Is the “AMSAT / Virginia Tech Geostationary Satellite Project (Phase 4B)” dead in the water? And any hope for the “ORI's Phase 4 Ground Station and Phase 4 Space” project?
Tom K0CFI
From: Ashhar Farhan <farhanbox@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, August 8, 2022 11:38 AM
To: Jean Marc Momple <jean.marc.momple@gmail.com>
Cc: KC4QLP <kc4qlp@midatlanticengineeringservice.com>; AMSAT BB <amsat-bb@amsat.org>
Subject: [AMSAT-BB] Re: Fixing the FM Stompfest
What does it cost to hire a fraction of a transponder? I assume that you can buy/lease fractional bandwidth on a commercial bird. The VSAT industry runs that way, isn't it?
On Mon, Aug 8, 2022, 9:13 PM Jean Marc Momple <jean.marc.momple@gmail.com> wrote:
Bob,
I can only comment on the second paragraph of your mail “ I've read about the one ham satellite over Africa. I wonder if there plans for one over North America)”:
We did exchange somehow about a GEO over Americas in the past on this forum. From same, my understanding is that a GEO initiative such as the AMSAT-DL - QARS - Es’Hail 2 collaboration for QO-100 is not feasible in your part of the world and is due to the perceive fact that all American GEO projects as are purely business oriented and will not entertain a HAM transponder on their satellite. Like you I am from a telco background and have dealt with the satellite industry for years, I somehow disagree with that “conclusion” and the only way to make it happen is to get out of our “zone of comfort” and be more proactive, as just a phone call to the right person may change things drastically.
To encourage same I can only quote the President of AMSAT Robert Bankston, KE4AL in the last AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-219. "No one has knocked on our door offering a free ride, nor have we succeeded in our numerous cold call attempts. We need someone on the inside or even a friend of a friend, who can get us in the room. If you know someone and an opportunity, I could use your help. Until next time, thank you for supporting AMSAT. Onward & Upward!”, I guess his message is quite clear, to make it happen we need “a friend of a friend”, the HAM community is well connect and just the right connection may change the world, this is how business works generally and that great projects are achieved.
I just hope for Americas that the President message will be understood and acted upon so that you guys may enjoy a bird such as QO-100 as it is really superbe and change our HAM life for the best this part of the world (thanks to Peter and his team at AMSAT -DL).
My one cent input.
Jean Marc (3B8DU)
On Aug 8, 2022, at 4:40 PM, KC4QLP <kc4qlp@midatlanticengineeringservice.com> wrote:
I'm just getting into satellite operations as a hobby. I've used the commercial satellites all through my broadcast career, but as a hobby, this is way more fun.
I've read about the one ham satellite over Africa. I wonder if there plans for one over North America.
I have to say using a 10 watt HT (no dual receive while transmitting) into a dual band beam (3 elements for 144mhz and 5 elements for 440mhz) all while portable is a challenge. I have been able to sort of make some kind of contact on two other birds, and ISS Sunday afternoon when it was as crowded. Hearing the quick key ups, hetrodines and even the occasional idiot that is heard whistling reminds me of CB radio in some ways.
The gentleman's ways and patient operators are becoming a long lost art.
For a newbie here, what portable radio do you all recommend?
For permanent setups, what is recommended?
I don't see myself standing on my deck in the middle of a central NY winter and snow storm while trying to catch the satellites. :-D
On August 7, 2022 4:46:19 PM "Mark L. Hammond" <marklhammond@gmail.com> wrote:
AO-51 did it (two simultaneous FM xmitters)—but hardly a cubesat!!
Mark N8MH
On Sun, Aug 7, 2022 at 4:29 PM David G0MRF via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
Hello Ray
Nice idea. channelized receive is fairly easy without excess power consumption. - single downconverter with multiple IF's or SDR equivalent.
The main issue is on transmit where you need to share the limited 'DC power' between multiple transmitters.
Probably possible to do 2 x transmitters on a 2U and 3 x transmitters on a 3U. Some fancy final amplifier running a high efficiency mode like class D or E shouldn't hurt the power budget too much
73 David
Behavior mod on the part of veteran FM ops doesn’t seem to be in the cards. So what about this? Suppose the next gen FM birds were channelized? That would divide the number of ops per pass. Thoughts?
Ray KN2K
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