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[jamsat-news:1957] ANS-277 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins
- Date: Sun, 03 Oct 2004 08:56:41 -0400
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-277
ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North
America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the
activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share
an active interest in designing, building, launching and
communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites.
Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor@amsat.org
In this edition:
* AMSAT Symposium Deadlines Approaching
* Microsat Goes on Display at Smithsonian
* Echo PSK31 Testing
* Echo Schedule October 2004
* Partial list of Echo Operating Modes
* ARISS Status - 27 Sept 2004
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.01
AMSAT Symposium Deadlines Approaching
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 277.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 3, 2004
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-277.01
It is not too late to register for the AMSAT 2004 Space Symposium and
Annual Meeting. The dates are Friday, October 8th - Sunday, October
9th. Our Saturday night Banquet Speaker is Astronaut Carl Walz,
KC5TIE. Carl is a veteran of 4 space flights and has logged 231 days in
space.
Please note that although you can register at the door for the AMSAT
Space Symposium, there is a cut-off date for the banquet and the bus.
That date is Wednesday, October 6th. SO - if you planning to attend the
banquet or go on the bus to the Hazy Center, please call the
office ASAP. The number is 301-589-6062.
[ANS thanks Martha, AMSAT Manager for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.02
Microsat Goes on Display at Smithsonian
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 277.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 3, 2004
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-277.01
Dr. Perry Klein, W3PK reports that The Smithsonian National Museum of
American History has installed the Microsat Mechanical Test Model last
week so that it will be on display in time for AMSAT's 35th Anniversary
meetings. They suspended it from the ceiling outside the NN3SI
Smithsonian Amateur Radio Club station, located at "The Information Age"
exhibit on the first floor, West end of the American History Museum.
It's been a number of years since an OSCAR satellite has been on
continuous display at the Smithsonian. OSCAR 1 was in the Hall of
Satellites at the National Air and Space Museum for several years, but
has since been in storage at the Smithsonian's Garber Facility in
Suitland, Maryland. OSCAR 1 and PC-Sat are currently being readied for
display at the Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles
Airport when the Center's space exhibit hangar opens, expected soon.
[ANS thanks Perry, W3PK for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.03
Echo Schedule Update - 25 Sep 2004
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 277.03
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 3, 2004
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-277.03
PSK31 Experimenters Wednesday Info from Mike, KE4AZN.
Wednesday night I finally had a PSK31 signal to tune in and was able to
get Echo configured for better audio in PSK31 mode. The improvement was
very noticeable to the ear, and the one and only report I received from
that time frame indicated 100% copy on 4 different signals.
Unfortunately, that setup only ran one orbit before Echo was switched
into another mode. I think we have something that can be worked with
now. We will try another PSK31 session in the future and hopefully see
good results as we learn to operate this mode on a satellite.
For the record. We are using the SQRX wide band receiver to receive 10
meter signals on Echo. And the antenna is in fact the VHF whip on the
+Z axis of the satellite. There are no changes I can make to the
receiver from the ground. I do have control of a few parameters on the
transmitter side, in the flight computer (IFC). If you look at the Echo
Block Diagram, which has been published in many different places, you
will notice three paths that the signal can take in the IFC to the
transmitter. Those are Straight, Resistor, and CTCSS (which includes a
resistor). For FM repeater mode we run either the Resistor or CTCSS
path. This provides the best audio in that mode. What I found was
using the Straight path, which eliminates the resistor, improved the
output signal of the satellite when receiving on 10 meters USB. Also,
the Amplitude of the Transmitters signal can be changed from the ground,
and that parameter was modified with the straight path to get the best
output. I did not have enough time during that one pass to be sure I
found the best amplitude setting, but it was close.
Next time we run this mode I feel like you will see a nice improvement
in Echo's output.
[ANS thanks Mike, KE4AZN for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.04
Echo Schedule October 2004
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 277.04
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 3, 2004
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-277.04
October 2004 Schedule for AO-51 AMSAT-Echo
The October Schedule for AO-51 (Echo) is shown below. At the current
time there are no plans to load new software up to Echo. If for some
unplanned reason there is a need to work with Echo and deviate from the
plan a note to the Echo page on AMSAT.ORG will be posted.
All dates are UTC. The mode change occurs normally between 0100 and
0400 UTC on the date shown. The mode will be active from the date shown
until the next Mode Change date listed. Mode Configurations are listed
below the schedule.
Please do not access the BBS system on Echo when the schedule calls for
it to be off. The only time TXA will be turned on during a scheduled
off period will be when the satellite is over a command station, and the
command station needs to work with the satellite. Accessing the BBS at
this time will only slow down and/or delay the command stations efforts.
Also, check the broadcast message on the digital downlink. If it says
the BBS is CLOSED then do not transmit on the digital uplink.
October 2004 AO-51 (Amsat Echo) Schedule
Updated 27 Sep 2004
Sep 30
FM Repeater, V/U, High Power Mode ON
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS OFF, TXA OFF
Oct 6 Experimenters Wednesday
38k4 Digital Downlink, V/U, PBP BBS OPEN for Users
FM Repeater OFF, TXB OFF
Oct 7
FM Repeater, V/U, ON
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS, OPEN for Users
Oct 13 Experimenters Wednesday
No Mode Change Scheduled, Continue current Mode
Oct 14
FM Repeater, V/U, ON
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS, OPEN for Users
Oct 20 Experimenters Wednesday
FM Repeater, L/U, ON, Output Power TBD
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS OFF, TXA OFF
Oct 21
FM Repeater, L/S, ON
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS OFF, TXA OFF
Oct 27 Experimenters Wednesday
TBD, Check back later for Planned Mode
[ANS thanks Mike, KE4AZN for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.05
Partial list of Echo Operating Modes
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 277.05
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 3, 2004
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-277.05
AO-51 ECHO MODES (list not complete)
FM Repeater, V/U
Uplink: 145.920 mhz FM, 67 hz PL Tone
Downlink 435.300 mhz FM, Output 1/2 watt
FM Repeater, V/U, High Power Mode
Uplink: 145.920 mhz FM, 67 hz PL Tone
Downlink 435.300 mhz FM, Output 2 watts
FM Repeater, L/U
Uplink: 1268.700 mhz FM, 67 hz PL Tone
Downlink 435.300 mhz FM, Output ?? watt
FM Repeater, L/S
Uplink: 1268.700 mhz FM, No PL Tone
Downlink 2401.200 mhz FM
PSK31, V/U
Uplink: 28.140 mhz USB, PSK31 Mode Only
Downlink 435.300 mhz FM
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS (Packsat Broadcast Protocol BBS)
Uplink: 145.860 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital
Downlink: 435.150 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital, 1/2 watt
9k6 Digital, V/U, High Power, PBP BBS (Packsat Broadcast Protocol BBS)
Uplink: 145.860 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital
Downlink: 435.150 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital, 1 watt
9k6 Digital, L/U, PBP BBS (Packsat Broadcast Protocol BBS)
Uplink: 1268.700 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital
Downlink: 435.150 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital, ?? watt
38k4 Digital Downlink, V/U, PBP BBS (Packsat Broadcast Protocol BBS)
Uplink: 145.860 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital
Downlink: 435.150 mhz FM, 38k4 PBP Digital, 1 watt
38k4 Digital Downlink, L/S, PBP BBS (Packsat Broadcast Protocol BBS)
Uplink: 1268.700 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital
Downlink: 2401.200 mhz FM, 38k4 PBP Digital, 1 watt
[ANS thanks Mike, KE4AZN for the above information]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.06
ARISS Status - 27 Sept 2004
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 277.06
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
October 3, 2004
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-277.06
1. Investigator Centre Contact Successful
The Investigator Science and Technology Centre in Adelaide, Australia, a
non-profit center that provides educational programs to schools,
welcomed Kilburn Primary School to participate in a contact with the
ISS. Kilburn has an enrollment of approximately 130 students. About 20%
of the students are Aboriginal and 25% are from non-English speaking
backgrounds. The school focuses on Literacy, Numeracy, ICT and a
Supportive School Environment, and many of the students have significant
learning needs. On September 23, Kilburn¡Çs fifth and sixth graders had
the opportunity to speak with Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, via the telebridge
station, WH6PN, in Hawaii. Students posed thirteen questions to Fincke,
as an audience of sixty people looked on. The event was covered by the
media, which included ABC radio (Australia¡Çs national radio system),
University Radio, a local FM station, and a newspaper. An article will
also be published in the State Educational Journal for teachers.
Mike Fincke used the Kenwood radio to speak to the children of Kilburn.
This was the first time the Phase 2 hardware was used for school
operations, and because this contact was successful, the ARISS team
plans to use the Kenwood radio for the remaining contacts of Expedition
9. After the contact, the radio was placed in repeater mode, and will
remain in this mode until the next school contact scheduled for
September 30.
2. Upcoming School Contacts
The Primary School of Montaud in Montaud, France has been scheduled for
a contact with Mike Fincke. It is planned for September 30 at 1158 UTC.
Two Poland high schools and a university will share an ARISS contact.
All three schools are located in the Pomorskie Province. Gdynia Maritime
University and Gdynskie Liceum Autorskie STO (High School) both located
in Gdynia and Zespol Szkol Ogolnoksztalcacych Nr 5 (High School) in
Gdansk are scheduled to speak to the ISS on Wednesday, October 6 at
11:55 UTC.
2. Marina Air Fair Contact
Mike has expressed interest in a contact with the Marina Air Fair in
Marina, California. This event will take place on Saturday, October 16.
3. ARRL Article on the Aoyama School and ESA ESOC Contacts
The ARRL ran a web story on two recent ARISS contacts. Links to the
audio of both the Aoyama Gakuin Elementary School and ¡ÈLong Night of
the Stars¡É ESA ESOC contacts may be found on their website. See:
¡ÈAstronaut Thrills Audiences in Japan, Germany via Amateur Radio,¡É at
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/09/23/2/?nc=1
4. ESA ESOC ¡ÈLong Night of the Stars¡É
On September 18, an open house known as ¡ÈLong Night of the Stars,¡É was
held at the control center of ESA ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany. The
highlight of the evening was the contact with Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, on
board the International Space Station. There was wide media coverage
including newspapers, magazines, news agencies, the Hessen TV station,
and several radio stations. Over 120,000 people listened in on the
contact.
ESA ran an article on the event entitled, ¡ÈSell-out crowd wowed by
ESOC's Long Night of the Stars,¡É and can be found at:
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESOC/SEMIP61XDYD_0.html
The ARISS-Europe website also posted a story on the gala with a link to
the audio of the contact. See: ¡ÈASTRONAUT MIKE FINCKE PARTICIPATES TO
THE ¡ÈLONG NIGHT OF THE STARS,¡É at http://www.ariss-eu.org/2004_09_20.htm
5. ARISS International Meeting
The monthly ARISS International Teleconference was held on Tuesday,
September 21. The main item discussed was the agenda for the face to
face meeting scheduled for next month. The AMSAT/ARISS meetings will be
held on October 8 13 in Arlington, VA. To view the agenda, see:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/agenda2004.php
6. ARRL Posts ARISS News on LM_Net
The LM_NET list is a school Library Media listserv for school library
media specialists and people involved in the school library media
field. The ARRL PR Committee now posts news items to this listserv
whenever an ARISS radio contact is scheduled in the USA during school
hours.
[ANS thanks Carol for the above information]
/EX
In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining
donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional
benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.
--
73,
This weeks ANS Editor,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org
----
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