[jamsat-news:920] ANS 249

[Dan James <nn0dj@means.net>]

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE	
ANS 249	

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.01
SPECIAL EVENT STATION

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 249.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-249.01

The EROS Data Center located near Sioux Falls, South Dakota will be 
celebrating its 25th anniversary on September 19, 1998 by hosting a special 
event amateur radio station.

The EDC is a national mapping center under the direction of the United 
States Geological Survey department. The EDC houses the largest archive of 
aerial photos, satellite and space shuttle images in world. EDC is a ground 
receiving station for NOAA-14 and 15, and will also be a ground operations 
station for the upcoming Landsat-7 satellite.

The Amateur Radio operators of the EDC will be hosting special event 
station W0E during the anniversary. Chad, KG0MW, South Dakota AMSAT Area 
Coordinator says the station will be active on several satellites, 
including UO-22, RS-12 and both FO-20 and FO-29. "Conditions permitting", 
KG0MW said, "operation on AO-10 is also planned." Full HF operation is also 
scheduled.

A color QSL card will be available for those successful in contacting W0E.

Information about the EDC is available at the following URL:

http://www.edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/content_about.html

More information about special event station W0E can be obtained from KG0MW 
at:

cphillips@edcmail.cr.usgs.gov.

[ANS congratulates the EDC on its 25th anniversary and thanks Chad 
Phillips, KG0MW, for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.02
1998 PACK RAT CONFERENCE

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 249.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-249.02

Ron, WZ1V, tells ANS satellite operators will not want to miss the 1998 
Pack Rat Conference. It will be packed with technical presentations, an 
interesting speaker lineup and several technical sessions, including
noise figure measurements, network analyzers, spectrum analyzers and power 
supplies. All equipment will be operational up to 10 GHz.

The conference is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 1998.

Presentations will include the following:

* Aurora Detector by Dave, K1WHS
* Patch Antennas by Chris, WB2VVV
* Coplaner Microstrip Design by WA3ZKR
* 28 GHz, 10 Watt Solid State PA by Mike Gaffney
* EHF Imaging by WA1MBA
* Andrew Products and EME by Tom, WA8WZG
* High Speed Meteor Scatter by W1FIG and KO0U
* New Microwave Devices by N2CEI

More information on the 1998 Pack Rat Conference is available at the 
following URL:

http://www.ij.net/packrats

[ANS thanks Ron Klimas, WZ1V, for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.03
ANS IN BRIEF

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 249.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-249.03

ANS news in brief this week includes the following:

** The AMSAT-NA booth at the ARRL Convention in Boxboro, Massachusetts was 
headed by Ernie, K1ELA, Arthur, N1ORC, and Tony, WA1ENO. George, W1ME, 
conducted an AMSAT forum and satellite demonstration with retransmission of 
AO-27 passes. ANS thanks all those involved for a job well done.
--NN0DJ

** Renowned former TV newsman Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD, will be back in the 
anchor chair for the historic shuttle flight that carries John Glenn back 
into space this fall. Cronkite, who's 81 and retired from his long-held 
anchor position at CBS in 1981, will report on Glenn's return to space for 
CNN. --ARRL Letter

** Paul, VP9MU, of AMSAT-BDA and the Station Program, reports setup and 
patch files for 'Station' are now located on the AMSAT-NA web site. Paul 
thanks KB5MU for finding the Station Program a new home.
--VP9MU

** Mike, N1JEZ, operating portable, activated rare grid square FN45 on 
AO-27 recently. Equipment used included an Arrow antenna, 70cm preamp, 
duplexer, Yaesu FT-470 HT and a 20-watt amplifier. All equipment was 
powered with a 6-amp Gel Cell battery. A total of 26 stations were worked. 
--AMSAT BB

**Andy, WD9IYT, says the AMSAT Journal would like to get together a set of 
images of different QSL cards issued by the various Mir operations. Anyone 
who might have images or cards they'd be willing to scan, please contact 
Andy at wd9iyt@amsat.org. --Andy, WD9IYT

** Activities to bring the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) 
spacecraft back to normal operating conditions continue with good results. 
The delicate recovery activities are being directed by the ESA SOHO project 
team from the Operations Center at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in 
Greenbelt, Maryland.
--ESA

** ANS is sad to report that once again, the hearts of all of the personal 
at the Johnson Space Center go out to the Shepard family on the death of 
Louise Shepard. JSC tells AMSAT News Service that Louise Shepard was a very 
special person. She was a constant source of strength for her husband, 
Alan, and a valued, effective advocate of the human spaceflight program   
from its inception. Along with JSC, ANS sends our deepest condolences to 
her three daughters and the entire Shepard family. --ANS Editor, NN0DJ

** Ignacio, CE2MH, reminds all to check out the AMSAT-CE web page at the 
following URL: http://www.entelchile.net/amsatce. --AMSAT BB

** A new battery technology being developed for military use holds the 
promise of longer operating times for all sorts of equipment including 
portable ham radio gear. The new battery weighs half as much and generates 
nearly three times the specific power of nickel-hydrogen technology, or 
150-watt hours per kilogram of battery weight.  The sodium-sulfur design 
costs half as much as nickel-hydrogen and is reported to be more reliable 
due to simpler design. --Newsline

** Doug, KA8QCU, reports the September issue of Satellite Times is the last 
issue. KA8QCU said due to high costs and low subscription numbers the 
publisher has decided to end the magazine. Many subscribers said it was one 
of the few magazines that they read cover to cover. KA8QCU says, "it will 
be missed."
--AMSAT BB

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.04
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 249.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-249.04

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.

The PBBS is running a Kantronics KPC-9612 + V.8.1 TNC. The commands are 
similar to most PBBS and BBS systems.

Some frequency changes concerning the PMS system have been reported to ANS 
recently. No official announcement of any frequency change has been 
received from MIREX. ANS regards any Mir frequency change as 'temporary' 
unless an official announcement is received from MIREX.

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 Downlink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz 
 CW/SSB	
Beacon 29.408 MHz	
Robot   Uplink 21.129 MHz  Downlink 29.454 MHz	
Operational, mode KT.

Strong 2-meter downlink signals have been reported.

RS-15
Uplink 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/SSB	
Downlink 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/SSB 	
Beacon  29.352 MHz  (intermittent)	
Semi-operational, mode A

John, G7HIA, reports on a recent overhead pass in central England he did 
not copy the RS-15 beacon but his return signal was very strong with 
minimal QSB from elevation to about 30 degrees. John was running about 20 
watts to a 5-element beam.

OSCAR 10  AO-10
Uplink 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB	
Downlink 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB	
Beacon 145.810 MHz (unmodulated carrier)	
Semi-operational, currently in 'sleep' mode.

Stacey Mills, W4SM, reports another sleep phase appears to be underway.
"I suspect that the rotational speed is so slow as to be incapable of 
holding
a stable attitude heading. Hence, we may be entering a time of chaotic
useful periods and sleep periods which cannot be predicted."

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.

Gary, KD5DAY, reports on a recent AO-27 pass the bird was very noisy and he 
lost the signal about 5 minutes into the pass.

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]

JAS-1b  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.

Raul, EB4GZO, will be looking for US station on both FO-20 and FO-29. He 
may activate the Radio Club Universidad de Alcala callsign as
well -- EA4RKU.

[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status reports]

JAS-2  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 and the 
satellite will remain in voice mode. FO-29 has entered a period of 'full 
illumination' by the Sun. This illumination period will extend through the 
end of December.

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

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 249.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-249.05

KITSAT  KO-23
Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK	
Downlink 435.175 MHz FM	
Operational. The telemetry is nominal.

Jim, AA7KC reports KO-23 downlink efficiencies are exceeding 90%.

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

KITSAT  KO-25
Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK	
Downlink 436.50 MHz FM	
Operational. The telemetry is nominal.

Jim, AA7KC reports KO-25 downlink efficiencies are exceeding 90%.

[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]

PACSAT  AO-16
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 Sep 05 11:38:04 1998 uptime is 1448/06:03:51
+Z Array V            21.892 V   Array V                20.820 V	
+X (RX) Temp       -0.002 D   RX Temp               -4.842 D	
+5V Bus                 4.874 V   +8.5V Bus             9.015 V  	
+10V Bus             11.150 V   RC PSK TX Out     0.472 W	
Baseplt Temp         3.629 D   +Z Array Temp       6.654 D 	
RC PSK BP Temp  2.419 D   RC PSK HPA Tmp  3.629 D	
+Y Array Temp      -0.002 D   PSK TX HPA Tmp   1.209 D  	
Total Array C= 0.404 Bat Ch Cur= 0.026 Ifb= 0.027 I+10V= 0.286
TX:010B BCR:84 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:28

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]

LUSAT  LO-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 	
Currently semi-operational.

Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, reports LUSAT/Oscar-19 ground control station 
LU8DYF has succeeded in regaining control of the satellite. Downlink 
signals show good modulation with an ASCII message containing the following 
text:

July 31 - 1998. No BBS service. On Board Computer reload in progress.
Digipeater active. Thank you - Norberto - LU8DYF.

EA1BCU reminds operators the digipeater mode is "a very interesting option 
to make contacts with other stations, or to be connected with your own 
station to evaluate the on-line the state of your installation."
Bob, WB4APR, says an efficient way to communicate via a space digipeater is 
to use un-numbered UI frames, which require no acknowledgment.  This way 
several stations can talk all to each other.

Telemetry is as follows:

Time is Sat Sep 05 12:06:07 1998 uptime is 035/22:28:31	
Bat 1 Temp            -0.991 D   Bat 2 Temp             0.692 D  	
Baseplt Temp          0.692 D   RC PSK TX Out       0.659 W	
RC PSK BP Temp  -2.113 D   RC PSK HPA Tmp  -0.991 D	
+Y Array Temp        1.813 D   PSK TX HPA Tmp   -2.113 D  	
+Z Array Temp        0.131 D	
Total Array C= 0.323 Bat Ch Cur= 0.108 Ifb=-0.004 I+10V= 0.168
TX:017 BCR:8A PWRC:62D BT:3C WC: 0

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

ITAMSAT  IO-26
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 received on 435.822 MHz at 1200 baud PSK. No 
additional information is available at this time.

TMSAT-1  TO-31
Downlink 436.923 MHz  	

The TMSAT-1 micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian 
Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998. The satellite is expected to be 
available for general amateur use shortly.

Viktor, OE1VKW, reports receiving signals from TO-31 with a total of 7518 
bytes (files and telemetry) received on a recent pass.

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  GO-32
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. 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 home page about TechSat.  To view 
the site, point your web browser to:

http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/

[ANS thanks Shlomo Menuhin, 4X1AS, for this information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 3

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 249.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-249.06

THE FOLLOWING SATELLITES ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME:

RS-16
Attempts to command the Mode A transponder have been unsuccessful.	
The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational. 	
The RS-16 transponder is non-operational. No additional information is 
available at this time.

DOVE  DO-17
Downlink 145.825 MHz FM   1200 Baud AFSK	
Beacon 2401.220 MHz	
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	
Non-operational.

WO-18 is reported to be in MBL mode after a software crash. No additional 
information is available at this time.

--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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