I want to offer 'hearty congratulations' to the BOD for the courageous decisions made at the recent Space Symposium. I can think of no headline more appropriate and welcome for this organization than the declaration, "We're going back to space".
Perhaps this decision to move forward with what we can do will also be what was needed to get the manufacturers to quit sitting on their hands and INNOVATE!
How many threads have been spawned on this BB by someone asking the question "what handheld should I buy to use AO-51"..?
The fact that the pat answer is that there aren't any - you need to check eBay for a 20 year-old model speaks pitifully of the ham radio marketplace in the 21st century.
Given the nature of LEO, portable operations are very common and going forward, will be even more so. Who among us wouldn't love a mobile sized transceiver that sported true simultaneous dual-band (VHF/UHF) operation and a continuously tunable VFO on FM in a 'satellite operation mode'?
What would it be worth if that radio also could record all pass data - and had a USB port that supported a memory stick so that everything received during a pass could stored on it for offline extraction and study later when you're back in the shack. It wouldn't even require an internal TNC to download telemetry data - the audio file could simply be played back (offline) on a PC and the telemetry decoded there.
There are bound to be hundreds of similar ideas and dreams of new gear, antennas, and interesting things to do at LEO - let's populate the BB with these sorts of things and look forward, not back.
I'm more than ready to turn to a new chapter and get back to shaping the future of ham radio in space.
Aren't you?
73 de Jeff, KE9V AMSAT-NA 28350
Hi Jeff,
Many thanks for your appreciated words of support. The decision was very, very hard and I know we'll receive many slings and arrows for it, but while it sure wasn't our preferred project - it is a realistic one.
We all want a HEO or would even settle for a MEO but until someone can "show us the money" to get our satellite there, we're stuck in LEO, plain and simple.
I can tell you personally that one answer is to modify a LEO orbit. It's no at all easy but it is an intuitive alternate for a better orbit. I am also optimistic, given the papers on the subject at the Symposium, that creative thought will be given by AMSAT-NA on the subject. It's not an answer for next year or even five years out, but it's coming.
Regards...Bill - N6GHz
Jeff Davis wrote:
I want to offer 'hearty congratulations' to the BOD for the courageous decisions made at the recent Space Symposium. I can think of no headline more appropriate and welcome for this organization than the declaration, "We're going back to space".
Perhaps this decision to move forward with what we can do will also be what was needed to get the manufacturers to quit sitting on their hands and INNOVATE!
How many threads have been spawned on this BB by someone asking the question "what handheld should I buy to use AO-51"..?
The fact that the pat answer is that there aren't any - you need to check eBay for a 20 year-old model speaks pitifully of the ham radio marketplace in the 21st century.
Given the nature of LEO, portable operations are very common and going forward, will be even more so. Who among us wouldn't love a mobile sized transceiver that sported true simultaneous dual-band (VHF/UHF) operation and a continuously tunable VFO on FM in a 'satellite operation mode'?
What would it be worth if that radio also could record all pass data - and had a USB port that supported a memory stick so that everything received during a pass could stored on it for offline extraction and study later when you're back in the shack. It wouldn't even require an internal TNC to download telemetry data - the audio file could simply be played back (offline) on a PC and the telemetry decoded there.
There are bound to be hundreds of similar ideas and dreams of new gear, antennas, and interesting things to do at LEO - let's populate the BB with these sorts of things and look forward, not back.
I'm more than ready to turn to a new chapter and get back to shaping the future of ham radio in space.
Aren't you?
73 de Jeff, KE9V AMSAT-NA 28350 _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
Hi Bill (and others)!
Many thanks for your appreciated words of support. The decision was very, very hard and I know we'll receive many slings and arrows for it, but while it sure wasn't our preferred project - it is a realistic one.
We all want a HEO or would even settle for a MEO but until someone can "show us the money" to get our satellite there, we're stuck in LEO, plain and simple.
This is the message that must go out from last weekend's AMSAT Symposium. Acknowledge what can - and can't - be done, and work on what we can do.
The 1U cubesat project, along with AMSAT working toward an agreement with the University of Florida and the collaboration with SUNY-Binghamton, need to proceed and all be successful. All of this needs support from us - monetary contributions for the construction and launch of the new satellite, as well as contributions of time from those who are able to work with the SUNY-Binghamton students as well as whatever is needed with the Florida efforts if an agreement is reached there.
Minutes after the end of the annual meeting Saturday, I was signing up for a life membership. Earlier today, I used the online store to make another contribution toward this new $100K fundraising goal for 2010. My skills are not those that are needed for the SUNY-Binghamton project, so I'll contribute in other ways - monetary donations, plus my time at hamfests or other events representing AMSAT. By the way, I will be at a hamfest in Tucson AZ on Saturday (17 October) morning with an AMSAT table and doing demonstrations on various satellites, which I'll elaborate on in another message later.
Like many, I'd love to have an HEO satellite. From here in Arizona, geography limits me to a relative handful of countries I can hear on our current crop of satellites. I was not on the satellites in the days of AO-10, AO-13, or AO-40. AO-7 doesn't get me to Europe or Asia from here. I'm a DXer at heart, so the thought of being able to work these places via satellite without the lack of propagation getting in the way is an appealing thought. Until that happens, I'm enjoying the LEO satellites, working different stations when close to home or on the road, and the friendships that have come from thousands of QSOs over the last 4 years. I'm hoping for an HEO bird, and at the same time I'm getting on the air.
As for the AMSAT board's choice of an FM satellite compared to a linear transponder, it seems simple to me when I look through my satellite log over the last 4 years. Many more work FM than SSB. I wish it wasn't that way, but the data doesn't lie. Drew pointed this out during a presentation at the Symposium, and his findings mirror what I see in my own logs. I am lucky to get 4 or even 6 QSOs on VO-52 or FO-29 on a single pass over the last 14-15 months I've been on those birds, and that would only happen during a hamfest demonstration. Admittedly, there are some passes on VO-52 where I have worked exactly one station - having a nice chat for the entire pass. VO-52 may be the best of our current crop of satellites, with a very strong downlink copyable with something other than a directional antenna (I've used a telescoping whip with my FT-817s to make a QSO not long ago). It also hears well, and I regularly cut my transmit power down to 500mW during many passes just to see how well I hear myself. If I'm looking to work a lot of stations on my road trips, the FM birds are the only way to go. I'm not going to work 20 or almost 30 stations on VO-52, but that's possible on AO-51 or even the 7-minute passes on AO-27 are good for sometimes up to 20 QSOs. Rather than waiting and hoping for an HEO satellite, I am happy to make good use of what we currently have - while waiting and hoping for an HEO satellite.
The plans for a U/V FM satellite are great, to have an FM satellite but swap the uplink and downlink bands around. I made 2 QSOs via SO-35 in 2000, using two HTs with long duckie antennas through that U/V FM satellite. There are also many QSOs that I've made through the ISS cross-band U/V repeater when it has been available, also enjoyable. It will be a nice change of pace, even if it means more of a challenge in having to deal with Doppler on the uplink instead of the downlink. I look forward to that.
I can tell you personally that one answer is to modify a LEO orbit. It's no at all easy but it is an intuitive alternate for a better orbit. I am also optimistic, given the papers on the subject at the Symposium, that creative thought will be given by AMSAT-NA on the subject. It's not an answer for next year or even five years out, but it's coming.
Yes, some of what was presented looks intriguing, and may be our way out of strictly LEO orbits.
I apologize if this message is a bit long. After the past year or so, it was great to see the plan unveiled last weekend by the AMSAT board. Maybe once we see the fruits of this plan will the radio manufacturers look closer at adding satellite capabilities to future offerings. It is exciting to see a plan which is more than "build one satellite", but lay the groundwork for many satellites and create partnerships and relationships with universities that are already building and launching their own satellites. None of this may be HEO, but we do need to have a plan for more satellites. This plan is a good one.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/
At 09:43 AM 10/14/2009 -0700, Bill Ress [email protected] mumbled:
We all want a HEO or would even settle for a MEO but until someone can "show us the money" to get our satellite there, we're stuck in LEO, plain and simple.
Hmmmmm, Interesting ....
How can the Board expect to get donations for a HEO satellite when for the past three or four years it hasn't ONCE demonstrated that it was even committed to building one? If the Board really wanted a HEO, it sure didn't act like it.
Guess it's gonna be more FM grid sats cause there's alot of grids out there that need exchanging.
73 DE KB7ADL, DN55, Thanks for the Grid!!!
Jeff,
I will second Bill's entire statement. With the advent of CubeSats, it feels as if a large RESET button which must be pushed. Now throw in ITAR, and there is a big metal box around the button which we need to find the key to open. ;) Glib comments not withstanding, these are issues which can't be finessed. However, there is in place a path which will over a reasonable period of time provide satellites we can use to communicate, develop and enhance university and institutional connections, and develop the pieces needed for a HEO satellite. The "beepsat" folks have not particular interest in a transponder, but imagine an off the shelf RF card which includes that as a standard feature. Remember that the technology used for these satellites can be scaled up for a larger and more capable satellite.
Alan WA4SCA
-----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Bill Ress Sent: 14 October, 2009 11:43 To: Jeff Davis Cc: [email protected] Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Let's Go!
Hi Jeff,
Many thanks for your appreciated words of support. The decision was very, very hard and I know we'll receive many slings and arrows for it, but while it sure wasn't our preferred project - it is a realistic one.
We all want a HEO or would even settle for a MEO but until someone can "show us the money" to get our satellite there, we're stuck in LEO, plain and simple.
I can tell you personally that one answer is to modify a LEO orbit. It's no at all easy but it is an intuitive alternate for a better orbit. I am also optimistic, given the papers on the subject at the Symposium, that creative thought will be given by AMSAT-NA on the subject. It's not an answer for next year or even five years out, but it's coming.
Regards...Bill - N6GHz
Jeff Davis wrote:
I want to offer 'hearty congratulations' to the BOD for the courageous decisions made at the recent Space Symposium. I can think of no headline more appropriate and welcome for this organization than the declaration, "We're going back to space".
Perhaps this decision to move forward with what we can do will also be what was needed to get the manufacturers to quit sitting on their hands and INNOVATE!
How many threads have been spawned on this BB by someone asking the question "what handheld should I buy to use AO-51"..?
The fact that the pat answer is that there aren't any - you need to check eBay for a 20 year-old model speaks pitifully of the ham radio marketplace in the 21st century.
Given the nature of LEO, portable operations are very common and going forward, will be even more so. Who among us wouldn't love a mobile sized transceiver that sported true simultaneous dual-band (VHF/UHF) operation and a continuously tunable VFO on FM in a 'satellite operation mode'?
What would it be worth if that radio also could record all pass data - and had a USB port that supported a memory stick so that everything received during a pass could stored on it for offline extraction and study later when you're back in the shack. It wouldn't even require an internal TNC to download telemetry data - the audio file could simply be played back (offline) on a PC and the telemetry decoded there.
There are bound to be hundreds of similar ideas and dreams of new gear, antennas, and interesting things to do at LEO - let's populate the BB with these sorts of things and look forward, not back.
I'm more than ready to turn to a new chapter and get back to shaping the future of ham radio in space.
Aren't you?
73 de Jeff, KE9V AMSAT-NA 28350 _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
_______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
Thanks for the vote of confidence Jeff. I'll repeat what Bill said; this was a tough decision, but based on reality and part of a larger plan forward. We are also working multiple rideshare opportunities, most of which will likely involve transponders rather than repeaters.
What we really need now is to raise the money we need to start design and construction, and get a launch contract in the works. The 1U cubesat is going to be a short fuse project if we can get the funding raised soon enough.
Barry's presentation at the annual meeting lays out the level of funds we need, approximately 100k this year and again next year, to support the 1U, and one or more rideshares. Our membership dues only cover keeping AMSAT alive and running the office, journal, webstore, etc.
Who'll be among the first to step up and pledge to support this project via the President's Club or other donations? Call Martha today at 1 888 322 6728 or donate via http://www.amsat-na.com/store/category.php?c=President%27s%20Club
73, Drew KO4MA
Jeff Davis wrote:
I want to offer 'hearty congratulations' to the BOD for the courageous decisions made at the recent Space Symposium. I can think of no headline more appropriate and welcome for this organization than the declaration, "We're going back to space".
Perhaps this decision to move forward with what we can do will also be what was needed to get the manufacturers to quit sitting on their hands and INNOVATE!
How many threads have been spawned on this BB by someone asking the question "what handheld should I buy to use AO-51"..?
The fact that the pat answer is that there aren't any - you need to check eBay for a 20 year-old model speaks pitifully of the ham radio marketplace in the 21st century.
Given the nature of LEO, portable operations are very common and going forward, will be even more so. Who among us wouldn't love a mobile sized transceiver that sported true simultaneous dual-band (VHF/UHF) operation and a continuously tunable VFO on FM in a 'satellite operation mode'?
What would it be worth if that radio also could record all pass data - and had a USB port that supported a memory stick so that everything received during a pass could stored on it for offline extraction and study later when you're back in the shack. It wouldn't even require an internal TNC to download telemetry data - the audio file could simply be played back (offline) on a PC and the telemetry decoded there.
There are bound to be hundreds of similar ideas and dreams of new gear, antennas, and interesting things to do at LEO - let's populate the BB with these sorts of things and look forward, not back.
I'm more than ready to turn to a new chapter and get back to shaping the future of ham radio in space.
Aren't you?
73 de Jeff, KE9V AMSAT-NA 28350 _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
Andrew, Is there any type of document around that provides a brief summary of all current Amsat projects and the type of funding / support that is needed for each?
This was my first time at the symposium and I haven't made it through all the pamphlets and papers yet, so forgive me if this was part of the package.
Joe
On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 2:31 PM, Andrew Glasbrenner < [email protected]> wrote:
Thanks for the vote of confidence Jeff. I'll repeat what Bill said; this was a tough decision, but based on reality and part of a larger plan forward. We are also working multiple rideshare opportunities, most of which will likely involve transponders rather than repeaters.
What we really need now is to raise the money we need to start design and construction, and get a launch contract in the works. The 1U cubesat is going to be a short fuse project if we can get the funding raised soon enough.
Barry's presentation at the annual meeting lays out the level of funds we need, approximately 100k this year and again next year, to support the 1U, and one or more rideshares. Our membership dues only cover keeping AMSAT alive and running the office, journal, webstore, etc.
Who'll be among the first to step up and pledge to support this project via the President's Club or other donations? Call Martha today at 1 888 322 6728 or donate via http://www.amsat-na.com/store/category.php?c=President%27s%20Club
73, Drew KO4MA
Jeff Davis wrote:
I want to offer 'hearty congratulations' to the BOD for the courageous decisions made at the recent Space Symposium. I can think of no headline more appropriate and welcome for this organization than the declaration, "We're going back to space".
Perhaps this decision to move forward with what we can do will also be what was needed to get the manufacturers to quit sitting on their hands and INNOVATE!
How many threads have been spawned on this BB by someone asking the question "what handheld should I buy to use AO-51"..?
The fact that the pat answer is that there aren't any - you need to check eBay for a 20 year-old model speaks pitifully of the ham radio marketplace in the 21st century.
Given the nature of LEO, portable operations are very common and going forward, will be even more so. Who among us wouldn't love a mobile sized transceiver that sported true simultaneous dual-band (VHF/UHF) operation and a continuously tunable VFO on FM in a 'satellite operation mode'?
What would it be worth if that radio also could record all pass data - and had a USB port that supported a memory stick so that everything received during a pass could stored on it for offline extraction and study later when you're back in the shack. It wouldn't even require an internal TNC to download telemetry data - the audio file could simply be played back (offline) on a PC and the telemetry decoded there.
There are bound to be hundreds of similar ideas and dreams of new gear, antennas, and interesting things to do at LEO - let's populate the BB with these sorts of things and look forward, not back.
I'm more than ready to turn to a new chapter and get back to shaping the future of ham radio in space.
Aren't you?
73 de Jeff, KE9V AMSAT-NA 28350 _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
Sent via [email protected]. 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 Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:29 PM, Joseph Armbruster [email protected] wrote:
Andrew, Is there any type of document around that provides a brief summary of all current Amsat projects and the type of funding / support that is needed for each?
This was my first time at the symposium and I haven't made it through all the pamphlets and papers yet, so forgive me if this was part of the package.
Joe
Hi,
if a gross estimate of $200,000 is needed for a stand-alone cubesat form mission, and there are "... about half are life-members..." of the 3,800 (re: Martha's estimate) of amsat-na members, that means that the average per capita support required from these active amsat-na members would be: $200,000 divided by (50% of 3800) = $200,000 / 1900 = $263 or so.
If $263 is a difficult amount to pay up front, then think of it in 24 monthly installments: $10 each month - not bad for a hobby compared to the price of a decent lunch at Burger King, KFC, Subway etc. The one thing I would need to know is this extra donation tax-exempt or not and would we get a receipt for it in time for U.S. taxes ?
I am willing to pay a bit more than that as my own donation soon for supporting AMSAT-NA sponsored R&D.
-samudra
On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 2:31 PM, Andrew Glasbrenner < [email protected]> wrote:
Thanks for the vote of confidence Jeff. I'll repeat what Bill said; this was a tough decision, but based on reality and part of a larger plan forward. We are also working multiple rideshare opportunities, most of which will likely involve transponders rather than repeaters.
What we really need now is to raise the money we need to start design and construction, and get a launch contract in the works. The 1U cubesat is going to be a short fuse project if we can get the funding raised soon enough.
Barry's presentation at the annual meeting lays out the level of funds we need, approximately 100k this year and again next year, to support the 1U, and one or more rideshares. Our membership dues only cover keeping AMSAT alive and running the office, journal, webstore, etc.
Who'll be among the first to step up and pledge to support this project via the President's Club or other donations? Call Martha today at 1 888 322 6728 or donate via http://www.amsat-na.com/store/category.php?c=President%27s%20Club
73, Drew KO4MA
Jeff Davis wrote:
I want to offer 'hearty congratulations' to the BOD for the courageous decisions made at the recent Space Symposium. I can think of no headline more appropriate and welcome for this organization than the declaration, "We're going back to space".
Perhaps this decision to move forward with what we can do will also be what was needed to get the manufacturers to quit sitting on their hands and INNOVATE!
How many threads have been spawned on this BB by someone asking the question "what handheld should I buy to use AO-51"..?
The fact that the pat answer is that there aren't any - you need to check eBay for a 20 year-old model speaks pitifully of the ham radio marketplace in the 21st century.
Given the nature of LEO, portable operations are very common and going forward, will be even more so. Who among us wouldn't love a mobile sized transceiver that sported true simultaneous dual-band (VHF/UHF) operation and a continuously tunable VFO on FM in a 'satellite operation mode'?
What would it be worth if that radio also could record all pass data - and had a USB port that supported a memory stick so that everything received during a pass could stored on it for offline extraction and study later when you're back in the shack. It wouldn't even require an internal TNC to download telemetry data - the audio file could simply be played back (offline) on a PC and the telemetry decoded there.
There are bound to be hundreds of similar ideas and dreams of new gear, antennas, and interesting things to do at LEO - let's populate the BB with these sorts of things and look forward, not back.
I'm more than ready to turn to a new chapter and get back to shaping the future of ham radio in space.
Aren't you?
73 de Jeff, KE9V AMSAT-NA 28350 _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
Sent via [email protected]. 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
Sent via [email protected]. 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
Sorry, that monthly figure should be $10.96 per month exactly.
On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:42 PM, Samudra Haque [email protected] wrote:
On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:29 PM, Joseph Armbruster [email protected] wrote:
Andrew, Is there any type of document around that provides a brief summary of all current Amsat projects and the type of funding / support that is needed for each?
This was my first time at the symposium and I haven't made it through all the pamphlets and papers yet, so forgive me if this was part of the package.
Joe
Hi,
if a gross estimate of $200,000 is needed for a stand-alone cubesat form mission, and there are "... about half are life-members..." of the 3,800 (re: Martha's estimate) of amsat-na members, that means that the average per capita support required from these active amsat-na members would be: $200,000 divided by (50% of 3800) = $200,000 / 1900 = $263 or so.
If $263 is a difficult amount to pay up front, then think of it in 24 monthly installments: $10 each month - not bad for a hobby compared to the price of a decent lunch at Burger King, KFC, Subway etc. The one thing I would need to know is this extra donation tax-exempt or not and would we get a receipt for it in time for U.S. taxes ?
I am willing to pay a bit more than that as my own donation soon for supporting AMSAT-NA sponsored R&D.
-samudra
On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 2:31 PM, Andrew Glasbrenner < [email protected]> wrote:
Thanks for the vote of confidence Jeff. I'll repeat what Bill said; this was a tough decision, but based on reality and part of a larger plan forward. We are also working multiple rideshare opportunities, most of which will likely involve transponders rather than repeaters.
What we really need now is to raise the money we need to start design and construction, and get a launch contract in the works. The 1U cubesat is going to be a short fuse project if we can get the funding raised soon enough.
Barry's presentation at the annual meeting lays out the level of funds we need, approximately 100k this year and again next year, to support the 1U, and one or more rideshares. Our membership dues only cover keeping AMSAT alive and running the office, journal, webstore, etc.
Who'll be among the first to step up and pledge to support this project via the President's Club or other donations? Call Martha today at 1 888 322 6728 or donate via http://www.amsat-na.com/store/category.php?c=President%27s%20Club
73, Drew KO4MA
Jeff Davis wrote:
I want to offer 'hearty congratulations' to the BOD for the courageous decisions made at the recent Space Symposium. I can think of no headline more appropriate and welcome for this organization than the declaration, "We're going back to space".
Perhaps this decision to move forward with what we can do will also be what was needed to get the manufacturers to quit sitting on their hands and INNOVATE!
How many threads have been spawned on this BB by someone asking the question "what handheld should I buy to use AO-51"..?
The fact that the pat answer is that there aren't any - you need to check eBay for a 20 year-old model speaks pitifully of the ham radio marketplace in the 21st century.
Given the nature of LEO, portable operations are very common and going forward, will be even more so. Who among us wouldn't love a mobile sized transceiver that sported true simultaneous dual-band (VHF/UHF) operation and a continuously tunable VFO on FM in a 'satellite operation mode'?
What would it be worth if that radio also could record all pass data - and had a USB port that supported a memory stick so that everything received during a pass could stored on it for offline extraction and study later when you're back in the shack. It wouldn't even require an internal TNC to download telemetry data - the audio file could simply be played back (offline) on a PC and the telemetry decoded there.
There are bound to be hundreds of similar ideas and dreams of new gear, antennas, and interesting things to do at LEO - let's populate the BB with these sorts of things and look forward, not back.
I'm more than ready to turn to a new chapter and get back to shaping the future of ham radio in space.
Aren't you?
73 de Jeff, KE9V AMSAT-NA 28350 _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
Sent via [email protected]. 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
Sent via [email protected]. 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
Samudra Haque wrote:
The one thing I would need to know is this extra donation tax-exempt or not and would we get a receipt for it in time for U.S. taxes ?
The answer is YES! In the past Martha and her crack office team have promptly sent me individual letters for every donation.
73, Drew
On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:42 PM, Samudra Haque [email protected] wrote:
if a gross estimate of $200,000 is needed for a stand-alone cubesat the average per capita support required from these active amsat-na members would be: $200,000 divided by (50% of 3800) = $200,000 / 1900 = $263 or so.
Or perhaps a bit more realistically ... we need 1000 people to donate $100 this year, and $100 next year.
Far and away the best bargain to come out of *any* AMSAT organization in the 21st century!
73 de Jeff, KE9V
$100 now and $100 later is a nice idea. But to a project manager that might mean "there is no guarantee that 2nd $100 will be available". But it is a good start..
Should we expect a note from our AMSAT-NA treasurer with a "call for donations" and a public website to monitor donations from members by region and other statistics ? Those metrics will be desirable for motivation to "pay up" and get recognition in the process. How has it worked in the past ?
-samudra, N3RDX
On Thu, Oct 15, 2009 at 7:45 AM, Jeff Davis [email protected] wrote:
On Wed, Oct 14, 2009 at 3:42 PM, Samudra Haque [email protected] wrote:
if a gross estimate of $200,000 is needed for a stand-alone cubesat the average per capita support required from these active amsat-na members would be: $200,000 divided by (50% of 3800) = $200,000 / 1900 = $263 or so.
Or perhaps a bit more realistically ... we need 1000 people to donate $100 this year, and $100 next year.
Far and away the best bargain to come out of *any* AMSAT organization in the 21st century!
73 de Jeff, KE9V
Joseph Armbruster wrote:
Andrew,
Is there any type of document around that provides a brief summary of all current Amsat projects and the type of funding / support that is needed for each?
This was my first time at the symposium and I haven't made it through all the pamphlets and papers yet, so forgive me if this was part of the package.
Joe
Not that I'm aware of, although it sounds like a good project for someone. Our fundraising goals for the 1U and our current rideshare opportunity is 200k over two years. We have few expenses from ARISSat-1, and considerably more from the ITAR and "other" attorneys we've needed this year.
73, Drew KO4MA
I'm getting back into FM LEO's and setting up a station. I will actually be using a 70cm HT to receive the downlink but I'll be in a base station configuration. I have no desire to operate portable or "out in the yard" with a hand held Arrow or similar antenna. The use of the HT is out of financial necessity. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against portable operation and I think the manufacturers should support it. It's just not for me. What I would really like to see someone come out with commercially is something along the lines of the Genesis SDR HF radio kits. If you haven't seen them, it's a kit for an SDR all mode QRP 40 meter HF radio. I'd like to see a kit for or even a prebuilt all mode 5 watt 2m/70cm SDR satellite radio. That would be cool to me. I know there are SDR groups out there. I wonder if anyone has anything like that in the works? 73, Michael, W4HIJ Jeff Davis wrote:
I want to offer 'hearty congratulations' to the BOD for the courageous decisions made at the recent Space Symposium. I can think of no headline more appropriate and welcome for this organization than the declaration, "We're going back to space".
Perhaps this decision to move forward with what we can do will also be what was needed to get the manufacturers to quit sitting on their hands and INNOVATE!
How many threads have been spawned on this BB by someone asking the question "what handheld should I buy to use AO-51"..?
The fact that the pat answer is that there aren't any - you need to check eBay for a 20 year-old model speaks pitifully of the ham radio marketplace in the 21st century.
Given the nature of LEO, portable operations are very common and going forward, will be even more so. Who among us wouldn't love a mobile sized transceiver that sported true simultaneous dual-band (VHF/UHF) operation and a continuously tunable VFO on FM in a 'satellite operation mode'?
What would it be worth if that radio also could record all pass data - and had a USB port that supported a memory stick so that everything received during a pass could stored on it for offline extraction and study later when you're back in the shack. It wouldn't even require an internal TNC to download telemetry data - the audio file could simply be played back (offline) on a PC and the telemetry decoded there.
There are bound to be hundreds of similar ideas and dreams of new gear, antennas, and interesting things to do at LEO - let's populate the BB with these sorts of things and look forward, not back.
I'm more than ready to turn to a new chapter and get back to shaping the future of ham radio in space.
Aren't you?
73 de Jeff, KE9V AMSAT-NA 28350 _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
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Amen!
Not only would it be cool, but today's crop of netbook computers would make it appeal to base and portable enthusiasts alike!
________________________________ From: Michael Tondee [email protected] Cc: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 4:16:23 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: Let's Go!
I'm getting back into FM LEO's and setting up a station. I will actually be using a 70cm HT to receive the downlink but I'll be in a base station configuration. I have no desire to operate portable or "out in the yard" with a hand held Arrow or similar antenna. The use of the HT is out of financial necessity. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against portable operation and I think the manufacturers should support it. It's just not for me. What I would really like to see someone come out with commercially is something along the lines of the Genesis SDR HF radio kits. If you haven't seen them, it's a kit for an SDR all mode QRP 40 meter HF radio. I'd like to see a kit for or even a prebuilt all mode 5 watt 2m/70cm SDR satellite radio. That would be cool to me. I know there are SDR groups out there. I wonder if anyone has anything like that in the works? 73, Michael, W4HIJ Jeff Davis wrote:
I want to offer 'hearty congratulations' to the BOD for the courageous decisions made at the recent Space Symposium. I can think of no headline more appropriate and welcome for this organization than the declaration, "We're going back to space".
Perhaps this decision to move forward with what we can do will also be what was needed to get the manufacturers to quit sitting on their hands and INNOVATE!
How many threads have been spawned on this BB by someone asking the question "what handheld should I buy to use AO-51"..?
The fact that the pat answer is that there aren't any - you need to check eBay for a 20 year-old model speaks pitifully of the ham radio marketplace in the 21st century.
Given the nature of LEO, portable operations are very common and going forward, will be even more so. Who among us wouldn't love a mobile sized transceiver that sported true simultaneous dual-band (VHF/UHF) operation and a continuously tunable VFO on FM in a 'satellite operation mode'?
What would it be worth if that radio also could record all pass data - and had a USB port that supported a memory stick so that everything received during a pass could stored on it for offline extraction and study later when you're back in the shack. It wouldn't even require an internal TNC to download telemetry data - the audio file could simply be played back (offline) on a PC and the telemetry decoded there.
There are bound to be hundreds of similar ideas and dreams of new gear, antennas, and interesting things to do at LEO - let's populate the BB with these sorts of things and look forward, not back.
I'm more than ready to turn to a new chapter and get back to shaping the future of ham radio in space.
Aren't you?
73 de Jeff, KE9V AMSAT-NA 28350 _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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
No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.14.16/2435 - Release Date: 10/14/09 06:33:00
_______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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 (11)
-
Alan P. Biddle -
Andrew Glasbrenner -
Bill Ress -
Jeff Davis -
Joseph Armbruster -
Michael Tondee -
Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) -
Samudra Haque -
Samudra Haque N3RDX -
Tim - N3TL -
Vince Fiscus, KB7ADL