[jamsat-news:2192] ANS-106 AMSAT Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-106

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:
* 2006 AO-51 Field Day Configuration
* Software Defined Transponder Demo at Dayton
* AO-51 Operations Committee
* ARISS Status - 10 April 2006


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-106.01
2006 AO-51 Field Day Configuration

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 106.01
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 16, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-106.01

This year, AO-51 will be setup in dual FM repeater mode, allowing for
two usable FM repeaters from the satellite.  The FM repeater utilizing
the transmitter on 435.300 will be open to all users.  The FM repeater
utilizing the transmitter on 435.150 (normally reserved for BBS
operations) will be reserved during Field Day for QRP stations only, as
has been the common practice when this mode runs on AO-51.  Please note
the information on the mode configurations and QRP requirements.

FM Repeater #1 for all Users:
Downlink:  435.300 mhz FM
Uplink:    145.920 mhz FM

FM Repeater #2 for QRP Users ONLY:
Downlink:  435.150 mhz FM
Uplink:    145.880 mhz FM


AO-51 ECHO LOW POWER STATION (QRP) REQUIREMENTS: 
To attempt to keep this simple, a low power station will be defined as a
station which can deliver no more than 10 watts to a vertical or
handheld antenna.  These are some examples of Low Power Stations: 

* Using an HT (barefoot, no amplifier) with 10 watts or less output into
any type of vertical whip antenna (rubber duck, etc) or handheld beam
antenna (arrow type). 

* Using a mobile station with 10 watts or less output into car mounted
mobile whip antenna(s). 

* Using a base station at 10 watts output into a vertical
omni-directional antenna on the side of the house. 


Examples that are NOT Low Power Stations:

* Any type of high gain beam antenna, KLM, M2, Cushcraft, etc. 

* Any station transmitting over 10 watts into any type of antenna. 


[ANS thanks Mike, KE4AZN, for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-106.02
Software Defined Transponder Demo at Dayton

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 106.02
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 16, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-106.02

Inside the AMSAT booth at the Dayton Hamvention this year will be a
working Software Defined Transponder (SDX) like the one aboard the Eagle
satellite.  The transponder will be operating on 2M and 70cm at low
power.  Jim Sanford, WB4GCS, the Eagle Project Manager and other team
members will be at the booth a great deal of the time to answer
questions about Eagle. Other Eagle modules will also be on display, as
well as a cubesat.

Any AMSAT members interested in helping for a couple of hours at the
AMSAT booth during Dayton are encouraged to email wa4sxm@amsat.org 
 
[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM, for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-106.03
AO-51 Operations Committee

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 106.03
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 16, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-106.03

Mike Kingery, KE4AZN, reports that, due to a heavy business workload, he
has decided to move away from being the chair or an active member of the
AO-51 Operations Committee.  Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, will take over the
leadership of the committee.  Mike notes that, "with Drew's previous
participation in the group, he will do a good job in reforming the AO-51
Operations Committee."  Mike continued, "We have discussed ideas on how
to improve the committee based on our past experiences and I will
continue to support Drew and the committee until they are up and running
smoothly".  

More information about the AO-51 Operations Committee will be upcoming
in future ANS bulletins.  Mike concluded, "I hope everyone will support
Drew in his efforts to reorganize and revitalize the AO-51 Operations
Committee."

[ANS thanks Mike, KE4AZN, for the above information]

/EX


SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-106.04
ARISS Status - 10 April 2006

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 106.04
 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
April 16, 2006
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-106.04

1.  Robert McQueen Contact Successful

On April 4, Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, spoke with students from the Robert
McQueen High School in Reno, Nevada for his 37th   and final ARISS
contact.  He answered twenty questions from 20 students as a group of 30
students, teachers, and parents gathered around the radio. Media
coverage included one radio and two television stations.


2.  Escola Americana do Rio de Janeiro Contact Successful

On April 5, Brazilian astronaut Marcos Pontes, PY0AEB, participated in
his first ARISS contact with students from the Escola Americana do Rio
de Janeiro in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Students were able to have 17
questions answered.  Audio is available on the following website: 
http://www.space-multimedia.nl.eu.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=191&Itemid=2


3.  Escola Camilo Castelo Branco 

A second contact was scheduled for Marcos Pontes, PY0AEB, with students
at Escola Camilo Castelo Branco in Carnaxide, Portugal.  Originally
planned for Thursday, April 6, and rescheduled for Friday, April 7, the
contact did not take place due to Pontes' heavy work load.


4.  Expedition 12 Makes Final Contacts

On Saturday morning, April 8, Bill McArthur continued to make several
general contacts - even at the very end of his mission. He spoke with
stations in the U.S., Cuba, Venezuela and Puerto Rico. McArthur,
Tokarev, and Pontes returned to Earth later that day at 7:48 pm ET.
McArthur has been the most active astronaut ham ever on board the ISS
and the Amateur Radio community is very grateful for his participation
in the ARISS and general contacts.


5.  ARRL Article on Bradley, Briar Hill School Contacts

On April 5, ARRL ran a web story on the Bradley-Bourbonnais and Briar
Hill school contacts. To view, "Fixing a Flat, Playing the Didgeridoo:
Kids Get Answers from Space via Ham Radio," see:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/04/05/1/?nc=1


6.  ARRL Article on Expedition 13 

ARRL posted an article on the handover activities of Expedition 12 and
13 crews. To view, "Bread and Salt: Two-Ham Expedition 13 Crew Arrives
Safely on ISS," go to:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2006/04/03/1/?nc=1


7.  ARRL Confirms All 50 States Worked

The ARRL has received QSL cards (postcards confirming contacts) from all
50 states that Bill McArthur worked while on board the ISS. An honorary
Worked All States certificate will be awarded to Bill on his return to
the U.S. 


8.  ARISS Chairman Gives Presentation to Packrats

On April 1, the Mt. Airy VHF Society, better known as "The Packrats,"
one of the oldest Amateur Radio societies in the world, celebrated its
50th anniversary with a dinner that was attended by ARRL President Joel
Harrison, the ARRL EVP, the Atlantic division director, and other ARRL
dignitaries. A Nobel Laureate (K1JT, VP Packrats) and VP Engineering
(immediate past VP Packrats) were also present.   ARISS Chairman and
AMSAT VP of Human Spaceflight, Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, gave a talk on ARISS
and AMSAT.  His presentation generated much interest in communicating
with the ISS and satellites. 


9.  	Brazilian Hams Thrilled with Pontes' Contacts

Brazilian astronaut Marcos Pontes made a few general contacts while on
board the ISS. One contact in particular made headlines. Fabiano Moser,
PY5RX, was fortunate to be able to talk with Pontes. His chat with the
astronaut made headlines, and he was interviewed by three television
stations and at least one radio station, promoting Amateur Radio. The
Gazeta do povo article may be found at:
http://canais.ondarpc.com.br/noticias/parana/conteudo.phtml?id=551799

To view one of his television interviews, see:
http://canais.ondarpc.com.br/tvparanaense/paranatv/noticia.phtml?id=41867&video=1


[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 week's ANS Editor,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
ku4os at amsat dot org
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