[jamsat-news:2038] ANS-128 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-128

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:
* HAMSAT Available for Use
* AMSAT at Dayton
* Membership Drive and Prize Drawing at Dayton
* AMSAT-NA Membership Dues Changing
* UO-11 Silent
* ARISS Status - 02 May 2005


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-128.01
HAMSAT Available for Use

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 128.01
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
May 8, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-128.01

Shortly after launch amateur operators noticed that HAMSAT's transponder
was on and questioned whether it was appropriate to be using the
satellite yet.  Pop, VU2POP from AMSAT India says, "Go ahead and use
HAMSAT and give us your feedback".

Heard/worked reports should be emailed to reports@amsat.in

More information is available at
www.amsatindia.com and  www.amsat.in

[ANS thanks Pop, VU2POP for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-128.02
AMSAT at Dayton

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 128.02
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
May 8, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-128.02

The 2005 Dayton Hamvention is quickly approaching (May 20-22). Basic
information on AMSAT's activities at Hamvention can be found on the
AMSAT web-page (www.amsat.org/amsat-new/articles/Dayton2005).  

Dayton is a three-day 'marathon' with an immense amount of activity. The
2005 edition is looking to be an exciting weekend with pre-registration
activities suggesting that this year's Hamvention may see a bump in
attendance. Dayton is also the site of the 2005 ARRL National Convention
which has also generated interest.

For those planning to use GPS to Hamvention, Hara Arena's location in
degrees/decimal minutes is:
N 39 49.223
W 84 15.335

AMSAT Booth Activities
AMSAT will be in the same booth location as previous years: Booth spaces
445-448. Our focus this year is on membership and highlighting our
future direction.  We expect to have a very busy booth this year with a
variety of updated and new items including new shirts, new and updated
publications, software and more.
 
Booth hours on Friday are 0900-1800. The hours on Saturday are 0800-1700
and 0800-1300 on Sunday.  Overall, the AMSAT booth will be open for 23
hours over the weekend.
 
Former Astronaut  Dr. Tony England, W0ORE will be at the AMSAT booth
from 1100-1200 on Friday.  Dr. England flew onboard the Space Shuttle
Challenger in 1985 and was the second astronaut to use amateur radio
while in space.  This is a great opportunity to 'talk space' with a NASA
space veteran and gain some insight into how amateur radio's presence in
space can encourage young people to consider a career in math and the
sciences.  Given the return to flight of the Shuttle this summer (now
scheduled for July)  and the continuing developments surrounding the
Moon/Mars initiative, it should be a wonderful time to 'talk shop' at
the AMSAT booth.  Tony will also be attending the Friday night AMSAT
dinner at the Amber Rose and will be our after dinner  speaker (noted
below).
 
AMSAT-NA President Rick Hambly, W2GPS will be available at the AMSAT
booth over much of the weekend to meet with AMSAT members.  He is
holding official 'office hours' from 1400-1500 Friday, 1400-1500
Saturday, and 0900-1000 on Sunday morning as he has committed to being
at the booth during those hours.  If you'd like to talk to the AMSAT
President about something that is on your mind, this would be an
excellent opportunity to meet with him.

[ANS thanks Barry, WD4ASW for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-128.03
Membership Drive and Prize Drawing at Dayton

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 128.03
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
May 8, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-128.03

AMSAT will once again offer a 'membership incentive' at Hamvention in
order to encourage new members to join and have current members renew
during the Dayton Hamvention. The membership theme is "AMSAT:  We ARE
Rocket Scientists."  To encourage membership, we will offer a membership
prize raffle once again. This year's drawing will feature a SSB UEK-3000
2.4 GHz downconverter with the winner specifying which IF (2 meters or
435 MHz) the downconverter will feature.   

For an individual to be eligible for the prize drawing, the following
criteria must be met:
   a.  An individual must cover the cost of a membership to AMSAT-NA.
Annual basic cost of US membership is $39.00 while cost to personnel
residing in Canada or Mexico is $45.00 and memberships for all others is
$50.00.

   b.  Both new memberships and renewals of existing memberships at the
suitable level are eligible for the drawing.

   c.  New membership/renewals must be done at the AMSAT booth at Dayton
Hamvention.

   d. Only one membership per individual will qualify.  This means an
individual who elects for a multi-year membership receives one chance
just as an individual who selects a one year membership.

   e. Individuals who currently hold a Life Membership may elect to
donate to AMSAT the equivalent of one year's membership ($39.00 US).

In addition, AMSAT will continue to offer memberships at various
'premium levels', which qualifies individuals to receive various
incentives. For example, the newly updated laminated AMSAT Frequency
Chart will be given to those who pay the basic membership fee while SAT
PC-32 will be offered to those who pay at the "QRO 75" level ($75.00 in
US, $81.00 in Canada/Mexico, and $85.00 elsewhere).  Again, each new
member or renewal will qualify the new/renewing member for this drawing.
  
 The drawing for the SSB UEK-3000 downconverter will be done at the
AMSAT booth at 1200 on Sunday, May 22. The winner does not have to be
present to win and AMSAT will cover the cost of shipping the equipment
to the member's address as shown on the membership form.   If the winner
is present at the drawing, the individual may take the equipment home
directly (and save AMSAT the shipping costs). While some may regret that
we could not include renewals outside of Dayton, the logistics of such
an option makes it impractical to extend the program beyond Dayton. Keep
in mind that the primary purpose of this incentive is to encourage new
memberships from those who attend our Hamvention Forums and visit the
AMSAT booth where they can meet members, obtain information, and be
encouraged to join our hobby.

The March-April 2005 issue of the AMSAT Journal (currently being mailed
to AMSAT members) includes an announcement that effective June 1, 2005
AMSAT membership dues will increase to $44.00/year for regular
membership (with commensurate increases for the other membership
categories).  The Dayton Hamvention presents an excellent opportunity to
renew prior to the membership dues increase.  

[ANS thanks Barry, WD4ASW for the above information]

/EX



SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-128.04
AMSAT-NA Membership Dues Changing

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 128.04
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
May 8, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-128.04

The AMSAT Board of Directors has voted to increase AMSAT membership dues
to $44.00 from the current $39.00 effective June 1, 2005.  This 12%
increase follows a $3.00 increase that took effect on January 1, 2004.
Life membership is also increased accordingly, to $880 (20x annual
membership).  Family membership will continue to be regular
membership, or $22.00 per family member.  (Family membership is
contingent upon a regular or life member residing in the same
household).

Those who join AMSAT or renew their current membership prior to the end
of May can do so before the price increase. Early renewal is encouraged.
The old membership dues will also be honored at the upcoming Dayton
Hamvention (May 20-22).

Details on the membership increase, an overview of why the BOD made this
decision, and the potential impact are discussed in the March/April 2005
issue of the AMSAT Journal which has been mailed to current AMSAT
members.

[ANS thanks the AMSAT BoD for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-128.05
UO-11 Silent

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 128.05
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
May 8, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-128.05

OSCAR-11's VHF beacon (145.826 Mhz) switched ON as expected 28 April,
and was last heard on 30 April 16:04 UTC.  Nothing heard on 02 May, and
each day since then.

Solar eclipses started 27 April, reaching an average 9.7% of orbit time
by 02 May.  Problems had been expected during the eclipse season, but
not quite so soon!

UO-11 reception reports would be appreciated.

[ANS thanks Clive, G3CWV for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-128.06
ARISS Status - 02 May 2005

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 128.06
>From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
May 8, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-128.06

1. Upcoming School Contacts

Hosokawa Junior High School, in Ikeda, Osaka, Japan has been scheduled
for a contact on Monday, 09 May 2005 at 08:00 UTC.


2. ARRL Article on Chiao's Record Breaking Contact

An audience of approximately 140 students, teachers and parents attended
Switzerland's first ARISS contact between the ISS and Schulhaus Feld 1
on April 19. Radio Zurichsee, and two newpapers, Zichsee Zeitung and
Tages Anzeiger, covered the event. This school was Leroy Chiao's
twenty-third contact, making him the new record holder of most contacts
performed during one mission on the ISS. ARRL's article, "Expedition 10
Commander Racks up School QSO Record," can be found at:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/04/26/3/?nc=1


3. ARISS International Meeting Held

The monthly ARISS International Teleconference was held on Tuesday,
April 26. Agenda items discussed included the ARISS Face-to-Face Meeting
which will be held in conjunction with the AMSAT-UK Colloquium at the
University of Surrey in Guildford. The Colloquium will be held on July
29-31 followed by the ARISS meeting on August 1-2. For more information,
see: http://www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium/default.php

The status of the SSTV was also covered. The outgassing tests have been
completed, documents are being finalized, and an August Progress
manifest is being considered.

[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI 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
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