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[jamsat-news:551] ANS-145 WEEKLY BULLETINS


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SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-145.01
Dr. A. C. GEE, G2UK. SK

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 145.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 25, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-145.01

Dr. A. C. GEE. MRCS. LRCP. DPH. G2UK. SK
It is with great sadness that we report the death of the former Chairman of
AMSAT-UK. Dr. A C Gee died in a hospital at Lowestoft, Suffolk, England 
during the early hours of 19th May 1997 following complications arising 
from an earlier hip operation.  He was  84. 

"Doc" Gee, as he was referred to by many friends, was an AMSAT-UK member 
from the formation of the Organization and became its Chairman in 1979.  
He resigned from that office in 1992 due to ill heath. Ron Broadbent G3AAJ 
notes that he was a friend for over thirty years, and certainly a 
considered  "wise head" with whom he could discuss problems on most 
subjects. He was, up to three weeks prior to his death, operating through 
RS satellites.  He will be remembered as the writer of the Satellite column
in "Radio Communications" for several years.
Broadbent says that Arthur Gee was also most interested in the new P3D 
satellite, and any information about that satellite he could get was 
received with great interest. 

His interests were far ranging  even  outside amateur radio.  G2UK  was a 
skilled model-maker of sailing ships, a Founding member and Commodore of 
the Lowestoft Cruising Club, Member of Royal Norfolk and Suffolk Yacht 
Club, and a member of Waveney and Oulton Broad Yacht Clubs. Gee  was also 
an amateur astronomer and member of Norwich Astronomical Society and editor
of it's newsletter. He was also an enthusiastic steam-boat owner, one time 
radio operator/medic on an expedition to Orland Island off the coast of 
Sweden to record an eclipse of the Sun.
His G2UK amateur radio callsign, dates back to 1935. 

During the mid 1930s, Arthur Gee was a member of the Royal Naval Wireless 
Auxiliary Reserve, which led to his life-long interest in amateur radio. 
He was a member of the London Wireless Club, now the RSGB the BARTG, RAYNET
and ISWL. and Co-Director of Data Publications a now defunct Radio 
Constructor magazine. He was also a Medical Officer of Health to the old 
Suffolk Counties Hospital Area. G2UK was well liked and a respected citizen
of Oulton Broad, where he had lived for over fifty years.  He will be 
missed by his friends and neighbors as well as many members of the amateur 
radio fraternity worldwide. 

Dr. Gee is survived by his wife Marjory, son Richard, and daughter Marion.

[ANS thanks Ron Broadbent. G3AAJ. AMSAT-UK for this sad news.]

/EX   

SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-145.02
SUNSAT NEWS

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 145.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 25, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-145.02

AMSAT member Phil Chien KC4YER attended a recent press conference regarding
the upcoming Delta 243 / Thor II launch.  During the press conference, 
Phil asked about the status of the launch of the USAF ARGOS satellite.  
That launch is to feature two secondary payloads, the Danish Orsted, 
and the South African SunSat.  SunSat includes amateur transponders and 
some pretty interesting experiments, Phil notes.

He was told that a firm launch date in not yet set, but that it certainly 
would not be this year.  The indication was the satellite wasn't ready yet,

presumably the primary payload. Chien notes that the McDonnell Douglas 
Delta II and III manifest lists their civilian (e.g. NASA) and 
commercial launches. He believes that there are plans to put the manifest 
on their home page http://www.mdc.com/, but it wasn't up when he looked 
last week.

The manifest indicates a 3rd Quarter 1998 launch for Deep Space 1, which 
Phil believes is the New Millenium launch which is to carry SedSat as a 
secondary payload.

[ANS thanks Phil Chien KC4YER for this interesting information.]

/EX

 SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-145.03
3C0DX, DXPEDITION POSTPONED

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 145.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 25, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-145.03

It has been regretfully announced that the Dxpedition to Annobon Island has
had to be postponed until next October. It is reported that, at the last 
moment, Guinea's authorities turned down the group's intention to operate 
an amateur radio station, including satellite equipment, from the island as

3C0DX.  

Everything was reported ready, including materials, equipment, 13
operators, airline tickets, medical insurance, enough money for the big 
expedition. But, three days prior to departure, authorities refused to 
allow 11 of the 13 operators to go. The group plans to try again next 
October and hopes for better luck. 

[ANS thanks Julio, EA5XX for this information.]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-145.04
DL0ART/AM - 5TH LAUNCH

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 145.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 25, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-145.04

After quite a long break, the DL0ART says, "we did it again... the 5th 
launch of our balloon DL0ART/am was on 18-May-1997." The main feature of 
this flight was the transponder (mode B), which worked quite nice, and 
many hams took the chance to use it.

More information about DL0ART/am (pictures!) can be found at:
Internet: http://buene.muenster.de/darc/artob/homebale.htm

Balloon launch 18-May-1997:

Launch:        # 5
Launch date:   18-May-1997
Launch time:   1214 UTC
Launch site:   Nienberge near Muenster, NW Germany, JO32SA


.Those who heard the DL0ART/am signals, may send QSLs by mail, the Internet

or through the QSL bureau.  All will be answered by the  DL0ART/am team.  
Any suggestion or response is always welcome!

The DL0ART/am team hopes that all  enjoyed this experiment, 
as well as the previous flights. The team  regrets that they must terminate

the project at this time. This is due to a substantial lack of manpower 
and financial resources for things like insurance, which runs DM 500, or  
300 U.S. Dollars. 

[ANS thanks Oliver Welp, DL9QJ, N3NSF,  for this news.]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-145.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 145.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 35, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-145.05

MIR: 
(Uplink 145.2 MHz FM Downlink  145.8 MHz FM) 
Note, the above split is used for both packet and voice operation.
ANS has received information that states that all
amateur activity from MIR  has been suspended until
further notice.

SAFEX, MIR 70cm Repeater
(Uplink 435.750 MHz FM, Downlink 437.950 MHz FM, 
Subaudible tone 141.3 Hz)
ANS has received information that states that all
amateur activity from MIR  has been suspended until
further notice.

RS-10
(Uplink 145.865-145.905 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4 MHz CW/SSB) 
RS-10 is operational.

RS-12
(Uplink 21.21-21.25 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.41-29.45 MHz or
145.91-145.95 Mhz CW/SSB) 
Signals on RS-12 in North America during May and June (almost 
exclusively daylight passes) are weakened by increased ionospheric 
activity which is keeping 15m active during the daylight hours.  
This makes it especially important for the 'old timers' to warn the 
newcomers on RS-12 to set their uplink frequency and leave it alone to 
prevent sweeping across the 15m band and QRM-ing the terrestrial QSOs 
in progress
[ANS thanks Dick Montgomery, N3DV, for this update.]

RS-15
(Uplink 145.858-145.898 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.354-29.394 MHz CW/SSB) 
Be aware that RS-15 has battery charging problems. When the satellite is
in the dark it has low output power..
[ANS thanks Geoff Perry  for this report.]
(Hint: If SSB doesn't work for you, try CW. CW is very easy
to hear on the downlink!)

RS-16
RS-16's 70 cm, 435.504 Mhz beacon on RS-16 may 
not be operational. Jess Burmeister, KB0VUU, reports 
not hearing the 70 cm beacons during two passes 
of the bird on May 25th.
RS16 had no beacons active on 10 meters ,2 meters .
At this time the transponder is not operational.
[ANS thanks Jim, KC7RCY, Jess, KB0VUU), 
Chuck, KI0AG, and Mike, N1JEZ.]


FO-20 
(Uplink 145.9-146.0 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9
MHz CW/USB) 
Operating normally. Strong downlink signal. Very busy 
during passes over North America. Please remember to adjust the
 higher frequency for doppler when the bird is in analog, JA,  mode.
This means adjust the 70 cm frequency, the downlink, for doppler
shift. You do not have to  adjust the 2 meter frequency, the uplink,
for doppler..

KO-23 
(Uplink 145.85, 145.9 MHz FM, Downlink 435.175 MHz FM,
9600 Baud FSK.) 
KO-23 operating normally.

KO-25
(Uplink 145.980 MHz FM, Downlink 436.5 MHz FM,
9600 Baud FSK.)
KO-25 operating normally.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for his reports on
KO-25 and KO-23.]
 
AO-27
(Uplink 145.85 MHz FM, Downlink: 
 436.792 MHz FM (As of April 1, 1997) 
 Operating normally. The satellite is very busy 
over North America, Gregg,  N0ZHE, suggests that
you should try QRP on AO-27. Gregg states that
weeks days are the best for QRP operation because of
the lighter traffic on the bird. N0ZHE operates with a 
home made arrow antenna and a  alinco dual band ht.
[ANS thanks Greg Wycoff, N0ZHE, for this information.]
Current AO-27 schedule information can be found at
 www.umbra.com

  Tepr 4 = 32 counts   16 Minutes
  Tepr 5 = 66 counts   18 Minutes

AO-27 Will turn on Every pass 16 Minutes after entering the sun and will 
stay on for 18 minutes.  This corrects the early shut off that has been 
going on for the passed few weeks.
[ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control-op, and Miguel A.
Menendez, EA1BCU, for this update.]

FO-29 
Voice/CW
(Uplink 145.9-146.0 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9 MHz CW/USB) 
Digital
(Uplink 145.85, 145.87, 145.910 MHz FM, Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud 
BPSK)
Please remember to adjust the
 higher frequency for doppler when the bird is in analog, JA, mode.
This means adjust the 70 cm frequency, the downlink, for doppler
shift. You do not have to  adjust the 2 meter frequency, the uplink,
for doppler..

The latest FO-29 Schedule can be found at.
http://www.kt.rim.or.jp/~jr1nvu/eindex.html
1997 May
         23(Fri)  00:29z JD 1200bps PSK MailBox
         30(Fri)  01:07z JD 9600bps FSK MailBox
     June 6(Fri)  08:25z JA
         13(Fri)  00:39z JD 1200bps PSK MailBox
         20(Fri)  09:41z JD 9600bps FSK MailBox
         27(Fri)  00:11z JA
     July 4(Fri)  09:13z JD Digi-talker
          8(Fri)  09:06z JA
 [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report.]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT  $ANS-145.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 145.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MAY 25, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-145.06

AO-10
 (Uplink 435.030-435.18 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 145.975-145.825 MHz 
CW/USB) 
AO-10, Stacey Mills reports that AO-10 will be in sleep mode
for the few weeks. The transponder and beacon do not have 
enough power to operate..
[ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM, for this report.]

OSCAR-11
(Downlink 145.825 MHz. FM, 1200 Baud PSK. Beacon 2401.500 MHz..)
Operating normally.
Telemetry  nominal.   The  battery  voltage  has recently improved to
around 13.9 volts, and the internal temperatures  have  continued  to
fall,  due  to  solar  eclipses.   The  battery  temperature is now 4
degrees C, or 18 degree below the full sunlight condition.

The operating schedule is unchanged.
        ASCII status (210 seconds)
        ASCII bulletin  (60 seconds)
        BINARY SEU (30 seconds)
        ASCII TLM (90 seconds)
        ASCII WOD (120 seconds)
        ASCII bulletin (60 seconds)
        BINARY ENG (30 seconds)

[ANS thanks  Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information.]

AMSAT-OSCAR-16 (PACSAT) 
(Uplink 145.9, 145.92, 145.94, 145.86 MHz FM, 1200 bps Manchester FSK
 Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB, 1200 bps RC-BPSK
1200 Baud PSK. Beacon 2401.1428 Mhz.)
Typical Telemetry Status of batteries voltage level:
Load values upon going from a nocturnal orbit to an daylight orbit.
State of the batteries in a nocturnal orbit.
uptime is 979/17:37:48.  Time is Sat May 24 23:02:19 1997
Bat 1 V  1.233V  Bat 2 V  1.238V  Bat 3 V  1.241V  Bat 4 V  1.264V
Bat 5 V  1.242V  Bat 6 V  1.248V  Bat 7 V  1.235V  Bat 8 V  1.279V
Array V 10.160V  +5V Bus  4.781V  +8.5V Bus 7.874V +10VBus 10.250V
Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.528 Ifb= 0.168 I+10V= 0.375
TX:010B BCR:1E PWRC:59E BT:3C WC:25 EDAC:82
State of the batteries in a daylight orbit.
uptime is 979/17:42:48.  Time is Sat May 24 23:07:19 1997
Bat 1 V  1.328V  Bat 2 V  1.374V  Bat 3 V  1.383V  Bat 4 V  1.333V
Bat 5 V  1.335V  Bat 6 V  1.532V  Bat 7 V  1.371V  Bat 8 V  1.329V
Array V 23.536V  +5V Bus  4.937V  +8.5VBus 9.126V +10VBus  11.075V
BCR Set Point  113.349 C
Total Array C= 0.243 Bat Ch Cur= 0.019 Ifb= 0.021 I+10V= 0.269
TX:010A BCR:76 PWRC:59E BT:3C WC:25 EDAC:82
[ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.]

DO-17(DOVE)
( Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK.
Beacon 2401.220 MHz.)
WJ9F is continuing to work on reloading DOVE.
[ANS thanks Jim white, WD0E, DO-17 Command Team, for this news.]

WEBERSAT (WO-18) 
(Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25.)
Webersat (WO-18) is currently in MBL mode after a system 
crash. The satellite appears to be in good condition broadcasting 
MBL telemetry.
[ANS thanks Tommy Davis, IK3WVJ,  for this report.]

LUSAT-OSCAR-19 
(Uplink 1200 bps Manchester FSK Uplinks:
145.84, 145.86, 145.88, 145.9 MHz FM, Downlink 437.125  MHz SSB, 
1200 bps RC-BPSK.)
Typical Telemetry Status of battery voltage levels:
Load values upon going from a nocturnal orbit to a daylight orbit.
 State of the batteries in a nocturnal orbit.
uptime is 704/09:24:24.  Time is Sat May 24 23:29:34 1997  
Bat 1 V 1.297V  Bat 2 V 1.282V  Bat 3 V 1.302V  Bat 4 V 1.296V 
Bat 5 V 1.294V  Bat 6 V 1.293V  Bat 7 V 1.297V  Bat 8 V 1.279V
ArrayV 10.409V  +5V Bus 4.812V  +8.5VB  7.859V  +10VBu 10.275V
BCR Set Point 29.271C
Total Array C= 0.012 Bat Ch Cur=-0.349 Ifb= 0.115 I+10V= 0.244
TX:016 BCR:1E PWRC:36E BT:3C WC: 0
Graphic and general information about Telemetry values can be found at:
http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/lo19.htm
State of the batteries in a daylight orbit.
Bat 1 V 1.377V  Bat 2 V 1.385V  Bat 3 V 1.408V  Bat 4 V 1.380V
Bat 5 V 1.405V  Bat 6 V 1.444V  Bat 7 V 1.392V  Bat 8 V 1.388V
ArrayV 23.378V  +5V Bus 4.937V  +8.5VB  8.852V  +10VB  11.350V
BCR Set Point   123.754C
Total Array C= 0.397 Bat Ch Cur= 0.192 Ifb= 0.013 I+10V= 0.101
TX:016 BCR:7E PWRC:36E BT:3C WC: 0 
[ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.]

IO-26 ( ITAMSAT)
(Uplink 145.875, 145.9, 145.925, 145.95MHz FM, Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB, 
1200 Baud PSK.)
IO-26 controllers report that the spacecraft is now in IHT mode.  The new
ROBOT software is under currently undergoing tests.  The beacon reports
that the digipeater is OFF and that the ROBOT is undergoing tests.
Controllers ask that groundstations please do not transmit on any of
the satellite's uplink frequencies for the time being.
[ANS thanks Daniele Piercarlo, IK2XRO, ITMSAT Command Station for this 
report.]

[Please send your Satellite or News reports to ANS Editor B.J. Arts, WT0N, 
via e-mail, at bjarts@the-bridge.net or to wt0n@amsat.org]

/EX

BJ Arts  
Amateur callsign: WT0N  
ARMY MARS callsign: AAR5EL
Grid Sqaure EN-37
Hibbing, Minnesota. U.S.A. 
e-mail bjarts@the-bridge.net or wt0n@amsat.org
Amsat News Service Bulletin Editor