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[jamsat-news:513] ANS-103 WEEKLY BULLETINS
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SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-103.01
BALLOON LAUNCH ANNOUNCEMENT
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 103.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 13, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-103.01
The North Texas balloon project will make a third attempt to launch its
seventh high altitude balloon experiment carrying amateur radio payloads on
the 19th of April 1997. The payload carries a variety of radios and
instruments that can be easily used by any amateur with a Technician's
license or above.
The launch will be from Cleburne, Texas (located 20 miles south of Fort
Worth) at approximately 9:30 AM. In the event of inclement whether, the
launch will be delayed to the next day, and then to the next Saturday
(the 26th). There will be a pre-launch net at 8:30 PM on the Ft. Worth
146.76 repeater the evening before the launch. The morning of launch there
will be an HF net on 7.155 MHz +/- QRM. The Net control station will be
W5IU.
Approximately two hours after launch, the balloon is expected to reach an
altitude of 93,000 feet before burst. At this altitude the area of
visibility will be about 370 miles in any direction for a total 740 mile
communications range. In past missions, there have been QSO's between
Corpus
Christi, TX and Salina, Kansas.
The following is a list of the available experiments onboard:
Crossband FM Voice Repeater:
Uplink 444.600 MHz
Downlink 147.560 MHz
Packet Telemetry on 144.290 MHz:
This GPS and telemetry information will be the data downlink (downlink
ONLY) of the mission. The packet format is the common 1200 baud AFSK
found in all TNC's. The data will be presented in APRS format. Packet
digipeating and packet connects to the package will NOT be possible.
GPS:
Precise longitude, latitude and altitude data will be provided by a
DeLorme Tripmate GPS receiver.
35mm Still Camera
A Ricoh 35mm still camera will take photos every 3.3 minutes.
Other Innovations On NTBP #7B
Improved Parachute/Tow line
New spreader ring design, swivels and woven tow line should help ensure
that parachute does not tangle.
QSL's can be had through KG5IE via the Callbook address or via internet
e-mail at kg5ie@flash.net.
Additional information about NTBP and high altitude balloons in general can
be found at the following WWW sites:
http://procorp.com/procorp/NTXBP.htm
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/balloons/balloon.htm
[ANS thanks Doug Howard, KG5OA, for this information.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-103.02
RS-16 NEWS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 103.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 13, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-103.02
RS-16 was launched as part of a compound satellite package called "Zeya"
named after the launch site at the Svobodny Cosmodrome by the banks of
the Zeya river in the Far East by the Chinese border. Being that this
was the first launch from this launch site, no expensive satellites were
launched. RS-16, however, was an ideal candidate for the maiden launch.
In addition to the RS-16 package, the Zeya spacecraft consists of an
experimental navigation system of the GLONAS/GPS "Terminator" series,
a number of experimental reflectors, solar panels and batteries.
RS-16 has high speed telemetry as well as Morse CW, but it is proving
difficult to copy due to the tumbling and toppling QSB of the satellite.
In fact, amateur radio operators are doing somewhat better than officials
who need the telemetry for their own readings, but who have receivers
rather less sensitive than the amateurs.
There are just two of the RS group working at the Ground Control Center
near Moscow (the same as the GCC for RS-14/AO-21), these being Alex Papkov
RA3XBU and Victor Samkov. There is no amateur command station as such,
but Alex and Victor are working with the military and factory staff in
checking the facilities, antenna, equipment etc., and planning for
various scientific programs.
Leo, UA3CR, suspects spurious signals +/- 30 KHz either side of the beacon,
but thinks it may be due to overload from strong local QRM at his QTH.
He asks that amateurs look for them.
Leo reported that RS-16 is undergoing testing now, the duration of which
may take two or more months. It is believed the Mode A transponder will
be switched on after testing is complete.
[ANS thanks SpaceNews for this report.]]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-103.03
WISP32 UPDATE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 103.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 13, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-103.03
Roy Welch, W0SL informed ANS that he has
upload these two files for use with WiSP32. They
are NOT for use with WiSP for Windows 3.1
1. PROCMAIL 2.00c now uses the Windows 95 Registry instead of the old
WISP.INI file. This should correct a problem whereby the WISP.KEP file was
sometimes found in the root directory when there was no WISP.INI file
present. Now all of the WiSP32 modules use the Windows 95 Registry and the
WISP.INI file is no longer used. This file can be found as pm200c.zip.
2. UPDKEPS Version 2.00b is provided to fix a problem in WiSP32 where, in
some cases the user received a message, "...can't change to xxxx
directory...." This file can be found as udkp200b.zip.
Both files can be found at ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/wisp
and
will be uploaded to KO-25 rather than KO-23 in its present condition.
[ANS thanks Roy Welch, W0SL, for this update.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-103.04
NSS RECORD ATTEMPT
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 103.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 13, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-103.04
ON Sunday April 27th Near Space Science will be conducting there first
balloon launch of the year from Ed Rogers (N9LCI) farm near Utica, IL.
Payload will be ATV and APRS compatible GPS.
NSS will go for an altitude record of 150,000ft using a 300,000 Cubic ft.
Ravin balloon costing $1900. All amateurs are invited to participate. We
need experienced fox hunters and portable APRS stations. For more
information go to
http://tbcnet.com/~davidc/nss/nss.html EMAIL davidc@tbcnet.com
[ANS thanks David Chesser, KA9NHL, for this news item.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-103.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 103.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 13, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-103.05
MIR:
(New frequencies implemented 1 January 1997:
Uplink 145.2 MHz FM Downlink 145.8 MHz FM)
Note, the above split is used for both packet and voice operation.
ANS has received information that states that all
amateur activity from MIR has been suspended until
further notice.
SAFEX, MIR 70cm Repeater
(Uplink 435.750 MHz FM, Downlink 437.950 MHz FM,
Subaudible tone 141.3 Hz)
ANS has received information that states that all
amateur activity from MIR has been suspended until
further notice.
RS-10:
(Uplink 145.865-145.905 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4 MHz CW/SSB)
RS-10 is operational.
RS-12:
(Uplink 21.21-21.25 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.41-29.45 MHz or
145.91-145.95 Mhz CW/SSB)
The downlink on 10m continues to be very strong, with some slow fading
noticeable, but still nice strong signals heard and worked from
Arizona and Puerto Rico into northern NJ.
[ANS thanks Dick Montgomery, N3DV, for this update.]
RS-15
(Uplink 145.858-145.898 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.354-29.394 MHz CW/SSB)
Be aware that RS-15 has battery charging problems. When the satellite is
in the dark it has low output power..
[ANS thanks Geoff Perry for this report.]
(Hint: If SSB doesn't work for you, try CW. CW is very easy
to hear on the downlink!)
RS-16
RS-16's 70 cm, 435.504 Mhz beacon on RS-16 operational.
Bernie Hall, WY4D , reports that RS16 on its April 12th, 1644Z pass
showed normal reading on its downlink. The 435.504 beacon still at least
20 over on a homebrew J-pole. WY4D could not
hear the upper 70cm beacon and there were no beacons active on 10 meters.
[ANS thanks Bernie Hall, WY4D, for this report.]
FO-20
(Uplink 145.9-146.0 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9
MHz CW/USB)
Operating normally. Strong downlink signal.
KO-23
(Uplink 145.85, 145.9 MHz FM, Downlink 435.175 MHz FM,
9600 Baud FSK.)
KO-23 has very poor downlink efficiency. Setting the downlink frequency
2 KHz high results in slightly improved performance, but the efficiency is
still well below normal
.
KO-25:
(Uplink 145.980 MHz FM, Downlink 436.5 MHz FM,
9600 Baud FSK.)
KO-25 operating normally.
[ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for his reports on
KO-25 and KO-23.]
AO-27:
(Uplink 145.85 MHz FM, Downlink 436.8 MHz FM)
Operating normally.
Current AO-27 schedule information can be found at
www.umbra.com
Tepr 4 = 32 counts 16 Minutes
Tepr 5 = 66 counts 18 Minutes
AO-27 Will turn on Every pass 16 Minutes after entering the sun and will
stay on for 18 minutes. This corrects the early shut off that has been
going on for the passed few weeks.
Northern Stations will see the satellite turn on after AOS for the next
week or so. This is due to the TEPR states being calculated for a while
from now instead of Today. So the schedule will be drifting into a better
state. This gives us a longing time before the schedule gets out of whack.
Thanks goes out to the Alternate Control Station KM4NZ/N1XAU for the use
of their station via the Internet for Controlling the satellite. With
new software that lets me control the satellite at remote sights, I hope
to be able to keep the TEPR Schedule more up to date.
[ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control-op, and Miguel A.
Menendez, EA1BCU, for this update.]
FO-29
Voice/CW
(Uplink 145.9-146.0 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9 MHz CW/USB)
Digital
(Uplink 145.85, 145.87, 145.910 MHz FM, Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud
BPSK)
The latest FO-29 Schedule can be found at.
http://www.kt.rim.or.jp/~jr1nvu/eindex.html
The JARL FO-29 command station has announced that
FO-29 will be again put in digi-talker mode on 4th to 7th April,
with thanks to well received digi-talker to satellite beginners.
FO-20(Fuji-2) Operation mode schedule
Apr. 11(Fri) 10:16z(19:16) JD 1200bps
18(Fri) 00:46z(09:46) JD 9600bps
25(Fri) 01:24z(10:24) JA
May 2(Fri) 10:26z(19:26) JD 1200bps
9(Fri) 00:57z(09:57) JD 9600bps
16(Fri) 01:35z(10:35) JA
23(Fri) 00:29z(09:29) JD 1200bps
30(Fri) 01:07z(10:07) JD 9600bps
[ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-103.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 103.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, APRIL 13, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-103.06
AO-10:
(Uplink 435.030-435.18 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 145.975-145.825 MHz
CW/USB)
OZ1MY/Ib reports AO-10 has been FM'ing over the past few days. Possibly
due to poor sun angle. Stacey Mills, W4SM also reports that on the evening
of (04/13/97, 2300+ UTC) AO-10 was showing a weak beacon
with definite FM'ing. An attempt at an uplink produced a similar weak,
FM'ing downlink when the satellite was at approximately 26,000 km range.
AO-10
1 14129U 83058B 97086.09215926 -.00000160 00000-0 10000-3 0 4644
2 14129 25.6368 156.5618 6073912 102.9697 328.9901 2.05881543 75687
[ANS thanks Ken Ernandes, N2WWD, for getting these keps..]
OSCAR-11
(Downlink 145.825 MHz. FM, 1200 Baud PSK. Beacon 2401.500 MHz..)
Good signals have also been received on 435 MHz., Saturday 15 March,
14:00 pass, when the satellite was being commanded by ground control.
[ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information.]
AMSAT-OSCAR-16 (PACSAT)
(Uplink 145.9, 145.92, 145.94, 145.86 MHz FM, Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB,
1200 Baud PSK. Beacon 2401.1428 Mhz.)
(PACSAT-AO-16)
Traffic heard this weekend in PACSAT's orbits over Europe include,
EB8AUB\D, G1OCN, DL3SDW, F1JEK\D, EA1BCU\D, EI6EH\D ,
GM4ULS, and IW6MZC.
<Telemetry ON-LINE>
uptime is 923/06:52:53. Time is Sat Mar 29 12:16:13 1997 PACSAT
Bat 1 V=1.343 V Bat 2 V=1.360 V Bat 3 V=1.391 V Bat 4 V=1.333 V
Bat 5 V=1.327 V Bat 6 V=1.423 V Bat 7 V=1.362 V Bat 8 V=1.359 V
RC PSK TX Out 0.650 W
Total Array C= 0.323 Bat Ch Cur=-0.020 Ifb= 0.044 I+10V= 0.330
TX:010C BCR:7D PWRC:5AE BT:3C WC:25 EDAC:F3
Graphic information about Telemetry values can be found at:
http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/ao16.htm
[ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.]
PACSAT (AO-16)
Russ Platt WJ9F, AO-16 Command Team , reports the digipeater on AO-16 has
been on for the last couple of months. In regards to the 2.4 GHz
transmitter, it does continue to work although WJ9F has not been leaving
it on for an entire orbit due to its high current load on the 10 v bus.
The battery charging scheme on the micros is managed during sunlight
by adjusting the RCPSK transmitter power up or down to charge and
not overcharge the batteries since we have no way to turn the solar
cells off. The S-band transmitter does not have the ability to vary
its output so it is a high current draw throughout the orbit. In the
past during Experimenters Days when we have turned on the S-Band
transmitter I had to scale back the output of the RCPSK transmitter
to levels that were difficult to receive and even with these low levels
the onboard software will still turn off the S-band TX if the Battery
voltage drops too low, which it did. I guess that's why we called them
Experimenter's Days! In the future I do plan to continue to turn on the
S-band TX as power allows. I hope this answers your questions.
[ANS thanks Russ Platt WJ9F, AO-16 Command Team for this report.]
DO-17(DOVE)
( Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK.
Beacon 2401.220 MHz.)
DOVE is transmitting on 2M and on S-band 2401.220 MHz.
The command team is keeping the S-band transmitter on as a
test signal for those working on getting S receive equipment going.
The S transmitter is running about .8W to a whip that sticks out the top of
the satellite near one edge. In the northern hemisphere the whip is
pointed away from the earth, it's toward the earth in the southern
hemisphere. It is quite loud with a typical satellite S-band receive
setup, but in the northern hemisphere it will fade as much as 20 dB with
rotation of the satellite. Doppler of course is large, approximately
100 KHz during a pass.
[ANS thanks Jim white, WD0E, DO-17 Command Team, for this news.]
WEBERSAT (WO-18)
(Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25.)
Webersat (WO-18) is currently in MBL mode after a system
crash. The satellite appears to be in good condition broadcasting
MBL telemetry.
BCRi316.43mA bplt 1.340C TxPw 0.231W 5 V 5.742V 8.5V10.008V
10V 14.036V
[ANS thanks Tommy Davis, IK3WVJ, for this report.]
LUSAT-OSCAR-19
(Uplink 145.84, 145.86, 145.88, 145.9 MHz FM, Downlink 437.1528 MHz SSB, 1
200 Baud PSK AX.25.)
(LUSAT-LO-19)
Note:
To establish position with respect to the time, add 6 minutes to
compensate for the lag of the clock in the satellite.
<Telemetry ON-LINE>
uptime is 647/21:10:12. Time is Sat Mar 29 11:15:22 1997 LUSAT
Bat 1 V=1.383 V Bat 2 V=1.375 V Bat 3 V=1.384 V Bat 4 V=1.377 V
Bat 5 V=1.390 V Bat 6 V=1.398 V Bat 7 V=1.383 V Bat 8 V=1.371 V
RC PSK TX Out 0.986 W
Total Array C= 0.276 Bat Ch Cur= 0.032 Ifb= 0.032 I+10V= 0.207
TX:01A BCR:7F PWRC:36E BT:3C WC: 0
Graphic information about Telemetry values can be found at:
http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/lo19.htm
[ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.]
IO-26 ( ITAMSAT):
(Uplink 145.875, 145.9, 145.925, 145.95MHz FM, Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB,
1200 Baud PSK.)
IO-26 controllers report that the spacecraft is now in IHT mode. The new
ROBOT software is under currently undergoing tests. The beacon reports
that the digipeater is OFF and that the ROBOT is undergoing tests.
Controllers ask that groundstations please do not transmit on any of
the satellite's uplink frequencies for the time being.
[ANS thanks Daniele Piercarlo, IK2XRO, ITMSAT Command Station for this
report.]
[Please send your Satellite or News reports to ANS Editor B.J. Arts, WT0N,
via e-mail, at bjarts@the-bridge.net or to wt0n@amsat.org]
/EX
BJ Arts
Amateur callsign: WT0N
ARMY MARS callsign: AAR5EL
Grid Sqaure EN-37
Hibbing, Minnesota. U.S.A.
e-mail bjarts@the-bridge.net or wt0n@amsat.org
Amsat News Service Bulletin Editor