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[jamsat-news:791] ANS-074 WEEKLY BULLETINS


Daniel (Dan) James NN0DJ
AMSAT News Service Editor

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.01
MIREX APRS TEST RESULTS

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 074.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 15, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-074.01

As announced by ANS, the MIR International Amateur Radio Experiment team 
(MIREX) held an Automatic Packet/Positioning Reporting System (APRS) test
on March 10, 1998. APRS stations were encouraged to use the Digital
Repeater (R0MIR) aboard the Russian space station.

On the day of the test, Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, first reported that because 
R0MIR was unexpectedly off the air during the two designated APRS/MIR test 
orbits, the MIREX team authorized an extended test during the next two 
orbits over north America. Both of these passes, however, took place when 
most operators would be asleep.

Even with unconventional hours, when the APRS packets finally began being 
digipeated via MIR, the special APRS/MIR Internet page began plotting 
stations instantly. Being able to see this event live worldwide via the 
Internet without a radio was one of the main attractions of the experiment, 
both for amateurs without APRS equipment, and for many schools lacking VHF 
receivers.

During the day of the APRS/MIR test, the live APRS web site scored a 
maximum of over 11,000 hits, with the peak load reported at 155 
simultaneous users.  Most of the APRS stations shown on the web site during 
the actual test were home stations (due to the hour of the rescheduled 
test), however, 5 mobiles and 1 Naval Academy boat were seen.

Steve, K4HG was in a perfect position to be one of the first to see 
stations appear on the APRS web site. "While many were sleeping, dozens of 
packets were digipeated by MIR. I was one of the first stations digipeated 
through MIR, not surprising given my location and where the space station 
was. It looked especially cool on the APRS page... it was blank, then 
suddenly all these stations started popping up!"

Mike, KI7AB, reported seeing California and Washington stations, one of
which was mobile in Seattle area. Joe, KC6SZY, reported seeing many APRS
stations on his computer screen, adding, "it looks like things worked."

MIREX reported this experiment had been in the planning stage for some time 
and the team hopes it will serve as a step for other experiments.

[ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, Steve Dimse, K4HG, Mike Connors, KI7AB, 
Joe Steinmetz, KC6SZY, and the MIREX team for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.02
1998 YOUNG HAM OF THE YEAR AWARD NOMINATING PERIOD
NOW OPEN

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 074.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 15, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-074.02

The Amateur Radio Newsline Editorial Office has informed ANS the nominating 
period for the 1998 "Young Ham of the Year Award" is now open.  This award 
is
presented annually to a United States licensed radio amateur operator who 
is
18 years of age or younger, and who has provided outstanding service to the 
nation, his or her community, or the betterment of the state-of-the-art in
communications through the Amateur Radio service.

Any continental United States (FCC licensed) ham radio operator aged 18 or 
younger, who has used Amateur Radio to significantly contribute to the 
benefit of the service, to the state of the communications art, to their 
community, or the nation, is eligible to be nominated.

All nominations must be submitted before June 30, 1998 on an official 
application. Application forms are available using a self addressed, 
stamped envelop (SASE), from:

1998 Young Ham of the Year Award
% Newsline
28197 Robin Avenue
Saugus, California 91350.

In addition, nominating applications are also available for electronic 
downloading
using the following URL:

www.arnewsline.org

The award presentation is scheduled take place at the 1998 Huntsville 
Hamfest.
In addition to other prizes, the 1998 "Young Ham of the Year" will also 
receive a
full paid week at Space Camp Huntsville.

[ANS thanks Bill Pasternak, WA6ITF, and Newsline for this information] 

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.03
AMSAT-UK MODE A SURVEY RESULTS

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 074.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 15, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-074.03

Richard Limebear, G3RWL, AMSAT-UK Communications Officer, recently surveyed 
satellite operators worldwide about the possibility of another mode A 
satellite. Richard posted the results of the 'do we want another Mode-A 
bird' survey on the AMSAT-NA Bulletin Board.

G3RWL noted that because of the very short time scale for responses, he
limited distribution to electronic means only. Of the 200 responses 
received,
Richard reported the vast majority would be in favor of a new mode A bird. 
Some
additional comments received included FM rather than SSB or CW modes,
a higher orbit, mode K and/or mode T transponders, possible HF beacons,
and the need for analog transponders. Richard reports he will be doing a
complete report in an upcoming issue of the AMSAT-UK Oscar News.

[ANS thanks Richard Limebear, G3RWL, for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.04
CHICAGO AREA SATELLITE LECTURE

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 074.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 15, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-074.04

Satellite and other interested amateur radio operators in the Chicago area 
are invited to a lecture on satellites, with the main focus on 
contributions of the Radio Amateur Satellite Program.  The speaker will be 
Dr. Martin Davidoff, K2UBC. He will address the development of low cost 
space technology at the Argonne National Laboratories, on Monday, March 30, 
1998. The lecture, beginning at 2pm, is free and open to the public

The lecture will take place in the auditorium of the Physics Building at 
the  National Laboratories, also known as Building 203. A map of the area 
is available at the following URL:

http://www.anl.gov

Bill Parmley, KR8L, AMSAT Area Coordinator for Idaho, has arranged for the 
presentation to be videotaped and shown at the Argonne-West facility, which 
is located near Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Dr. Martin Davidoff, K2UBC, is best known in the amateur satellite world as 
the
author of the highly acclaimed Satellite Experimenter's Handbook and the 
new
Satellite Handbook. Both volumes are published by the ARRL and are 
available
from the League, or from AMSAT-NA Headquarters.

{ANS thanks Dr. Martin Davidoff, K2UBC, and Bill Parmley, KR8L. for this 
information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 074.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 15, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-074.05

MIR/SAFEX
SAFEX II 70 cm Repeater
(Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz
Downlink 437.950 MHz FM)
Operational. The SAFEX II installation has been utilized recently in QSO
Mode (Uplink 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz, Downlink
437.925 MHz FM)

MIR/SAFEX
PMS (145.985 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK)
Operational. The new modem is a Kantronics KPC-9612 Plus, Revision 8.1.
Please note the command set for this TNC is different than the previous MIR 
TNC.  MIREX suggests a copy of the KPC-9612 manual may help in
understanding the changes. Dave Larsen, N6CO, tells ANS the Personal
Message System (PMS) on MIR supports a 'system operators' mode with the
special call sign, K6MIR, reserved for PMS SysOps. Only the system
operators are allowed to use this callsign. N6CO asks stations not to 
attempt
to connect to this call.

Joe, W2KQ, reports a voice contact with Andy Thomas aboard MIR using the
145.985 MHz downlink frequency. W2KQ used an FT-736R at 20 watts and a
vertical, reporting S-9 signals. Mike, VK8ZMA, also reports working MIR, 
with
Andy using his VK5MIR callsign, noting solid Q5/S-9 voice copy, horizon to
horizon.

MIREX has created an Internet Web page containing information regarding
MIR and the various ham radio experiments taking place from the space 
station. Please check out the pages for pending and proposed projects.
URLs are:

http://www.ik1sld.org/mirex.htm
http://www.geocities.com/~ik1sld/mirex.htm

[ANS thanks Joe Dreifuss, W2KQ, Mike Alsop, VK8ZMA, and the MIREX team for 
this information]

RS-12
(Uplink, 21.210-21.250 MHz and 145.910-145.950 MHz, CW/SSB
Downlink 29.410-29.450 MHz, CW/SSB).
Operational, mode KA. The 15m ROBOT is operational.
RS-12 has been seeing recent heavy activity and good DX possibilities.

RS-15
(Uplink 145.858-145.898 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.354-29.394 MHz CW/SSB)
Operational.   CW appears to be the most successful mode on RS-15.

RS-16
At this time only the beacons are operational.
Transponder information on RS-16.
 Uplink = 145.915 - 145.948 MHz
 Downlink = 29.415 - 29.448 MHz
 Beacons = 29.408 and 29.451 MHz
 Pwr 29 MHz Down = 1.2W /4W

 Beacon 1 = 435.504 MHz
 Beacon 2 = 435.548 MHz
 Pwr 435 MHz Beacons = 1.6W

AO-10
(Uplink 435.030-435.180 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 145.975-145.825 MHz CW/USB)
Operational.   Despite brief moments of deep QSB, AO-10's downlink
signals have been excellent (even at apogee), with heavy stateside
and DX activity. Now is the time to be active on this bird. John, N2HMM,
reports working YV5DEH. Dan, NN0DJ reports working HP3XUG, DL6UAA,
NH6VB, WP4LBK, F1ERG, OE5PAM and LY3BH among others. John,
K6YK, reports four CW contacts on AO-10 recently using just 25-30 watts
and a vertical antenna.

AO-10's apogee has continued to move into the northern hemisphere.
Apogee will continue to rise higher to the north for the rest of 1998,
peaking in December.

W4SM has updated his AO-10 web page, use the following URL:

http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/AO-10.html

[ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM, John Santillo, N2HMM, John Lee, K6YK,
and Dan James, NN0DJ for this update]

AO-27
(Uplink 145.850 MHz FM
Downlink 436.792 MHz FM)
Operational.  Widely used especially during weekend passes.

[ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control-op for this update]

FO-20
(Uplink 145.900-146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.80-435.90 MHz CW/USB)
Operational.      FO-20 in mode JA continuously. Dan, NN0DJ,
reports exceptionally strong signals recently from FO-20, with
lots of activity on the satellite.

[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, and Dan James, NN0DJ, for this 
information]

FO-29
Voice/CW Mode JA
(Uplink 145.900-146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.80-435.90 MHz CW/USB)
Digital Mode JD
(Uplink 145.850, 145.870, 145.910 MHz FM
Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK)
Operational. Kazu, JJ1WTK, reports the JARL command station for FO-29 
  recently completed reloading the operational software. On March 9th
FO-29 was switched back to mode JD-1200 mailbox operation. FO-29 will stay 
in JD-1200 until March 16th. A new operational schedule is excepted to be 
released at that time.

[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-074.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 074.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, MARCH 15,1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-074.06

KO-23
(Uplink 145.850, 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM)
Operational. Jim, AA7KC, confirms the details regarding the
apparent loss of the 145.850 MHz uplink frequency. Jim also reports
the 145.900 MHz uplink still provides easy access to this satellite.
Downlink efficiencies generally exceed 90% indicating very good
KO-23 operation.

[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for this report]

KO-25
(Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 436.50 MHz FM)
Operational.  Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-25 operating normally.

[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for this report]

OSCAR-11
(Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud PSK)
Beacon 2401.500 MHz
Operational. The telemetry is nominal. Reception
reports of the 2 meter beacon or 2401 MHz
should be sent to g3cwv@amsat.org

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

AMSAT-OSCAR-16 (PACSAT)
(Uplink 145.90, 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
Operating normally. The telemetry is nominal. The S band transmitter is 
off.

Time is Sun Mar 15 13:08:48 1998  uptime is 1274/07:38:05.
+5V Bus                  4.905 V    +8.5V Bus               8.978 V
+10V Bus              11.600 V    BCR Set Point  131.381 C
BCR Load Cur       0.320 A    +8.5V Bus Cur      0.031 A
+5V Bus Cur          0.263 A     BCR Input Cur     0.513 A
BCR Output Cur   0.372 A      Bat 1 Temp            3.629 D
Bat 2 Temp             4.839 D    RC PSK TX Out    0.472 W

Total Array C= 0.541 Bat Ch Cur= 0.052 Ifb=-0.028 I+10V= 0.349
TX:010B BCR:86 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:8C

General information and telemetry WOD files can find it in:

http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/wod.htm

[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report]

DO-17 (DOVE)
(Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK)
Beacon 2401.220 MHz
Currently non-operational. DO-17 appears to have experienced a problem.
The 145.825 MHz downlink is off the air. Jim, WD0E, reports
he will attempt to correct the situation as time permits.

[ANS thanks Jim White, WD0E, for this update]

WEBERSAT (WO-18)
(Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25)
Currently non-operational.  WO-18 is in MBL mode after a software
crash. Attempts are being made to find and correct the cause
of the suspected seasonal crashes.

[ANS thanks the WO-18 Command Team for this news]

LUSAT-OSCAR-19
(Uplink 145.84, 145.86, 145.88, 145.90 MHz FM 1200 bps Manchester FSK
Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB, 1200 bps RC-BPSK)
Operating normally. The telemetry is nominal.

Time is Sun Mar 15 12:23:52 1998  uptime is 998/22:18:42.
Array V                 22.631 V    +5V Bus                4.968 V
+8.5V Bus               8.797 V    +10V Bus            11.400 V
BCR Set Point   129.062 C     BCR Load Cur     0.202 A
+8.5V Bus Cur       0.026 A    +5V Bus Cur
RC PSK TX Out    0.881 W

Total Array C= 0.320 Bat Ch Cur= 0.070 Ifb= 0.011 I+10V= 0.191
TX:019 BCR:80 PWRC:36E BT:3C WC

General information and telemetry samples can be found at:

http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/lo19.htm

[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report]

UO-22
(Uplink: 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.120 MHz FM)
Operational.  Chris, G7UPN reports UO-22 is operating normally.

[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, Operations Manager
of UO-22, for this report]

IO-26 (ITAMSAT)
Uplink 145.875, 145.900, 145.925, 145.950 MHz FM 1200 Baud PSK
Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB)
No report is available at this time.

Please send any amateur satellite news or repots to
ans-editor@amsat.org or to ANS Editor Dan James, NN0DJ,
at nn0dj@amsat.org.

/EX

Daniel  (Dan) James
AMSAT News Service Bulletin Editor
Amateur callsign: NN0DJ
Grid Square EN-28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
e-mail:  nn0dj@amsat.org