- Amsat-dc (INACTIVE) - mailman.amsat.org

MD-DC Area Test Team ARISS L-Band Challenge
by Pat Kilroy 19 Dec '08

19 Dec '08

Hi! Anyone want to experiment with me? To try a contact through the ARISS cross- band repeater in L/V mode (see announcement below), I have an L-band antenna, feedline, and all the V-band equipment. But I need someone with a means to transmit FM voice on 1269.650 MHz. Shall we team up? Otherwise, anyone have an L-band transverter in good working condition to loan or sell soon? Cheers, Pat N8PK Sykesville, Md. 21784 (FM19mk) Carroll Co. > -----Original Message----- > From: ARRL Letter Mailing List > Sent: Friday, December 19, 2008 11:19 AM > To: pat(a)patkilroy.com > Subject: The ARRL Letter, Vol 27, No 50 (Friday, December 19, 2008) > > *************** > The ARRL Letter > Vol. 27, No. 50 > December 19, 2008 > *************** > > IN THIS EDITION: > [snip] > * + ARISS Finalizes Plans for Silver Anniversary of Amateur Radio from > Space [snip] > > +Available on ARRL Audio News <http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/audio/> > > REMINDER: There will be no ARRL Letter or ARRL Audio News on Friday > December 26, 2008 or January 2, 2009. Both the Letter and the Audio News > will return on Friday, January 9, 2009. > [snip] > > ==> ARISS FINALIZES PLANS FOR SILVER ANNIVERSARY OF AMATEUR RADIO FROM > SPACE > > The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) > <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm> team is currently celebrating the > silver anniversary -- 25 years -- of Amateur Radio operations from > space. According to ARISS International Chairman Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, > the crew on the International Space Station (ISS) has configured the > radio to support cross-band repeater operations. They have also > supported some SSTV downlinks and participated in a special test of 9600 > baud packet radio operations on the simplex frequency of 145.825 MHz. > After December 19, Bauer said he expects the ISS ham radio system to be > on the 145.825 MHz frequency supporting 1200 baud packet. If PCSAT is > configured during the week, he said double hop APRS is possible. > > "During the week of December 21-26, we plan to support the cross-band > repeater mode with a twist," Bauer said. "Our intent is to configure the > radio for 145.99 MHz uplink -- including CTCSS tone of 67.0 and 437.80 > MHz down. This will be performed in low power mode. We should also note > that an extra-vehicular activity (EVA) is planned for that week -- > Expedition 18 Commander Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, and Flight Engineer Yury > Lonchakov, RA3DT, plan to perform a spacewalk on December 22. As per > standard procedure, the ISS ham radio system will be turned off for the > EVA." > > Bauer said that from December 28-January 3, the cross-band repeater will > be reconfigured for what he called "a special experiment. This will be a > test of our L-Band uplink capability, which, to date, has not been > proven out. Plan for an uplink of 1269.65 MHz and a downlink on the > standard frequency of 145.80 MHz, using low power," he said. "Given the > substantial cable losses of the L-band system, we hope some 'big guns' > are able to penetrate through, keep up with Doppler and make the > connection." > > A special certificate is being developed for those who communicate with > the ISS from November 30, 2008 to January 15, 2009. This certificate > will be awarded to those who have had two-way communications with the > ISS on voice, packet (APRS) or through the voice repeater. Those who > hear the ISS from space in any of the ARISS operations modes -- voice, > SSTV, school contact, voice repeater or digital - will also be eligible > to receive a certificate. > > To receive the certificate, Bauer said to note the ARISS mode of > operation (such as SSTV, voice or school) on your QSL and whether the > contact was one-way (receive only) or two-way. "You should send your > self-addressed, stamped envelope to the normal ARISS QSL volunteer > distributor in your area of the world," he explained. "On the outside of > the QSL envelope, please include the words '25th Anniversary > Certificate.' Make sure your envelope is big enough to accept an 8.5 x > 11 inch certificate and includes the proper postage." If you do not know > where to send your QSL, check the ARISS Web site > <http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm#ARISS_Update--25th_Anniversary_of_Ha > m_Radio_in_Space> to find the one that serves your part of the world. > > "We will be sending your certificate to the volunteer distributors in > bulk after the event is over," Bauer said. "This saves workload and > money. So do not expect to see it until 1-2 months after the event > closes on January 15." > > Bauer reminded hams that due to ISS flight requirements related to > spacewalks and vehicle activity, the radio onboard the ISS may be off > for some portion of this schedule. School contacts and general QSO > opportunities by the crew will also preempt this schedule for short > periods of time. "But remember that if you hear these," he said, "you > still qualify for a commemorative certificate. Enjoy the ARISS ops on > ISS!" > > == [snip] ===== >From Weekly Satellite Report WSR-353: INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) - ARISS Catalog number: 25544 Launch date: November 20, 1998 Status: Operational Current Active Modes: FM Repeater - U/v Voice - V/v BBS - V/v APRS - V/v 9k6 SSTV - V/v Expedition 18 Crew: Commander: Mike Fincke KE5AIT Flight Engineer: Yury Lonchakov RA3DT Flight Engineer: Sandra Magnus KE5FYE Available Modes and Frequencies: Digital/APRS: Worldwide packet uplink: 145.825 MHz FM 9k6 Worldwide packet downlink: 145.825 Mhz FM 9k6 Voice: Region 1 voice uplink: 145.200 MHz FM Region 2/3 voice uplink: 144.490 MHz FM Worldwide downlink: 145.800 MHz FM Crossband Repeater: Repeater Uplink: 437.800 MHz FM Repeater Downlink: 145.800 MHz FM SSTV Robot 36: Downlink: 145.800 MHz FM Mode and Antenna Polarization: V: Linear U: Linear Callsigns: Belgian: OR4ISS German: DP0ISS Russian: RS0ISS RZ3DZR United States: NA1SS Packet Mailbox: RS0ISS-11 Digipeater callsign: ARISS Official ARISS Webpage: http://www.rac.ca/ariss ISS Fan Club Webpage: http://www.issfanclub.com APRS tracking page: http://www.ariss.net/ ISS Daily Crew Schedule: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines Remember that the crew operates on UTC time. Also, all of the time line is NOT translated from Russian and posted. [121812008] NNNN /EX

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Space-X presentation at NASA Goddard on Monday
by Daniel Schultz 12 Dec '08

12 Dec '08

Monday's Goddard Engineering Colloquium will feature Mr. Steve Davis, Lead Systems Engineer for the Space-X Dragon spacecraft. (Elon Musk apparently had to cancel and sent Steve instead). If any local Amsat people would like to attend, (and maybe beg him for a free satellite launch) please get in touch with me or Pat Kilroy. You will need one of us to escort you through Goddard security. I will not be at my normal work location on Monday, so call me at home before Sunday night at 301-879-8377, or call Pat at work on Monday at 301-286-1984. This offer is regrettably limited to US citizens. Dan Schultz N8FGV ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 ENGINEERING COLLOQUIUM Monday, December 15, 2008 / 3:30 PM, Building 3 Auditorium Steve Davis "Falcons and Dragons: Economical Liftoffs for Science Payloads, Cargo, and People" ABSTRACT -- A new vehicle for small payloads, the Falcon, was successfully launched in September. Designed for cost efficiency and reliability, the Falcon series of spacecraft can provide an affordable option for science and engineering researchers to get their payloads to orbit, either LEO or, with the Falcon 9, geo-synchronous. In addition to describing the Falcon spacecraft, the speaker will describe the Dragon. The Dragon spacecraft is made up of a pressurized capsule and unpressurized trunk used for Earth to LEO transport of pressurized cargo, unpressurized cargo, and/or crew members. Initiated internally by Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) in 2005, Dragon will be utilized to fulfill a NASA COTS contract for demonstration of cargo re-supply of the ISS. SPEAKER -- Mr. Davis of Space Exploration Technologies Corporation (SpaceX) (http://www.spacex.com) is Lead Systems Engineer for Dragon, a free-flying reusable spacecraft being developed under NASA's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program for the delivery of cargo and crew to the International Space Station (ISS). In this role, Davis is responsible for the technical management of 25 engineers, overall system and mission design, and interfacing with the ISS program to ensure ISS-Dragon compatibility. Prior to his role as Lead Systems Engineer on Dragon, Davis designed, analyzed and tested the guidance system for the SpaceX Falcon 1, the first privately-developed liquid fuel rocket to achieve Earth orbit.

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Time Is Running Out
by Martha 26 Sep '08

26 Sep '08

We are about to lose our room block at the Buckhead Doubletree in Atlanta. If you are planning to attend the 2008 AMSAT Symposium, you need to make your room reservations ASAP. Their direct phone number is 404-231-1234. The room rate is $125 per night and the Group Code is ASG. For a list of speakers, go to the AMSAT website. -- 73- Martha

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For Sale - TrakBox Rotor/Radio Controller
by Robert Felt 30 Jul '08

30 Jul '08

Wednesday 7-30-08 To All: For Sale - "TrakBox" Satellite tracker, antenna rotor controller for stand alone operation. (JARL design, TAPR kit) The trakbox is a self-contained, stand-alone rotor/radio control for use with your satellite stations. Select the satellite you wish to track from a front panel control and the TrakBox will steer your antennas in both azimuth and elevation to track the selected satellite when it is or above your horizon. In addition, if you have a radio with a computer interface, the TrakBox will tune your transmitter and receiver and correct them for doppler shift. TrakBox is set up to directly interface to Kenpro, Emmoto, and Yaesu dual-axis rotators which include a computer interface. Trakbox includes a serial port to allow you to set the real-time clock (which is battery backed), your station location (latitude, longitude and elevation) and the keplerian elements for the satellites you are interested in (up to 40 satellites may be loaded, and the elements may be uploaded in ASCII in either the AMSAT or NASA formats). A two-line LCD display is updated every second, showing the azimuth and elevation of a satellite, along with the satellite ID and GMT. See Complete description and docs at TAPR web page: http://www.tapr.org/kits_trakbox.html I built this kit from TAPR back in the late 1990's. It provided excellent service. Still works fine. Asking $130.00, OBO Thanks, //Bob// Robert Felt --KB5YZG-- 1403 5th Ave West Hendersonville, NC 28739 tel 828-696-4103

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AMSAT Pocomoke Lab schedule
by Robert Davis 02 Jul '08

02 Jul '08

Dear prospective lab volunteers, I've decided to enjoy Washington DC for the weekend of 4th of July. This is a change from my earlier tentative schedule. Sat July 5 - Closed Sat July 12 - Open 9-5 Sat July 19 - Open 9-noon (tentative); We're at the Salisbury Barnes & Noble for a kids' (& parents') technology day at 2pm! This outreach to kids is partially based on "A Dangerous Book for Boys" which mentions Morse code. Sat July 26 - Open 9-5 (tentative) For directions, map to the intersection of Pocomoke Belt & Broad St in Pocomoke City, MD 21851 (the actual address maps incorrectly). Or GPS N 38 03.381, W 75 33.651. I don't require (but do appreciate) an RSVP by email or phone. My cell is 443-783-7794. We've been working on the ground station plan and Eagle satellite mechanical design. I have materials for both that I can email upon request. 73 bob Robert Davis KF4KSS

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AMSAT Pocomoke Lab schedule
by Robert Davis 09 Jun '08

09 Jun '08

Prospective lab volunteers, The AMSAT Lab in Pocomoke has the following schedule: Sat June 14 - Open 9-5 Sat June 21 - Open 9-5 Sat June 28 - Closed Sat July 5 - Open 9-5 (tentative) Sat July 12 - Open 9-5 (tentative) Sat July 19 - Closed; We're at the Salisbury Barnes & Noble for a kids' (& parents') technology day! For directions, map to the intersection of Pocomoke Belt & Broad St in Pocomoke City, MD 21851 (the actual address maps incorrectly). Or GPS N 38 03.381, W 75 33.651. I don't require (but do appreciate) an RSVP by email or phone. My cell is 443-783-7794. We've been working on the ground station plan and Eagle satellite mechanical design. I have materials for both that I can email upon request. 73 bob Robert Davis KF4KSS

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Obituaries for Ron
by Daniel Schultz 15 May '08

15 May '08

Obituaries for Ron http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/14/AR200805140… http://www.gazette.net/stories/051408/burtnew230217_32358.shtml

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WA4SIR Final Arrangements
by wmt9b 11 May '08

11 May '08

>From http://www.arrl.org/sections/MDC.html ..................... Ron made his home in Silver Spring, Maryland, loved amateur radio and was a member of the Goddard [Space Flight Center] Amateur Radio Club (GARC). Friends may call at Collins Funeral Home, 500 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring, MD from 2 pm to 4 pm and 7 pm to 9 pm on Friday, May 16th. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Resurrection Church, 3315 Greencastle Road, Burtonsville, MD on Saturday, May 17 at 10 am Interment will be at Burtonsville Union Cemetery.

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AMSAT/ARISS photos from Space Day by W4ART
by Perry Klein 10 May '08

10 May '08

Art Feller, W4ART has posted photos from AMSAT/ARISS participation at Space Day at the National Air and Space Museum to http://picasaweb.google.com/oojimoe/2008SpaceDayNASM Thanks, Art! Perry, W3PK

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AMSAT Lab in Pocomoke
by Robert Davis 10 May '08

10 May '08

To all prospective lab volunteers, The AMSAT Lab in Pocomoke will be closed the following Saturdays: May 17 because of the Dayton Hamfest in Ohio! May 24 because of the it's Memorial Weekend! We'll probably be open May 31, but I'll decide later! More schedule update before then! Today, J.C. and I put together the beginnings of the full-scale engineering unit of the Eagle satellite structure. This consists of only the inner 4 honeycomb panels where electronics are mounted. We also mounted four channels and two electronics boxes. At the moment it's all held together with a few rivets and bubble gum. When it returns, we'll continue to work on it. We want to finish it, because this is our practice unit. Ray will take the full-scale engineering unit and the half-scale model of Eagle, along with some photos and stuff, to the Dayton Hamfest. http://www.hamvention.org/ I'll have another update before May 31st. 73 bob Robert Davis KF4KSS

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ISS Contact on Saturday Reported a Success
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-568.0) 05 May '08

05 May '08

Atta boy! Good job to a good team! We hope all the volunteers will be recognized by name for us soon. (See below.) Congratulations! Sincerely, Pat N8PK THIS JUST RELEASED . . . SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-124.05 NA1SS Contacts The National Air and Space Museum AMSAT News Service Bulletin 124.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. May 4, 2008 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-124.05 An International Space Station Expedition 17 ARISS school contact was held with participants at the National Air and Space Museum (NASM), Washington, DC, USA on 03 May. NN1SS in Maryland performed earth station duties and provided the telebridge between NA1SS and the National Air and Space Museum. The contact was audible over most of the Eastern USA on the 145.80 MHz downlink. This ARISS contact is part of the space day events celebrating NASA's 50th anniversary. This event is made possible by the generous support of Lockheed Martin. The ARISS/AMSAT exhibit wass in the new "America by Air" gallery, Gallery 102 on the first floor, just past the Museum Store before you reach the Flight Simulators. The display featured ARISS and AMSAT hardware. Mr. Kemp and students from his Systems Engineering Class at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology explained their progress on their Cubesat project. [ANS thanks Kenneth, N5VHO and Perry, W3PK for the above information] /EX

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AMSAT ARISS ISS contact on Space Day, Sat., May 3 at Air and Space Museum downtown
by Perry Klein 30 Apr '08

30 Apr '08

Space Day this year is this Saturday, May 3 from 10 AM to 3 PM at the downtown National Air and Space Museum location. This year, ARISS/AMSAT will have our exhibit in the new "America byAir" gallery, Gallery 102 on the first floor, just past the Museum Store before you reach the Flight Simulators. Below is an NASM press release. The theme this year is NASA's50th Anniversary, and the press release lists as a highlight, an amateur radiocontact with the ISS. Will Marchant, KC6ROL reports that the program introducing the contact begins at 11:40 AM, Astronaut Dr. Lee Merin will present an overview at 11:50, and actual ISS AOS is at 12:10 PM. If you've never seen an ARISS ISS contact, this is an excellent opportunity that once witnessed first-hand, you're not likely to forget! We'll also have ARISS and AMSAT hardware on display for Space Day from 10 to 3. And we're hoping to have Mr. Kemp and students from his Systems Engineering Class at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. They'll explain their progress on their Cubesat project and show some hardware. This is an especially exciting week with the launch on Monday of six Cubesats using amateur radio frequencies, on an Indian rocket. The satellites were built by university student teams in Canada, Denmark, Germany, Japan (2), and the Netherlands. ARRL's story is at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2008/04/28/10067/?nc=1 Try to travel via Metro (L'Enfant Plaza Station, Maryland Ave. Exit. Orange, Yellow, Blue or Green lines). There's a Nationals game at the new Ballpark Saturday beginning at 1:05 PM, so traffic is likely to be unpredictable. I hope you can join us! 73, Perry, W3PK cell: (202) 438-8830 Press Release April 21, 2008 Public information: 202-633-1000 Celebrate Space Day at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Visitorsof all ages are invited for a galactic adventure at the National Air and Space Museum ’s annual Space Day Saturday, May 3,celebrating NASA’s 50th anniversary this year. Space Daywill feature a busy schedule of astronaut appearances; live performances by theaward-winning a cappella group The Chromatics; an interactive space quiz; LEGOdisplays of real and imagined space vehicles by WAMALUG (Washington Metro AreaUsers Group), NASA and National Air and Space Museum scientists; and tours and stories forchildren. Among the day’s highlights will be alive contact via amateur radio with the International Space Station at 11:30 a.m. Astronaut Garrett Reisman willbe available to answer students' and young visitors' questions for an hour. SpaceDay, created in 1997 by Lockheed Martin, is designed to encouragestudents to consider careers in space exploration as they study math, science,engineering and technology. Lockheed Martin sponsors Space Day eventsacross the United States andCanada , with morethan 70 partners and associates, including the National Air and Space Museum and NASA. Organizationsoffering activity stations at the museum include NASA,the Northern Virginia Association of Rocketry, Team America Rocketry, AMSAT-Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation andWashington Metro Area Users Group. The National Air and Space Museum building on the National Mall in Washington , D.C. , is located at Sixth Street and Independence Avenue S.W. The museum’s Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center is located in Chantilly , Va. , near Washington Dulles International Airport . Both facilities are open daily from 10 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. (Closed Dec. 25)Admission is free, but there is a $12 fee for parking at the Udvar-Hazy Center .

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2.4GHZ Beacon in Red Lion, PA
by Charles Heisler -K3VDB- 25 Apr '08

25 Apr '08

As some of you know, The W3HZU Beacons located on Grid FM19qv on Freqs of 2.4GHZ and 1.2GHZ has preformed flawlessly for over a year now. This note is just to let you know we have temporally taken both beacons off the air in preparation to add a third beacon on a freq. of 5.76GHZ. I will post a message on this BB when the beacons are back on the air. Charlie K3VDB

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Re: : Information Request
by Pat Kilroy 24 Apr '08

24 Apr '08

Yes, indeed. EVERYBODY PLEASE see the message from a ham in northern Virginia, below. If you want to use a copy of Rick Hambly's PowerPoint slides from our recent AMSAT-DC meeting (or after Dayton) then say so. Cheers, Pat N8PK Archives http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo http://amsat.org/pipermail/amsat-dc/2008/date.html > -----Original Message----- > From: Martha [mailto:martha@AMSAT.Org] > Sent: Thursday, April 24, 2008 03:52 PM > To: n8pk(a)AMSAT.Org, rrbunn(a)cox.net > Subject: Fwd: Information Request > > Pat - Would you post this on AMSAT-DC. > > ---------- Forwarded message ---------- > From: AMSAT Website <www(a)amsat.org> > Date: Thu, Apr 24, 2008 at 3:09 PM > Subject: Information Request > To: martha(a)amsat.org > > > This message originated from the AMSAT website > > Sender: Richard Bunn Email: RRBunn(a)cox.net > Host: proxy-ext-77.osd.mil > > Subject: Information Request > > Message: > I am the president of the Alexandria Radio CLub in Alexandria VA. I would > like to arrange for a AMSAT program either on July 11th or August 8th at > 7:30 PM at the Alexandria Fire Training Center. > > We have a few AMSAT members in the club, but we would like to hear about > current and future satellites and possibly what equipment is needed to work > these satellites. > > Best Regards / 73 > Rick Bunn > N4ASX > > Phone Number: 703-695-9880 Best Time to Call: 0730 am Eastern > > (end of message) > > > Problems with this message? Email to w0eec(a)amsat.org > >

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Re: Space Day (3 May) planning?
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-568.0) 21 Apr '08

21 Apr '08

Hi Bob, Was good to see you at the AMSAT-DC meeting. Thanks for your message. I have not heard any more details yet either, except that I myself may not end up being at the National Air and Space Museum this time in favor of likely helping with the NASM Space Day ARISS contact at the NA1SS station in Greenbelt. I trust that as soon as more news is available, Frank Bauer KA3HDO and others will post them to the amsat-dc list. So, let's keep an eye out. Cheers, Pat N8PK -----Original Message----- From: Robert Morales [mailto:wp4bqv@gmail.com] Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 2:25 PM To: Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-568.0) Subject: Space Day (3 May) planning? Hi Pat, Hadn't seen any traffic regarding whether there was still a need to man the Space Day activities in DC on 3 May. You're probably not the PoC, but I figured I'd start with you :) How goes the battle over there at GSFC? I'm in the same I&T racket as you, albeit for Navy programs on the other side of the Potomac. 73s de Bob, WP4BQV. -- R. L. Morales, WP4BQV wp4bqv(a)gmail.com http://journals.aol.com/wp4bqv/RadioIntercepts/ Echolink node# 165727 APRS mobile: WP4BQV-7 "Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." - Carl Sagan

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AMSAT Lab volunteers
by Robert Davis 18 Apr '08

18 Apr '08

To all prospective volunteers of the AMSAT Lab in Pocomoke, The AMSAT Lab will be open: Sat Apr 5 9a-5p Sat Apr 12 10a-4p (thanks to Steve who will keep the lab open most of the day while I'm at the Sussex County Hamfest www.k3str.com) Just came back from the monthly meeting of the Lewes Amateur Radio Club in Delaware. I gave a presentation covering "what is AMSAT" and "what are we doing". I think they got a kick out of it, and I always do. Anyway, I will update the online photos this weekend. We have a call for volunteers for a couple of subjects: 1) machinist for Saturday help or work at home. This is for holes & such in boxes used on SuitSat-2 which will be taken to the International Space Station for release by an astronaut. 2) volunteers for an education outreach balloon launch with amateur radio gear. This would be over the summer and we're looking for help in organizing it ahead of time, and of course for volunteers for the actual event. As always, more later! If you're interested in coming by and don't know where we are, or just you have a question, email me at KF4KSS(a)amsat.org or call my cell 443-783-7794. 73 bob Robert Davis KF4KSS

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NatGeo to Use TV Frequencies for Wildlife Sensing, Imaging in DC Area
by Eric Rosenberg 11 Apr '08

11 Apr '08

FYI, Eric W3DQ Washington, DC --------------------------- TV Technology Email Newsletters :: Doug Lung's RF Report NatGeo to Use TV Frequencies for Wildlife Sensing, Imaging by Doug Lung, April 11, 2008 The latest list of FCC experimental license grants, covering the period from Jan. 1, 2008, to Feb. 1, 2008, includes a license allowing use of VHF and UHF TV frequencies for wildlife sensing and imaging within Washington, D.C. License WE2XMB allows National Geographic to operate in the 54–72, 76–88, 174–216, 420–432, 433.92, 470–608, 614–806 and 902–928 MHz bands Ham Radio operators around Boulder, Colo., may hear unusual signals in the 2 meter and 440 MHz bands. The Colorado Space Grant Consortium at the University of Colorado in Boulder received a license to operate in the 144–146 and 435–440 MHz bands for testing the atmospheric neutral density explorer. As previously covered in RF Report, the FCC has been granting experimental licenses to nuclear power plant operators allowing them to use broadcast TV spectrum for communications around nuclear reactors. In the latest list, Nuclear Management Company LLC was allowed to use 470–806 MHz at the Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant in Welch, Minn. Boeing was granted an experimental license to use Ku-band satellite frequencies for testing a Maritime Mobile Satellite Earth terminal in the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, U.S territories and international waters. See the latest list of FCC experimental license grants for the complete list.

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Re: Just found you
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-568.0) 25 Mar '08

25 Mar '08

Hello Scott, Thanks for your message. Glad to meet you. Do you *live* in the Waldorf, Md. area as well? There are several AMSAT members in southern Maryland, as you will discover while you hang out with us on the amsat-dc e-mail list, meet on various local repeaters, run into each other at local hamfests, and participate in AMSAT activities in the Maryland-D.C. area. Several of us will be at the hamfest in Timonium, Md. on Saturday/Sunday, March 29-30. We will host an AMSAT table there. Hope you can attend. Many of us will be celebrating Space Day 2008 at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum next to the national mall in D.C. on Saturday, May 3. Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, and others are organizing the AMSAT events that day with planning in the works, so keep an eye out for news on the amsat-dc list, on www.amsat.org and in the AMSAT Journal. Please join us! Lockheed Martin is presenting Family Space Day at the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Organization Type: Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum. We expect 10,000 participants for this event. Admission: Free. http://www.nasm.si.edu/ Other activities abound. Watch too the ANS bulletins! Hope to meet you in the main stream sometime soon. Sincerely, Pat N8PK Pat Kilroy Building 5, Mail Code 568 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: +1-301-286-1984 E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov ________________________________ From: N3UJJ (Scott Gillis) [mailto:N3UJJ@N3UJJ.COM] Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 12:50 PM To: Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-568.0) Subject: Just found you Pat, I just found your site (and AMSAT-dc mailing list), wish I had found it 2 weeks ago.... I'm still getting my Sat-Station set up in my shack Any local contacts that I can bounce ideas off, on the following hardware/software ? PCSAT32 Icom IC-910H Yaesu GS-5500 (with GS-232B) Gulf Alpha 2 Meter 5X5 Cross Polarity <file:///\\Product%20Page%202%20m%205%20ele%20cross%20pol%20yagi.html> Yagi Gulf Alpha <file:///\\Product%20Page%202%20m%205%20ele%20cross%20pol%20yagi.html> 70CM 8x8 Cross Polarity Yagi Just got everything up last week and now am fine tuning everything.... I seem to have more questions every day Scott Gillis N3UJJ My Current Location <http://location.n3ujj.com> My Amateur Weather Station <http://weather.n3ujj.com/> Scott Gillis Systems Administrator Toyota of Waldorf 2600 Crain Highway Waldorf, MD 20601 301.843.3700 (Receptionist) 240.607.1220 (Direct Line) 301.399.0439 (Cell Phone) 164*22*23122 (Nextel Direct Connect)

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AMSAT Lab volunteers!
by Robert Davis 18 Mar '08

18 Mar '08

To all prospective lab volunteers, We finally have liability coverage for our volunteer activities at the Pocomoke facility! Yahoo! Sorry for that delay. We all sort of thought that it would be a faster process. Even though it's Easter weekend, the AMSAT Lab will be open this Saturday. Please join us if you can! I want complete the cleanroom and start cleaning up the lab for use. Schedule: Sat Mar 22 OPEN Sat Mar 29 OPEN A couple days ago, I attended the AMSAT-DC Annual Meeting and Space Seminar. Had a good time, met some good people, and gave a presentation on the lab status. http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc/ On Wed Mar 2, I will attend the Lewes Amateur Radio Society club meeting. I will have a presentation at 7pm on the AMSAT Lab status & projects. www.lewesars.net On Sat Mar 12, I will attend the Sussex County Hamfest. I will have the same presentation about 11:15-noon on the AMSAT Lab status & projects. www.k3str.com All are welcome to either of these upcoming events. The lab *may* be closed on Sat Mar 12. More schedule later, as that's as far as I can see into the future! For questions or directions, email me at KF4KSS(a)amsat.org or call my cell 443-783-7794. 73 bob Robert Davis KF4KSS

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March 15 Meeing Followups
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-568.0) 17 Mar '08

17 Mar '08

Hi all, What a wonderful time we had, right? The photos, meeting minutes and comments are starting to flow in, thank you! Here are some status points and some requests for follow up, if possible and if not out of line, . . . 1. Please go to the web page, get a copy of the updated agenda, and scan for any more corrections needed. I will make the changes and then we will upload the copy to serve us For The Record. Presenters are graciously asked to check the title I have listed, because some of them are my own "cutesy" titles I had made up before the meeting. Thank you again for your support! 2. Those who brought in hardware for our hi-tech Show 'n' Tell, I believe I have on record what it is and who it belongs to. This information will be reflected in the record. If you wish to list/describe the hardware YOURSELF then please shoot me an e-mail with your text. Thank you! 3. Please let me know if I missed anyone in the "TNX List" at the bottom of the agenda. I want to capture all of our contributors to our successful meeting and space seminar and make each of you/them known. Thank you again! 4. The meeting minutes were ALREADY offered to me by Bruce Semple, WA3SWJ, and so I am doing some "touch ups" on his rather excellent work. They will be released this week for all. Any one who wishes to, in turn, add, clarify points, or "correct" anything will have a 24-48 hour opportunity to do so before they become our official "record". So BE READY and keep an eye out! 5. For photos, I wonder if we could embed the date, callsign and name, either in the image itself -OR- in the filename of each image? Example: XXXXXXXXX-2008-0315-Bob-WP4BQV.jpg, where XXXXXXXXX is your own filename or index number, followed by the mks date format, name and callsign, all separated by a dash. In the case of a hardware picture, maybe this: XXXXXXXXXX-2008-0315-N4ZPT-hardware. And then the name or callsign of the person who took or otherwise offered the photo in the first place should be represented too: W4ART-XXXXXXXXXX-2008-0315-K3IO-hardware.jpg? Or XXXXXXXXXX-W4ART-2008-0315-K3IO-hardware.jpg, where all after the date is a "description" of the photo subject. 6. We will soon identify on the amsat-dc reflector each "Special Interest List" page that was sent around the room for sign up. That way, others may sign up for a particular activity too. My last count was two by Frank Bauer, KA3HDO (one for the Space Day activity at the National Air & Space Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, May 3, and the other for a special AMSAT activity on the National Mall to take place during the annual Folk Life Festival in June/July timeframe, exact dates TBD), one by Dan Schultz, N8FGV and me (regarding volunteer sign ups for staffing the AMSAT table at the Timonium Hamfest on Saturday or Sunday, March 29-30, no experience required) and one by me (asking for volunteers to sign up for a slot on our Steering Committee to plan and prepare next year's AMSAT-DC Meeting and Space Seminar, which will have changes, new features including a a workshop to build something, however simple, e.g., a hand held 70cm Yagi, or a PICetSat flight module, or a You-Propose-It). 7. If anyone has any Lessons Learned or improvements for next year to offer then please write either to me directly, or if you wish, (diplomatically) share with all on the amsat-dc e-mail reflector. Remember, for many items for "improvement" please offer either a volunteer by name to do it or describe a means for another volunteer on how to accomplish such a task. Whew. I didn't think this message was going to be this long! I hope you stayed with me! What did I miss?? (HI, HI.) Cheers, Pat N8PK >Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:30:33 -0400 >From: "Robert Morales" <wp4bqv(a)gmail.com> >Subject: [amsat-dc] Re: Meeting: Order of Start >To: amsat-dc(a)amsat.org > >Pat (and all presenters), > >Outstanding job once again putting together memorable AMSAT-DC >gathering! My daughter Grace and I had great time. Look >forward to seeing the pictures taken during the meeting. > >Cheers and 73s de Bob, WP4BQV. > >-- >R. L. Morales, WP4BQV >wp4bqv(a)gmail.com >http://journals.aol.com/wp4bqv/RadioIntercepts/ >Echolink node# 165727 >APRS mobile: WP4BQV-7 >"Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." - Carl Sagan >

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Meeting: Order of Start
by Pat Kilroy 15 Mar '08

15 Mar '08

HERE IS THE ORDER of things to start at our 2008 AMSAT-DC Meeting and Space Seminar tomorrow, Saturday, March 15. Please help me maintain this order since I could not get into the Pioneer Hall tonight as planned for an early set up ... 10:00 A.M. EDT. Doors open ONLY for volunteers with a task, and presenters. 10:30 A.M. Doors open for registration, name badge making, other set ups. 11:00 A.M. Call to order, welcome, housekeeping notes, order of Agenda. For early birds who do NOT have an ASSIGNED task to work on, PLEASE DO NOT VENTURE inside the Pioneer Hall door until after 10:30 A.M. Stay outside the door until called to the Registration table. (I will be direct and ask what you are doing there. Please help keep me nice.) Then please sign in at the registration table AND MAKE A NAME (and callsign) BADGE if you are not wearing one to the meeting. All types accepted. Thank you. We have the hall until 6:00 P.M., firm. Our day will be wonderful. Hpe to C U soon. Sincerely, Pat Kilroy N8PK AMSAT-DC Meeting Details: http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc/

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Bring Your Dual Band HT
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-568.0) 14 Mar '08

14 Mar '08

DON'T FORGET to bring your dual-band handheld transceiver to the AMSAT-DC gathering. And don't forget to remind yourself how to program a split offset before you leave home (check the manual). If you do this you may be glad. See again Tom K3IO's message below. TX 435.900 MHz FM RX 144.350 MHz FM C U soon, Pat N8PK http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc/ >Date: Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:11:51 -0500 >From: "Tom Clark, K3IO" <k3io(a)verizon.net> >Subject: [amsat-dc] Re: March 15 is the Date >To: AMSAT-DC <amsat-dc(a)amsat.org> > >Pat Kilroy wrote: >> Hi guys, >> >> We have about three weeks until our local >> AMSAT meeting and space seminar. Here is >> my status report. >> >In case you would be interested, I have a new project in the >works that enables a low-cost, accurate computer controlled >antenna positioner. > >This is NOT just another analog computer interface that uses >potentiometers inside the rotor --- all control is digital. I'm >getting about 1 deg accuracy in both az & el, and it is quite >suitable for small (~1m) dishes and/or small yagis. Not sure of >the final costs yet, but a 2-axis rotor system with controller >should cost <$250, with all the hard parts purchasable with >plastic over the internet. > >Also, I think we (N4HY, W2GPS & I) will be in the position to >demonstrate a functioning breadboard prototype of the Suitsat-2 >SDX transponder on the air. People should be prepared to TX on >70 cm (435.9) & RX on 2M (either 144.35 or 435.90 TBD). > >73, Tom > ----------------------------------------- Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy Flight Systems Integration and Test (I&T) Building 5, Mail Code 568 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: 301-286-1984 E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov ------------------------------------------- LRO Project http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov "Regarding Project Reviews, the nice thing about the truth is that it makes having to remember what you said so much easier."

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Attends of the AMSAT-DC Meeting........
by Charles Heisler -K3VDB- 13 Mar '08

13 Mar '08

There will be 3X5 Cards available for you to advertise any Ham Radio Related 'Widgit' you might have FOR SALE. They will be displayed on a pin board. PLEASE DO NOT BRING FOR SALE ITEMS INTO THE MUSEUM OR DISPLAY THEM IN THE PARKING LOT as we don't have permission from the Museum to have a Hamfest. It is suggested interested buyers could be taken to the parking lot to see your 'widgit' and make the deal (or not) during a break or after meeting. TNX Charlie K3VDB

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Something New
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-568.0) 12 Mar '08

12 Mar '08

ONE WEEK FROM TONIGHT, on March 14, I will be visiting Pioneer Hall at the Historical Electronics Museum at around 5:00 P.M. The task will be to decide how to set up tables and chairs for the AMSAT-DC gathering scheduled for the very next morning and then to do the set up work. IF YOU CAN MAKE IT to help set up the night before then that would be wonderful. Something new! That way, 75% of the work will be done the evening before, work that has in the past contributed to late starts. (Ugh!) I'd like to start on time, at 11:00 A.M. on March 15. Thank you, Pat N8PK http://patkilroy.com/amsat-dc/ P.S. Unfortunately, FYI, ... THINGS WE WON'T HAVE AT THE MEETING Talk-in (8 AM - 11 AM) Talk-in (11 AM - 1 PM) Greeters (3) for registration table, sign-in, name badges, etc. Sign maker and poster (2) for parking and welcome Video (2) w light, sound & editing as needed Notes/minutes (1 or 2), for meeting follow up for others Time keeper (1 or 2) Refreshment table keeper (1 or 2) Museum tour guides (2 min) For Sale board (1) and free 3x5 cards and other special touches we will be without, so far, due to no responding volunteers for these slots. ------------------------------------------- Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy Flight Systems Integration and Test (I&T) Building 5, Mail Code 568 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: 301-286-1984 E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov -------------------------------------------

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ALERT: Presenter Info Needed
by Kilroy, Patrick L. (GSFC-568.0) 11 Mar '08

11 Mar '08

To all Presenters for this coming Saturday ... I am attempting to draft the final agenda and I need at least five bits of info from each presenter: 1. A working title for your talk. 2. Your full name (and callsign if available) and of each additional person appearing or presenting under your given title. 3. A time duration request. For most slots I am accepting slots -- including Q&A -- of either 10-minutes, 20-minutes or 30-minutes. If more time is needed then I ask two questions: Exactly how much more and, more importantly, Can you segregate your time in separate 10, 20 or 30-minute modules to give at different times? (I insist to keep the agenda moving quickly! Please note that I've been to plenty of professional symposiums where only ten minutes flat is given per presenter before the red light and HALT comes on!) 4. Will you have an accompanying demo for show 'n' tell? That is, do you need a half-table for Your hardware? Or how much more table space? 5. Will you make your slides available to me if I convert them to a PDF file (read only file) before posting or archiving to our amsat-dc web site? I will have a USB thumb drive with me. Sorry. Late responders go last if at all. ALERT Someone was working with a high school, TJHS, in northern Virginia. I have not heard from the teacher, Mr. Adam Kemp, in a long time. Does any one know if they are still interested in presenting? Was it you Bill W3HXFS, or Art W3ART, or David W2LNX? Can one of you get the above info from them to me by Friday? Else, no joy. Thank you! REQUEST I am looking for someone there on Saturday to offer their fast laptop PC, running either Windows XPP or Windows Vista, to let it serve as our PowerPoint PC and be plugged into my Toshiba LCD projector. Any takers for the first half of the day? Any for the second half? Thanks! Looking forward to a fine day on March 15. Cheers, Pat Kilroy N8PK ------------------------------------------- Mr. Patrick L. Kilroy Flight Systems Integration and Test (I&T) Building 5, Mail Code 568 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 Phone: 301-286-1984 E-mail: Patrick.L.Kilroy(a)nasa.gov ------------------------------------------- LRO Project http://lro.gsfc.nasa.gov "Regarding Reviews, the nice thing about the truth is that it makes having to remember what you said so much easier."

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