JAMSAT 日本アマチュア衛星通信協会

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Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 12:35:09 +0200
From: Hans <hans@intekom.co.za>
Reply-To: hans@intekom.co.za
To: MR STEPHEN G THOMPSON <TKVF99C@prodigy.com>
CC: amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org
Subject: [jamsat-amsat-bb:22929] Re: SUNSAT freq.

SUNSAT

Hi

Sunsat is going through the enginering process and only the telemetry
channel is sending signals. Telemetry can be copies 0n 436.250 MHZ. As
soon as SUNSAT is release for general use wil details be made available.

73

Hans ZS5AKV.


Attached SARLNEWS with the latest info.

SB SARL @ ZAF $ENG19990228
SARL NEWS 1999 FEBRUARY 28

SOUTH AFRICAN RADIO LEAGUE
SARL NEWS SUNDAY 1999 FEBRUARY 28

This is Amateur Radio Station ZS6SRL transmitting Amateur Radio News , a
service from the South African Radio League for the interest of all
Radio Amateurs, Short-wave Listeners and Electronic Enthusiasts. For a
complete list of broadcast times and frequencies please send a SASE to
Amateur Radio News, SARL, P O Box 807, 2041. This bulletin is also
available on the SARL痴 web pages hosted by Intekom at www.sarl.org.za.

NEWS HEADLINES:

SUNSAT SUCCESFULLY LAUNCHED, SMILES ON THE FACES OF THE STELLENBOSCH
TEAM AFTER 24 HOURS OF PANIC

SA AMSAT TO HOLD RELAUNCH AGM AT AMATEUR RADIO AFRICA 99 ON APRIL 24.

SARL YL/OM CONTEST TO BE HELD ON MARCH 11.


You are tuned to ZS6SRL, the news in detail next


South Africa痴 first satellite, SUNSAT, was successfully launched after
many attempts marred by inclement weather conditions. In a flawless
launch on Tuesday SUNSAT was placed in its 620 x 850 km orbit 1 hour
and 40 minutes after the rocket roared towards the heavens. There were
anxious moments at the University of Stellenbosch ground control station
when the satellite failed to respond to command signals. Careful
scrutiny of the equipment configuration and some minor adjustment solved
the problem.

The next day SUNSAT responded to ground commands with clear telemetry
from the magnetometer. Needless to say that the Stellenbosch guys were
all smiles.

Cliff K7RRof the Vandenberg Airforce Base Amateur Radio club reports
that the success of Sunsat continues. 典here were four continuous
downlink and up and downlink orbits, two in the middle of night and
three on Friday afternoon. We obtained telemetry on the very first
uplink command when the satellite was in the East. On the overhead pass
the controllers commanded the voice digitalker to respond: I am alive! �
On Friday evening the Stellenbosch ground control station successfully
deployed the boom which will stabilise the satellite. Commanding is
continuing . Radio Amateur can expects some interesting audio from the
digitalker. Stay tuned for information about this event next weekend.

Garth Milne ZR1AFH expressed his appreciation to the members of the
Vandenberg Airforce base Radio Club for their hospitality and support
during the protracted launch period.

SARL APPOINT A TECHNOLOGY TASK GROUP

The SARL Council has adopted a proposal to promote new technology in
Amateur Radio and to establish an Amateur Radio Technology Task Force
to develop a strategy plan for exploring new technologies and assessing
their applicability and possible incorporation into Amateur Radio.

The image of Amateur Radio as a collective group of people doing
research and developing new technologies or applications for new
technologies is fast fading. Within the group there appears to be
little new technological activity and the few that are engaged in this
field do not publish and share their expertise to involve more radio
amateurs. There is work going on in EME, VHF/Microwave, propagation,
digital communications etc. TAPR in the USA is leading the field with
several new developments. The SARL, as the national society of Radio
Amateurs has an obligation to its members and the Amateur Radio as a
whole to take the lead.
Tony Reumerman ZS6AOG has been appointed to lead the group. Volunteers
wishing to join the group are invited to contact Tony at 011 792 6583
or by Email: tony@ecssa.co.za

An INTECNET is planned for Sunday March 28 March from 20:00 to 21:30.
Clubs wishing to link into the net are requested to send details to
sarlnews@intekom.co.za or by fax to 031 765-6456.

MORE HAMRADIO ON THE SILVER SCREEN?

A research company reviewing a script for a new movie involving ham
radio called Frequency contacted the ARRL. The film, starring Dennis
Quaid, is about a young boy from New York who loses his father in a fire
in 1969. Years later, the son is "reunited" with his late father via ham
radio. While the story line may be a bit far-fetched for some, the movie
may give Amateur Radio some additional positive exposure on the big
screen. Bart Jahnke, W9JJ, helped Jennifer Hagy, N1TDY, to research a
call sign--one that's not likely to be issued--that may be used in the
movie. No more details on the movie or when it will be filmed are
available at this time.

SEND A MESSAGE TO THE CAPE AGULHAS LIGHT HOUSE


"The Cape Agulhas Lighthouse (will be 150 years old on 1 March 1999. A
small group of people who live near the lighthouse and have a deep
affection for her, have created a dedication page for the lighthouse
for this momentous occasion:
http://www.cape-explorer.com

The group are trying to raise world-wide, 1 million e-mail greetings for
this grand old lady of the seas. Those who send a greeting to
http://www.cape-explorer.com will have their name and greeting cut to CD
ROM and these CD ROMS will be sealed into her datestone permanently on 1
March 1999, thus, hi-tech and history converge, and allow us to honour
her in a manner that is fitting to the wonderful contributions to human
safety she has made
over the past 150 years.

This is a private initiative, is non-profit orientated and asks for
nothing other than the opportunity to repay a kindness and dedication to
service in the form of 1 million e-mail greetings.

The Boland Amateur Radio Klub will be running a special event station
over the weekend of 27/28 Feb and Monday 1st March to celebrate the
150th birthday of the L'Agulhas Lighthouse. The special callsign
ZS150LL (L'Agulhas Lighthouse) will be used on all the popular HF
bands and all contacts will be confirmed with a very special QSL card.



YOUR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT CAN EARN YOU R350

As reported last week the closing date for "The Tinus Lange 7066 Junior
Technical Excellence Award� and "The Tinus Lange 7066 Technical
Excellence Award" is March 31. The awards will be bestowed annually
on the persons who submit a technical project in any of the following
categories:

? Design and/or construction of projects such as a pre-amp, SWR bridge,
patching unit, automatic ID-er, practical antenna ideas, mast, portable
gear, power supplies etc.

? Any software for use in Amateur Radio

The submission must include the actual items (if size and mass allows
it) or photographs (particular in the case of antennas/mast etc) and A
complete write-up in article form with illustrations/pictures ready for
publication in Radio ZS.

The winner in the Junior( under 25 years of age) category and winner in
the above 25 years category each receive a framed certificate and R350
in cash

All entries to be displayed (where practical, otherwise photographs) at
the AGM and the award to be presented at the annual dinner on 25 April
1999. The closing date is March 31.


SA AMSAT AGM

SA AMSAT will be holding its relaunch AGM at Amateur Radio Africa 99 on
Saturday 24 April at 14:00. SA AMSAT has been in recess while there was
little satellite activity. With the launch of South Africa痴 own
satellite, SUNSAT, and several other exciting international projects
there is a new focus . The AGM will be held at the SARL Education centre
and will focus on the way forward.


YL/OM CONTEST

The SARL YL/OM Contest will be held on Thursday March 11 from 19:00 � 22:00. The objective of the contest is to get as many as possible YL
operators the air. Two bands will be used: 80m and 2m. No repeater
operation will be allowed. The exchange must include callsign, name,
location, province, RS and a serial number starting at 001. Full details
can be found on the SARL web and in the contest blue book.

SOLAR FUX STILL ON THE DECLINE

Ean Retief ZS1PR reports that the solar flux will be just below the 120
mark today and will decline to under 110 the coming week (around
Wednesday) and then start to climb up again to reach present levels
by next weekend. Solar activity is expected to be Low this weekend - No
major solar flares or other major activity is expected.

MUF's should be at predicted values or even slightly higher. Radio
Amateurs should look for good DX on 10 metres in the late afternoon and
early evening. Around 21:00SAST very good propagation on 40m with DX
should occur on east/west paths.

On Monday and Tuesday the Geomagnetic Field should be very quiet making
for good low band conditions. On Wednesday March 3 the Earth may be
affected by a particle stream from a Coronal hole and the Geomagnetic
Field should start "coming to life" again.



DIARY OF ACTIVITY

The Boland Amateur Radio Klub will be running a special event station
over the weekend of 27/28 Feb and Monday 1st March to celebrate the
150th birthday of the L'Agulhas Lighthouse. The special callsign
ZS150LL (L'Agulhas Lighthouse) will be used on all the popular HF
bands and all contacts will be confirmed with a very special QSL card.

The East Rand Radio club flea market will be held on March 6 at the club
house swimming pool. There will be no charge. Bring the whole family.
Refreshments will be available. For more information call Johan ZS6JWS
on 0826768774

The SARL YL- OM Nite Contest will be held on March 11 and Short-wave
Listeners are reminded about the SARL WPX Short-wave listeners challenge
over the weekend March 13 and 14.


The SARL VHF/UHF Contest will be held on March 20 and 21. Full details
on the SARLweb.

Radio Clubs are invited to supply information for inclusion in the Diary
of events. Information must reach the SARL News Service by not later
than two weeks before the event. Information may be faxed to: 031
765-6456 or by Email to: sarlnews@intekom.co.za.

The South African Radio League provides this bulletin of news as a
service to Radio Amateurs and interested listeners on the African
Continent. Join us on Sundays at 12:00 for the President痴 Net on 7082
kHz. This bulletin was written by ZS5AKV and read by ......

News in this bulletin was provided by the SARL News Service, Amateur
Radio Clubs in South Africa, and the ARRL .

Every Sunday you are invited to listen to Amateur Radio Mirror
International. The programme is on the air on Sundays at 10:00 SAST on
9750 and 21530 kHz and repeated on Mondays at 20:00 SAST on 3215 kHz.
Sentech, the common carrier for broadcasting signals in South Africa and
Telkom who provides the transmission lines, sponsor these transmissions.
The following VHF frequencies are also activated from the Sentech
Meyerton Transmitter site: 145,375 for the Northern Free State and Vaal
triangle areas and 145,400 covering the greater Johannesburg area. In
the greater Durban area there is a relay on 145,650 MHz.

ends - ZS5AKV.
/EX


MR STEPHEN G THOMPSON wrote:

> I just noticed on the BB where someone was looking for the
> downlink freq. of this bird. Some months ago when I first
> read about this project, I came across 145.825 as the
> downlink. I must admit though that I've been listening on
> many of the passes here over North Carolina and have heard
> nothing yet. Although one is coming up in just a few
> minutes at 09:28z and the footprint also covers California,
> so I'm hoping to hear at least some brief downlink maybe in
> response to commands from the guys working on it out there.
> Best of luck to the Sunsat team.. 73 de Steve K5PK@amsat.org
>
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