Dear colleagues,
The Telecommunication School at Vigo University, Spain, is developing a cubesat that will be launched by ESA. It will transmit in amateur bands, and the University radioclub (EA1RCT) is collaborating in the project. The design is not yet closed and we can send proposals to the development team. The radioclub is willing to hear ideas from the amateur radio comunity: we would like to have a short list ready by next Thursday, June 26, so any proposal we receive before then will be carefully read.
The satellite will be small and lightweight as you know, and it will run on a short electrical budget. Moreover, the time schedule is very tight. One of the main objectives is to test SDR systems in space (not necessarily in amateur bands).
Neither the bands, power o full-duplex capability have been established. It could eventually end up with just a telemetry beacon. We would like to hear your opinions about what the amateur radio community would prefer to carry on board, in these three scenarios:
· full-duplex communication capability (linear transponder, fm rep, etc) · half-duplex systems (digipeater?) · beacon modes (afsk, psk, cw)
Best regards, EA1RCT RadioClub Telecomunicaciones Vigo http://lostrego.uvigo.es
I know the transponder satellites have been getting smaller and smaller, but I think an FM transponder in a cubesat would be amazing.
If no FM transponder, maybe some sort of digi-talker similar to SEEDS, where it has a voice part and then an SSTV part. Either of these would be awesome.
Thanks, KE5GDB
On Sun, Jun 15, 2008 at 12:07 PM, rct@uvigo.es wrote:
Dear colleagues,
The Telecommunication School at Vigo University, Spain, is developing a cubesat that will be launched by ESA. It will transmit in amateur bands, and the University radioclub (EA1RCT) is collaborating in the project. The design is not yet closed and we can send proposals to the development team. The radioclub is willing to hear ideas from the amateur radio comunity: we would like to have a short list ready by next Thursday, June 26, so any proposal we receive before then will be carefully read.
The satellite will be small and lightweight as you know, and it will run on a short electrical budget. Moreover, the time schedule is very tight. One of the main objectives is to test SDR systems in space (not necessarily in amateur bands).
Neither the bands, power o full-duplex capability have been established. It could eventually end up with just a telemetry beacon. We would like to hear your opinions about what the amateur radio community would prefer to carry on board, in these three scenarios:
· full-duplex communication capability (linear transponder, fm rep, etc) · half-duplex systems (digipeater?) · beacon modes (afsk, psk, cw)
Best regards, EA1RCT RadioClub Telecomunicaciones Vigo http://lostrego.uvigo.es
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Hello, It's nice to ask this question, but your question is too wide. The amateur world is made by people interrested by all technologies. Probably, you will have answer of people who want linear transponder, other with FM transponder, other with packet .... You should precise the constraints and specificaly the electrical power available .
This last time , we have seen several messages of amateurs complaining about picosat sending only telemetries or pictures. Theses guy request to have linear transpondeur. They should not forget than on a standard picosat (10x10x10)the electrical power is very very low, reducing the number of solution for missions.
Gerard F6FAO
-----Message d'origine----- De : amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] De la part de rct@uvigo.es Envoyé : dimanche 15 juin 2008 19:08 À : amsat-bb@amsat.org Objet : [amsat-bb] Spanish cubesat
Dear colleagues,
The Telecommunication School at Vigo University, Spain, is developing a cubesat that will be launched by ESA. It will transmit in amateur bands, and the University radioclub (EA1RCT) is collaborating in the project. The design is not yet closed and we can send proposals to the development team. The radioclub is willing to hear ideas from the amateur radio comunity: we would like to have a short list ready by next Thursday, June 26, so any proposal we receive before then will be carefully read.
The satellite will be small and lightweight as you know, and it will run on a short electrical budget. Moreover, the time schedule is very tight. One of the main objectives is to test SDR systems in space (not necessarily in amateur bands).
Neither the bands, power o full-duplex capability have been established. It could eventually end up with just a telemetry beacon. We would like to hear your opinions about what the amateur radio community would prefer to carry on board, in these three scenarios:
· full-duplex communication capability (linear transponder, fm rep, etc) · half-duplex systems (digipeater?) · beacon modes (afsk, psk, cw)
Best regards, EA1RCT RadioClub Telecomunicaciones Vigo http://lostrego.uvigo.es
_______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
On Jun 15, 2008, at 10:07 AM, rct@uvigo.es wrote:
Dear colleagues,
The Telecommunication School at Vigo University, Spain, is developing a cubesat that will be launched by ESA. It will transmit in amateur bands, and the University radioclub (EA1RCT) is collaborating in the project. The design is not yet closed and we can send proposals to the development team. The radioclub is willing to hear ideas from the amateur radio comunity: we would like to have a short list ready by next Thursday, June 26, so any proposal we receive before then will be carefully read.
The satellite will be small and lightweight as you know, and it will run on a short electrical budget. Moreover, the time schedule is very tight. One of the main objectives is to test SDR systems in space (not necessarily in amateur bands).
Neither the bands, power o full-duplex capability have been established. It could eventually end up with just a telemetry beacon. We would like to hear your opinions about what the amateur radio community would prefer to carry on board, in these three scenarios:
First of all, I'd like to thank you for asking. It is great that you are seeking the input of the broader amateur satellite community in your satellite project, and it is appreciated.
· full-duplex communication capability (linear transponder, fm rep, etc) · half-duplex systems (digipeater?) · beacon modes (afsk, psk, cw)
You will undoubtably get a bunch of requests for a full-duplex linear transponder. It seems to me rather unlikely that a single unit cubesat will have sufficient power budget to make such a thing possible (DELFI-C3 is 3 units). You'll get lots of people complaining if you put an FM repeater on board (some people hate the FM birds with the burning passion of 1000 suns) but I think FM repeaters are, well, pretty neat, and doing on in a cubesat would be pretty cool, but the power budget is probably just as hard. I think a half duplex satellite would be pretty interesting. Even a little APRS digipeater in the sky would be a nice demonstration, and enable hams to do actual QSOs.
Most cubesats in orbit now seem to downlink cw telemetry. It's a nice choice because it is dead easy to decode, but not a very glamorous one. It requires little power, but has little available bandwidth. I think AFSK over FM is nice because it is easy for hams to decode, but it kind of squanders your power budget needlessly. DELFI-C3 uses BPSK, which is probably a good choice for higher bandwidth telemetry.
I'm personally interested in imaging, so I am intrigued by satellites like CUTE (which carries essentially a cell phone camera), COMPASS-1 (which carries an as-yet untried camera down link) and SEEDS (which has an SSTV downlink). While many ham radio purists might grumble, I like this kind of stuff, and if you are experimenting with SDR, it might not be difficult to add additional modes such as these.
Just some ideas... Mark KF6KYI
Best regards, EA1RCT RadioClub Telecomunicaciones Vigo http://lostrego.uvigo.es
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
My vote is for SSTV, preferably Scottie 2 format.
Simon Brown, HB9DRV
-------------------------------------------------- From: "Mark Vandewettering" kf6kyi@gmail.com
I'm personally interested in imaging, so I am intrigued by satellites like CUTE (which carries essentially a cell phone camera), COMPASS-1 (which carries an as-yet untried camera down link) and SEEDS (which has an SSTV downlink).
I'm thinking of the young people to whom I demo satellites from time to time. The SEEDS signal is great fun to download, but, of course, it is the same static image. What if the SSTV image were a downconverted image of the earth taken from an on-board camera? I know the resolution would be terrible, but neither were the Apollo landing pictures. The immediacy of knowing that this is an image of earth from space, combined with the speed and ease of SSTV reception would be pretty neat, I think. I'd be inclined not to care about tumble, either. If this shot has no earth in it, who cares as long as the next one is likely to.
Secondly, I would love to see some real earth or oceanic science being done with cubesats. Is there someone you could collaborate with who has a question in mind on these topics that current satellites can't answer? I'd be inclined, just for the fun of it, to pose the question to the top oceanographers and imaging people. 'Hams help investigate effects of global warming' would be a pretty nice QST article :-)
Finally, keep in touch. I know it must be lots of work to let the ham community know about your work, but it will go miles in terms of good will and telemetry capture. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, just cc'ing amsat-bb on some technical report emails would be fantastic. Basically, we're just a bunch of guys who would love to be in your shoes; the more you let us know about what that's like, the better. It's one of the many things the Delfi C3 guys have done right.
73, Bruce VE9QRP
On Mon, Jun 16, 2008 at 3:45 PM, Simon Brown (HB9DRV) simon@hb9drv.ch wrote:
My vote is for SSTV, preferably Scottie 2 format.
Simon Brown, HB9DRV
From: "Mark Vandewettering" kf6kyi@gmail.com
I'm personally interested in imaging, so I am intrigued by satellites like CUTE (which carries essentially a cell phone camera), COMPASS-1 (which carries an as-yet untried camera down link) and SEEDS (which has an SSTV downlink).
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I'm excited to see that you and your organization are soliciting input from the AMSAT community for your SpanishSat. I'm sure that AMSAT members will offer their input and suggestions. There is a lot of talent on this reflector along with much archival history and experiences which can be most helpful.
Besides offering my desire to have you include a transponder (any kind you can fit in!), I would suggest you learn as much as you can about solar cell/battery management. In this years CalPoly CubeSat conference, it was noted that many CubeSat failures, once is orbit, are attributed to power/battery management issues. If you haven't already looked over the conference papers, I'd suggest a visit to:
http://cubesat.atl.calpoly.edu/pages/workshops/developers-workshop-2008.php
and they will give you some insights into what has been experienced in recent CubeSats along with people you can contact for more information.
Best of luck on your project. We'll be watching your progress and I do hope to see you on this reflector with any questions.
Regards...Bill - N6GHz
rct@uvigo.es wrote:
Dear colleagues,
The Telecommunication School at Vigo University, Spain, is developing a cubesat that will be launched by ESA. It will transmit in amateur bands, and the University radioclub (EA1RCT) is collaborating in the project. The design is not yet closed and we can send proposals to the development team. The radioclub is willing to hear ideas from the amateur radio comunity: we would like to have a short list ready by next Thursday, June 26, so any proposal we receive before then will be carefully read.
The satellite will be small and lightweight as you know, and it will run on a short electrical budget. Moreover, the time schedule is very tight. One of the main objectives is to test SDR systems in space (not necessarily in amateur bands).
Neither the bands, power o full-duplex capability have been established. It could eventually end up with just a telemetry beacon. We would like to hear your opinions about what the amateur radio community would prefer to carry on board, in these three scenarios:
· full-duplex communication capability (linear transponder, fm rep, etc) · half-duplex systems (digipeater?) · beacon modes (afsk, psk, cw)
Best regards, EA1RCT RadioClub Telecomunicaciones Vigo http://lostrego.uvigo.es
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (7)
-
Andrew Koenig -
AUVRAY GERARD -
Bill Ress -
Bruce Robertson -
Mark Vandewettering -
rct＠uvigo.es -
Simon Brown (HB9DRV)