Hello Bill W3HXF,
I think it is great that you are helping the Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology of Alexandria on their quest in satellite technology. It's great news to hear of such a newly active school in our local area! Seems like more and more are popping up around the country.
To answer your questions and address your comments, I hope the information below is helpful and not "too much too soon" ...
First, a lot of the information you seek for ground station equipment can be found in the "Amateur Satellite FAQ" on the AMSAT web site at http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/archive/intro/index.php
This is your best start.
Next, you will note that the equipment identified there does not include price or inter-connection block diagrams. The prices vary widely, especially for new and used gear. Current pricing can be found by surfing the web at amateur radio outlets. See the ads in QST magazine and in the AMSAT Journal! Or Google on "amateur radio equipment" anytime. Visit local hamfests for previously owned ham gear and check eBay and others.
The station equipment block diagrams are available from many sources, including The Radio Amateur's Satellite Handbook by Martin Davidoff, K2UBC, author of the highly acclaimed predecessor, The Satellite Experimenter's Handbook. Available at: http://www.arrl.org/catalog/index.php3?category=Space%2FSatellites
Block diagrams are nice, but you'll want to tap into people who know this stuff in their heads. So don't forget to tap into fellow experienced hams that each and every school will want to have on hand (not just Thomas Jefferson High). To find another one you may start by looking up an AMSAT Area Coordinator. Check at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/ac.php
A Note: Each CubeSat has different operating modes and frequencies, tailored to their own experiment. Go to the university or group that sponsors a particular CubeSat to find their specific information. (Links below.)
Remember: The "dual use" capability of this equipment. You can also use it for local high-altitude balloon experiments and other activities too.
AN INVITATION Come to our next local AMSAT-DC meeting and space symposium in the late winter or early spring. Invite your school group members too. Watch for the announcements after the holidays!
Tap into the local group of satellite guys through [email protected].
I believe with this advice you are now several steps closer to achieving your budget task objective and more.
See the links below for your next steps.
Let me know when you have more questions. Maybe the amsat-dc guys will chime in with their advice too. Take care for now.
Sincerely,
Pat
Pat Kilroy, N8PK AMSAT Area Coordinator Maryland-DC Area
ADDITION LINKS FOR YOU
Satellite Radios http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/houston-net/radios.php
Amateur Satellite Resource Guide http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/resguide.pdf
CubeSat Wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CubeSat
CubeSat Community Home http://cubesat.calpoly.edu/
Working Your First Satellite http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/langdon.php
Searching for Info on the AMSAT web site http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/about/searching.php
Amateur Radio Licensing http://www.arrl.org/cce/Tech.html
CubeSat Launch Info http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/cubesats.php
Future OSCARs http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/sat_summary/future.php
Don't Forget ARISS Opportunities http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/ariss/index.php
AMSAT Member Services http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/AboutAmsat/services.php
Join AMSAT http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/membership/index.php
At Friday 11/17/2006 11:34 AM, [email protected] wrote: Re: Please forward this to whoever in AMSAT
Please forward this to whoever in AMSAT may someday be forming a list of equipment/materials for school(s) to participate in future OSCARs.
73, Bill, W3HXF
Budget task A: Please provide a list (better yet a kit, for a cubesat-capable ground station), so I can compile budgetary information.
For a later year: Budget task B: AO-13 or AO-40-capable ground station: 145.880 MHz USB + 145.920 MHz USB Up & 435.300 MHz High to listen FM (S) mode: 2401.200 MHz to listen. Uplink: 1268.700 MHz USB transmit. http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/ControlTeam.php KK5DO
Please provide a list (better yet a kit for an AO-13 or AO-40-capable ground station), i.e., AMSAT's Project Eagle plans call for an mode U/V transponder for SSB, CW and other modes. I wish to leave the budgetary information for The Excelsior Team [email protected] Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology is located on Braddock Road. The address is: 6560 Braddock Road Alexandria, VA 22312 What satellite(s) have their eastern USA pass between 12:45 pm is a good time because lunch would have ended (which equals 1745 UTC) and 4 hours later.
For a much later year, Eagle could launch by 2010: Budget task C:
Specification would make the satellite's S2 band uplink and C band downlink.
================================================================= Patrick L. Kilroy WK Integration & Test (I&T) Manager 301-286-1984 Voice NASA Goddard Space Flight Center 301-286-1673 Fax Building 5, Mail Code 568 [email protected] Greenbelt, Maryland 20771 http://patkilroy.com/balloon/ =================================================================
"A problem well stated is a problem half solved." -Charles F. Kettering