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[jamsat-news:867] ANS 207
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS 207
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-207.01
LEAGUE PROPOSES SIMPLIFIED LICENSE STRUCTURE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 207.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 26, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-207.01
The ARRL has proposed a simplified Amateur Radio license structure
featuring four license classes and reduced Morse code requirements for full
HF access. In approving the plan July 18th, the ARRL Board of Directors
said the hobby no longer needs six license classes. In their discussions,
Board members emphasized that the objective was to rationalize and simplify
the amateur licensing structure without reducing the requirements for any
class of license.
Among its recommendations, the plan would eliminate the current Novice and
Tech Plus class licenses and merge those operating privileges into a new
license class equivalent to the current General ticket. The plan would
replace the present named license classes with Class A, B, C, and D
tickets, revise written examination requirements and content, and set 12
WPM as the highest Morse code test requirement. Most of the spectrum freed
up by the elimination of the current Novice CW bands would be 're-farmed'
into expanded HF phone segments. Segments would also remain available for
digital and CW work.
Announcement of the Board's plan generated a tumult of opinions --both pro
and con-- within the Amateur Radio community. Comments received at League
Headquarters have ranged from angry opposition to enthusiastic support,
however, most Board members reported receiving somewhat more comments in
favor than opposed. The plan has been a hot topic of discussion on many
e-mail reflectors, including the AMSAT-NA electronic bulletin board.
The League has forwarded details of the plan in a letter to the FCC but
will not petition for a rulemaking as it awaits public release of the
Commission's own ham radio restructuring plans. Before the July meeting,
the ARRL Board had twice voted down motions to consider changing the
licensing structure. This time, the impending FCC rulemaking provided the
impetus for the Board to issue its own plan, in time to stimulate debate on
the topic and possibly serve as a counterpoint to the anticipated FCC
proposals.
In developing its plan, the Board tied proposed reductions in Morse code
requirements to corresponding increases in written examination standards.
On the other hand, Board members were adamant that simplifying the
structure should not come at the expense of privileges amateurs have
already earned. This was the rationale to recommend granting the new
entry-level Class C HF license to present Novice and Technician Plus
licensees, who already have earned entry-level HF operating privileges.
Nearly lost in the discussion over the ARRL Board's plan to restructure
Amateur Radio licensing is the fact that the FCC soon plans to make its own
'streamlining' proposals public. Release of the FCC proposals are expected
in the next few weeks.
At a national meeting of Volunteer Examiner Coordinators July 9th, FCC
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau chief D'wana Terry hinted at what hams
can expect from the FCC. "Some things will probably be concrete proposals;
other things will be discussion topics," she told the gathering. But Terry
said none of the FCC's proposals should be considered "carved in stone,"
and she urged hams to comment constructively. "We want to do things that
make sense," she said.
Terry encouraged hams to not just complain but to tell the Commission what
will work and offer solid suggestions.
[ANS thanks the ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-207.02
ARRL CALLS FOR WITHDRAW OF LMCC PETITION
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 207.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 26, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-207.02
The ARRL has called upon the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) to
withdraw its request for reallocation of segments of the 420 to 450 MHz
band to the Private Mobile Radio Service. Such a move would permit the FCC
to focus its attention on portions of the LMCC petition that "might have
more merit," the ARRL said. The League's suggestion is contained in reply
comments filed July 16th with the FCC in response to the LMCC petition for
rulemaking, RM-9267, filed earlier this year. Amateur Radio shares the 70cm
band on a secondary basis with the federal government. As ANS has
reported, the LMCC seeks immediate reallocation of the segments 420-430 and
440-450 MHz from the federal government (and amateur radio) to the PMRS.
The League asked that the FCC dismiss those portions of the LMCC petition
dealing with the 420 to 450 MHz band as "plainly not deserving of further
consideration."
The ARRL said that comments from Amateur Radio operators --the vast
majority of those filed in response to the LMCC petition-- establish that
the LMCC proposal for a PMRS allocation in the 70cm band "was
ill-conceived." Hams told the FCC that the band is heavily used and vital
to amateur public service activities. The League noted "a complete absence
of support" for the 420 to 450 MHz proposal in particular. One LMCC member,
the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO), opposed
any reallocation in the band.
The League urged the FCC to pay close heed to the comments of the National
Telecommunications and Information Administration. NTIA told the commission
that national security and other federal interests would preclude sharing
on the band. Those comments, the League noted, were "clearly protective of
its own use of the 420-450 MHz band, and that of the Amateur Service as
well."
A complete copy of the League's reply comments is available on the ARRL web
page at the following URL:
http://www.arrl.org/news/bandthreat/RM-9267/arrl-reply.pdf.
[ANS thanks the ARRL for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-207.03
ALAN SHEPARD DIES AT 74
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 207.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 26, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-207.03
As reported worldwide, Alan B. Shepard, Jr., the first American to fly in
space and one of only 12 humans who walked on the Moon, died July 21, 1998
after a lengthy illness in Monterey, California. He was 74. The cause of
death was not disclosed. Funeral services are pending.
"The entire NASA family is deeply saddened by the passing of Alan Shepard.
NASA has lost one of its greatest pioneers; America has lost a shining
star," said NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin.
Named as one of the nation's original seven Mercury astronauts in 1959,
Shepard became the first to carry America's banner into space on May 5,
1961, riding a Redstone rocket on a 15-minute suborbital flight that took
him and his Freedom 7 Mercury capsule 115 miles in altitude and 302 miles
downrange from Cape Canaveral, FL.
Shepard was also the fifth man to walk on the Moon, and the oldest, at the
age of 47. Near the end of his second moonwalk, and just before entering
the lunar module for the last time, Shepard (an avid golfer) hit two golf
balls with a makeshift club. The first landed in a nearby crater. The
second was hit squarely, and in the one-sixth gravity of the moon, Shepard
said it traveled "miles and miles and miles."
Shepard's death leaves only four survivors among the original Mercury 7
astronauts: Sen. John Glenn, Scott Carpenter, L. Gordon Cooper and Walter
Schirra.
[ANS thanks NASA News for this information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-207.04
ANS IN BRIEF
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 207.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 26, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-207.04
ANS news in brief this week includes the following:
** Long time AMSAT-NA Journal author, John, LA2QAA, has a new book entitled
' A Beginner's guide To Amateur Radio Satellites'. The book is available
through co-author GM1SXX. For more details contact LA2QAA by e-mail at
la2qaa@amsat.org. --NN0DJ
** Members of the Halifax Amateur Radio Club of Nova Scotia and the West
Island Amateur Radio Club of Montreal will attempt to complete a 2-meter
QSO across the Atlantic Ocean during a DXpedition to Newfoundland late this
month. The group will operate from Fogo Island, just off the northeastern
coast of Newfoundland using the callsign VO1NO. --WSVHF Reflector
** GOES-9, the primary spacecraft used to obtain solar x-ray, proton,
electron and magnetometer data, is currently experiencing severe attitude
control problems. GOES-9's two attitude control wheels are facing imminent
failure. This could result in the complete loss of attitude control of the
satellite, affecting not only solar, magnetic field and particle
measurements, but also weather imagery and all other data provided by
GOES-9. The secondary spacecraft, GOES-8, is being used to fill in the data
gaps. --NLRS Reflector
** Flight controllers at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center have lost
contact with the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory satellite. SOHO is a
joint European Space Agency and NASA mission. ESA and NASA engineers,
reasoning that over the next two-to-three months the spacecraft's solar
panels will increasingly face the Sun and generate power, are continuing
their efforts to contact the satellite.
--ESA and NASA
** QSL's for R0MIR or R0MIR-1 should be sent along with a business-sized
self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with appropriate return IRC(s) or
postage (where applicable) to; Dave Larsen, N6CO, PO Box 1501, Pine Grove,
CA 95665. European QSL's should go to Radio-Club F5KAM - QSL Manager de
R0MIR, Carrefour International de la Radio, 22, Rue Bansac 63000,
Clermont-Ferrand, France. -- MIREX
** For those preparing S-band capability for the Phase 3D satellite, KC6SZY
has added information about his S-band setup to his web site. Information
includes helical feed design data and images of the KC6SZY dish, the feed
and all transmit and receive electronics.
Point your browser to the following URL;
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hangar/8389/sband.html
-- KC6SZY
** Tim, KG8OC, the Michigan AMSAT Area Coordinator, reports the Michigan
AMSAT web page has been updated. Check it out at http://www.qsl.net/kg8oc.
--AMSAT BB
** The July/August issue of The AMSAT-NA Journal will discuss the year 2000
computer problem (Y2K) with a few articles on the topic and how the problem
will effect the amateur satellite community. The issue will be in mailboxes
shortly. To receive a copy of The AMSAT-NA Journal, simply join AMSAT-NA.
-- Russ Tillman, K5NRK, AMSAT-NA Journal Editor
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-207.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 207.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 26, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-207.05
MIR/SAFEX
SAFEX II 70 cm Repeater
Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz
Downlink 437.950 MHz FM
Semi-operational.
SAFEX II 70 cm QSO Mode
Uplink 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz
Downlink 437.925 MHz FM
Semi-operational.
PMS
Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK
Operational.
VK4GAZ reports his first packet contact with R0MIR-1 using a FT-26 HT at 5
watts into a 1/4 wave vertical antenna. "What a great feeling for a first
timer," said Gary.
The current crew onboard Mir are Talgat Musabayev and Nikolai Budarin. They
speak and read Russian only. Any messages addressed as personal to R0MIR
will not be understood unless it is in Russian. MIREX is again allowing
R0MIR-1 for store-and-forward message traffic.
WA6LIE reminds all stations that in order to send Personal Mail to other
stations you must address it to a valid callsign. Any personal mail
addressed to a non-amateur callsign can not be read by anyone and is a
waste of TNC memory. WA6LIE asks all stations to please read your TNC
manual on how to address messages.
The PBBS is running a Kantronics KPC-9612 + V.8.1 TNC. The commands are
similar to most PBBS and BBS systems.
MIREX has announced an on going APRS School Days Test. MIREX is allowing
schools to use APRS for position and status reports via R0MIR. Non-school
stations are asked to refrain from using APRS type transmissions or beacons
via R0MIR.
[ANS thanks Scott Avery, WA6LIE, and the MIREX team for Mir status
information]
RS-12
Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB
Operational, mode KA.
RS-12 continues to be the most popular of the current RS 'easy sat' series.
RS-15
Uplink 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/SSB
Semi-operational.
The RS-15 TLM beacon has apparently started working again, although
intermittently. Mike, N1JEZ reports he monitored the satellite recently and
noticed the same beacon sequence of carrier on/off transmissions. Mike says
the transponder is acting exactly the same way, adding, "the transponder is
only on when the beacon is transmitting."
RS-16
The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational. Attempts to command the Mode A
transponder on have been unsuccessful.
AO-10
Uplink 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB
Operational.
DX continues to be heard and worked as good downlink signals are still
being received from the satellite, however, NN0DJ notes FMing of the beacon
has become more pronounced lately.
Stacey Mills, W4SM, has more information about the satellite at the
following URL:
http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/AO-10.html
[ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM for his AO-10 status information and web
site]
AO-27
Uplink 145.850 MHz FM
Downlink 436.792 MHz FM
Operational.
AO-27 TEPR States are currently:
4 = 36 = 18 Minutes
5 = 72 = 36 Minutes
This means AO-27's transmitter turns on 18 minutes after entering the Sun
and stays on for 18 minutes. AO-27's transmitter is turned off at all other
times during the orbit. N4USI reminds stations that this happens on every
orbit, approximately 14.2 times a day. The current TEPR settings will cause
the satellite to be on during the daytime at northern latitudes.
[ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control-op for this update]
FO-20
Uplink 145.900 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB
Operational. FO-20 in mode JA continuously.
John, G7HIA reports UA4HTJ has been active on FO-20 and FO-29 using a
special callsign, RZ4HWF. UA4HTJ's locator is LO43VK.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK for his FO-20 status reports]
FO-29
Voice/CW Mode JA
Uplink 145.900 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB
Operational.
Digital Mode JD
Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM
Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK
Not operational, the satellite is in JA (voice) mode.
Kazu, JJ1WTK, tells ANS that OBC bit error investigation continues.
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-207.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 207.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 26, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-207.06
KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM
Operational. The telemetry is nominal.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC for this report]
KO-25
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 436.50 MHz FM
Operational. The telemetry is nominal.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC for this report]
UO-22
Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK
Downlink 435.120 MHz FM
Operational.
More information on the satellite is available at the following URL:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, Operations Manager of UO-22 for
this report]
OSCAR-11
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK
Beacon 2401.500 MHz
Operational.
In response to many requests for information about methods of decoding
OSCAR-11 signals, a package of hardware information has been added to the
satellite web site. The site also contains some software for capturing
data, decoding ASCII telemetry and WOD information.
The URL is http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/
Beacon reception reports 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 AO-16 command team has authorized an APRS experiment on AO-16 to
explore the use of the 1200-baud PACSAT for APRS position/status reporting.
The test periods will run each Tuesday from 0000 to 2359 UTC.
The telemetry is nominal.
Time is Sat Jul 25 12:10:00 1998 uptime is 1406/06:37:13
+X (RX) Temp 6.654 D RX Temp -4.842 D
BCR Set Point 132.508 C BCR Load Cur 0.320 A
BCR Input Cur 0.328 A BCR Output Cur 0.309 A
Bat 1 Temp 1.814 D Bat 2 Temp -0.002 D
Baseplt Temp 1.209 D RC PSK TX Out 0.457 W
RC PSK BP Temp 3.024 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 3.024 D
+Y Array Temp -4.237 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 1.814 D
+Z Array Temp 18.756 D
Total Array C= 0.258 Bat Ch Cur=-0.012 Ifb= 0.070 I+10V= 0.251
TX:010B BCR:88 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC: C
General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at:
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.
The 145.825 MHz and 2401.220 MHz downlinks are off the air. No
additional information is available at this time.
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. No additional information is
available at this time.
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 Sat Jul 25 10:57:51 1998 uptime is 1130/20:52:41
+10V Bus 11.150 V BCR Set Point 125.877 C
BCR Input Cur 0.217 A BCR Output Cur 0.220 A
Bat 2 Temp -0.991 D Baseplt Temp -0.991 D
RC PSK TX Out 0.630 W RC PSK BP Temp 3.496 D
+Y Array Temp -4.357 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 2.374 D
Total Array C= 0.174 Bat Ch Cur= 0.068 Ifb= 0.043 I+10V= 0.108
TX:017 BCR:7F PWRC:36E BT:3C WC: 0
General information and telemetry samples can be found at:
http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/lo19.htm
[ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, 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
Semi-operational.
Telemetry is reported as being downloaded on 435.822 MHz at 1200 baud PSK.
No additional information is available at this time.
TMSAT-1
Downlink 436.923 MHz
The TMSAT-1 micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian
Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998 and has now completed its second week
in space. The satellite is in an 821km sun-synchronous orbit. Current
output power is approximately 1.7 to 2 watts. The satellite is still
undergoing ground control tests and initial loading of flight software. The
satellite is expected to be available for general amateur use shortly.
Stations that can capture telemetry from the satellite are asked to
send a report to;
C.Jackson@ee.surrey.ac.uk
A brief overview of the TMSAT satellite and commissioning plan is available
at the following URL:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/amateur/tmsat/tmsat_commissioni
ng_plan.html.
[ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, for this report]
TechSat-1B
Downlink 435.325 435.225 MHz
HDLC telemetry framed so a TNC in KISS mode will decode it
The TechSat-1B micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian
Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998 and has now completed its first full
week in space. The satellite is still undergoing ground control tests and
initial loading of flight software. The satellite is expected to be
available for general amateur use shortly.
The satellite does not have a continuos beacon, but does transmit a
9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (for about 3 seconds in length), currently
on 435.225 MHz.
The TechSat team has also constructed a new home page about the TechSat
bird, and promise they will add more information in the next few weeks. To
view the new site, point your web browser to:
http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/
[ANS thanks Shlomo Menuhin, 4X1AS for this information]
--ANS END---
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports 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 EN28iv
Warroad, Minnesota U.S.A.
e-mail: nn0dj@amsat.org
Michelle Ervin
AMSAT News Service Assistant Bulletin Editor
Amateur callsign: KA9FUL
Grid Square EM89du
Springfield, Ohio U.S.A.
e-mail: ka9ful@amsat.org
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