this year's coin features an image of AMSAT-OSCAR 6. Join the AMSAT President's Club today and help Keep Amateur Radio in Space! https://www.amsat.org/join-the-amsat-presidents-club/ +=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+
NASA On The Air (NOTA) Special Event Stations
There is an Amateur Radio club established at many NASA field centers across the USA. Their members gather together to highlight NASA milestones the way such events are done best. That is, through radio. These club members are made up of civil servants, contractor personnel, retirees and recognized community members. Some clubs are large and well supported, some are small and struggle. But they have a common goal to show their support to NASA and space fans everywhere by highlighting the history of some amazing accomplishments.
The first NASA On The Air (NOTA) special event of the year will be held on Saturday, April 23, through Wednesday, April 27, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 16 mission to the moon. Different NASA radio clubs will go on the air at different times to make two-way contacts with fellow space enthusiastic ham radio operators.
For the list of suggested frequencies, modes, points scoring, rules, certificates, procedures and news, please visit NasaOnTheAir.wordpress.com each day.
Be sure to watch for posts on Twitter.com/NASARadioClubs (a Twitter account is NOT required to view) for late breaking news updates -- and don't forget your favorite spotting network -- for NOTA activity live and in real time.
For QSL card information, please check the QRZ.com page for each individual NASA club callsign.
[ANS thanks Pat Kilroy, N8PK, NASA Engineer and AMSAT Ambassador for the above information]
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Need new satellite antennas? Purchase Arrows, Alaskan Arrows, and M2 LEO-Packs from the AMSAT Store. When you purchase through AMSAT, a portion of the proceeds goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space. https://amsat.org/product-category/hardware/
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VUCC Upgrades/Endorsements for April 1, 2022
March 01, 2022 to March 31, 2022. ------------------------------------------------------------ PS8ET 600 726 K9UO 695 700 WD9EWK (DM43) 675 679 AC9O 549 675 N5BO 635 650 K0JM 500 601 KE8FZT 550 576 KS1G 525 551 WB7VUF 455 510 KN2K 450 505 DF2ET 400 500 EA2AA 425 483 N6UTC 450 475 AE5B 450 459 HP2VX 425 453 XE1MYO 200 349 K4RGK 278 313 VE3KY 278 304 XE1GK 265 300 DG7RO 172 285 N3CAL 224 235 N5EKO 207 234 AC9DX 141 228 WD9EWK (DM41) 187 207 A65BR 157 181 WB9YIG New 175 DL8GAM New 152 PS7JN New 152 OE7BJT 107 150 N2ZN 135 147 TG9AMD New 141 XE2YWH (DL82) 110 113 PP2RON 106 108 XE2YWH (DL82 - D 105 108 VE7PTN New 104 US6IKN New 102 AG7NR New 101 DH0GSU New 100 K4NHW New 100 PU5DDC New 100 XE1YDK New 100
Congratulations to the new VUCC holders.
TG9AMD is first Guatemala and grid EK44 PU5DDC is first grid GG53 PS7JN is first grid HI24 DL8GAM is first grid JO42 US6IKN is first Ukraine and grid KN59
[ANS thanks Jon Goering, N7AZ, for the above information]
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New GridMasters
AMSAT’s most prestigious award is the GridMaster Award. This award was first introduced by Star Comm Group in 2014. AMSAT thanks Damon Runion, WA4HFN, and Rick Tillman, WA4NVM, for not only sponsoring this award since its inception, but, also, entrusting AMSAT with the honor of carrying on this important award for the benefit of the entire AMSAT community.
The GridMaster award is available to all amateurs worldwide who submit proof with written confirmation of contacts with each of the 488 maidenhead grids located within the contiguous United States of America via amateur satellite.
Thanks to a couple of March roves, four new amateur satellite operators have joined the GridMaster club, bringing the total number of hams who have worked and confirmed all 488 maidenhead grids within the contiguous United States to 38.
Congratulations to the newest GridMasters!
35 Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK March 15, 2022 36 Dennis Love N7EGY March 26, 2022 37 Chris Wilford VE7CEW March 26, 2022 38 Merle Olmsted AA4QE March 28, 2022
See the full list at https://www.amsat.org/gridmaster/
[ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, AMSAT Director of Contests and Awards for the above information]
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ARISS News
Leonardo-Da-Vinci Campus Nauen, Nauen, Germany, direct via DC1RSN
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be DPØISS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The scheduled crewmember is Matthias Maurer KI5KFH
Contact is go for: Wed 2022-04-06 11:48:08 UTC 26 deg Watch for Livestream at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk3nn3CYKoM (***)
Space Hardware Club, Huntsville, Alabama, direct via K4UAH
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS The downlink frequency is presently scheduled to be 145.800 MHz The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html The scheduled crewmember is Thomas Marshburn KE5HOC
Contact is go for: Thu 2022-04-07 17:07:39 UTC 36 deg
Exp. 64 back on earth (***)
Pyotr Dubrov Mark Vande Hei KG5GNP
Exp. 65 back on earth
Anton Shkaplerov
Congratulations to all for a job well done
The USOS ARISS station is currently operating in voice cross-band repeater mode
The latest information on the operation mode can be found at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html
The latest list of frequencies in use can be found at https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html
[ANS thanks Charlie Sufana, AJ9N, one of the ARISS operation team mentors, for the above information]
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AMSAT, along with our ARISS partners, is developing an Amateur Radio package, including two-way communication capability, to be carried on-board Gateway in lunar orbit.
Support AMSAT's projects today at https://www.amsat.org/donate/
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Upcoming Satellite Operations
KX9X and N9NCY:
April 8-10: EM57 + EM66 (IL/TN): EM57 will only be on April 8 and April 10 while en route to EM66; EM66 will be April 9. Linear and FM, holiday style. Passes to be determined based on travel schedule. Log/Upload as KX9X/R and N9NCY/R.
Follow them at @SeanKutzko and @Nancy_N9NCY on Twitter for real-time info on what passes they will be on.
WL7T: 4/3, DN57/58 and DN67/68
WL7T: 4/30, DM02 Check Twitter for passes.
K4DCA: EM96 4/6 – 4/9. Will be in EM96 on April 6-9 with FM and Linear gear. Vacation style. Also the possibility of hitting FM08 and FM09 on the way to/from.
W3IPA: DM42 vacation planned for Jul 30- Aug 6th will be on FM passes vacation style. I will be close to DM41 so might be able to work a gridline. Will post more updates closer to that week!
[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT rover page manager, for the above information]
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Hamfests, Conventions, Maker Faires, and Other Events
AMSAT Ambassadors provide presentations, demonstrate communicating through amateur satellites, and host information tables at club meetings, hamfests, conventions, maker faires, and other events.
N4HF will be at the following event:
Raleigh NC Hamfest (info table and demos; possible forum, but not likely at this point) April 16 Jim Graham Building – NC State Fairgrounds 4285 Trinity Rd, Raleigh, NC 27607 https://www.rarsfest.org/
Other events with a scheduled AMSAT presence:
+ CubeSat Developers Workshop April 26–28, 2022 San Luis Obispo, CA
+ Hamvention 2022 May 20, 2022 to May 22, 2022 Greene County Fairgrounds and Expo Center 210 Fairground Road Xenia, Ohio 45385 https://www.hamvention.org
+ 2022 Rocky Mountain ARRL Division Convention October 7, 2022 – October 9, 2022 Event Center at Archer 3921 Archer Pkwy Cheyenne, Wyoming 82007 https://wyhamcon.org/site
[ANS thanks Paul Overn, KE0PBR, AMSAT Events page manager, for the above information]
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Want to fly the colors on your own grid expedition? Get your AMSAT car flag and other neat stuff from our Zazzle store! 25% of the purchase price of each product goes towards Keeping Amateur Radio in Space https://www.zazzle.com/amsat_gear
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Satellite Shorts From All Over
+ JAMSAT has posted the April FO-99 Operating Schedule at https://www.jamsat.or.jp/?p=1806
+ An initial distance record has been claimed via the MO-112 digipeater: EA4SG in IN80cp worked DG9MA in JN58di, a distance of 1,406 km on 22-Mar-2022 at 21:01 UTC. Who can do better? https://www.amsat.org/satellite-distance-records/
+ A new modern distance record has been claimed via AO-7 Mode A. VE6WQ in DO33 worked F4DXV in JN04 on 23-Mar-2022 - a distance of 7,454 km. Note that AO-7 Mode A supported some very long distance QSOs during it's early life in the 1970s. If anyone has any information about extreme distance QSOs on AO-7 Mode A, please contact n8hm at amsat.org.
+ The AMSAT CubeSatSim PCB sets are finally back in stock at the AMSAT Store. Get yours today at https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-cubesatsim-pcb/
+ New v1.2 software release for the AMSAT CubeSatSim project! This release fixes an issue with the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W that can cause an auto shutdown if battery isn’t fully charged. No change for other hardware. https://github.com/alanbjohnston/CubeSatSim/releases/tag/v1.2
+ Remember to get your tickets for the AMSAT/TAPR Banquet at the Dayton Hamvention! The 13th annual AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will be held at the Kohler Presidential Banquet Center on Friday, May 20th at 18:30 EDT. This dinner is always a highlight of the AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corp.) and TAPR (Tucson Amateur Packet Radio) activities during the Dayton Hamvention. This year’s banquet will honor the life and accomplishments of long time amateur satellite and amateur packet pioneer Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, who passed away in February. https://www.amsat.org/product/amsat-tapr-joint-hamvention-banquet-registrati...
+ A MAI-75 SSTV Event is scheduled for April 7th and 8th. Details at https://issfanclub.eu/2022/04/01/mai-75-sstv-event-7-and-8-april-2022/
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Join AMSAT today at https://launch.amsat.org/
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership to:
* Societies (a recognized group, clubs or organization). * Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate. * Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the student rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status. * Memberships are available for annual and lifetime terms.
Contact info [at] amsat.org for additional membership information.
73 and remember to help Keep Amateur Radio in Space!
This week's ANS Editor,
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM n8hm at amsat dot org