[jamsat-news:3517] [ans] ANS-168 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

[Lee McLamb via ANS]

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-168

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor-
mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space
including 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.

The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur
Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:
ans-editor at amsat.org.

In this edition:

* AMSAT Field Day on the Satellites
* CAMSAT Details on Three Satellites and an HF Transponder
* 3A Monaco Activation on FM Satellites in July
* ARISS Ham Video Transmitter Aboard ISS Defective
* Call for Volunteers, ANS Seeks Rotating Editors

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-168.01
ANS-168 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 168.01
  From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
DATE June 17, 2018
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-168.01


AMSAT Field Day on the Satellites

It’s that time of year again; summer and Field Day! Each year the
American Radio Relay League (ARRL) sponsors Field Day as a “picnic,
a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most
of all, FUN!”

The event takes place during a 23-hour period on the fourth weekend
of June. For 2018 the event takes place during a 27-hour period from
1800 UTC on Saturday, June 23, 2018 through 2100 UTC on Sunday,
June 24, 2018.

Those who set up prior to 1800 UTC on June 23 can operate only 24
hours. The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) promotes
its own version of Field Day for operation via the amateur sat-
ellites, held concurrently with the ARRL event.

This year should be easier than many years since we have more than
10 transponders and repeaters available. Users should check the
AMSAT status page at http://www.amsat.org/status/ and the pages
at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=177 for what is available in
the weeks leading up to field day.

To reduce the amount of time to research each satellite, see the
current FM satellite table at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=5012
and the current linear satellite table at
http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=5033

If you are considering ONLY the FM voice satellites, there are
SO-50, AO-85, AO-91, and AO-92. It might be easier this year to
make that one FM contact for the ARRL bonus points with so many
FM birds. The congestion on FM LEO satellites is always so intense
that we must continue to limit their use to one-QSO-per-FM-satellite.
This includes the International Space Station. You will be allowed
one QSO if the ISS is operating Voice.

AO-92 may be in L/v for the first part of the event, depending on
command station availability. Keep an eye on @AMSAT on Twitter for
expected L/v mode change times.

The full set of rules are posted at:
https://www.amsat.org/field-day/

[ANS thanks AMSAT Director Contests and Awards, Bruce Paige, KK5DO,
   for the above information]

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CAMSAT Details on Three Satellites and an HF Transponder

CAMSAT, China’s Amateur Radio Satellite organization, has offered
additional details about the three Amateur Radio satellites it
plans to launch later this year. Two of the satellites, designated
CAS-5A and CAS-6, will carry transponders, and one of them will
offer HF capability. CAMSAT’s Alan Kung, BA1DU, told ARRL that
the 6U CAS-5A will carry two HF transponders and two V/UHF trans-
ponders. The plentiful equipment package includes an H/T (21/29 MHz)
mode linear transponder, an H/U (21/435 MHz) mode linear transponder,
  an HF CW telemetry beacon, a V/U linear transponder, a V/U FM trans-
  ponder, a UHF CW telemetry beacon, and UHF AX.25 4.8k/9.6k baud GMSK
  telemetry.

+ The H/T mode linear transponder will have a 30 kHz wide uplink centered
   on 21.400 MHz, and a downlink centered on 29.490 MHz. RF output is 0.5 W.

+ An HF CW telemetry beacon will transmit on 29.465 MHz with 0.1 W.

+ The H/U mode linear transponder will have a 15 kHz wide uplink centered
   on 21.435 MHz, and a downlink centered on 435.505 MHz. The RF output is
   0.5 W.

+ The V/U mode linear transponder will have a 30 kHz wide uplink at
   145.820 MHz, and a downlink at 435.540 MHz. The RF output is 0.5 W.

+ The V/U mode FM transponder will uplink at 145.925 MHz, and downlink
   at 435.600 MHz. The transponder passband is 15 kHz, and the RF output
   is 0.5 W.

+ The UHF CW telemetry beacon will transmit on 435.570 MHz, with an RF
   output of 0.1 W.

+ UHF AX.25 4.8k/9.6k baud GMSK telemetry will transmit on 435.650 MHz
   at 0.5 W.

Kung told ARRL that the HF, VHF, and UHF antennas are quarter-wave
monopoles.

A satellite within a satellite, the tiny CAS-5B, weighing 0.5 kilogram,
will be deployed from CAS-5A in orbit. It will carry a UHF CW beacon on
an Amateur Radio frequency. Both CAS-5A and CAS-5B will be placed into
539 × 533 kilometer, 97.5° orbits. They will launch from the Jiuquan
Satellite Launch Center in late September.

The 50-kilogram CAS-6 microsat will include a VHF CW telemetry beacon,
a U/V mode 20 kHz linear Amateur Radio transponder, and AX.25 4.8k baud
GMSK telemetry. It will also carry an atmospheric wind detector and
other systems that will operate on non-amateur frequencies.

A launch at sea on an as-yet undetermined date is planned for CAS-6
from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. The microsat will
be placed into a 579 × 579 kilometer, 45° orbit.

[ANS thanks ARRL for the above information]


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3A Monaco Activation on FM Satellites in July

F4DXV plans FM satellite operation from 3A Monaco (JN33) on
Monday 02 July ~08:30z to 13z only during a quick break from
his trip to Italy. Jerome says, "Due to a bad horizon (mountains,
buildings), I could be only QRV for EU on high FM orbits."

[ANS thanks Daily DX for the above information]


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ARISS Ham Video Transmitter Aboard ISS Defective

Gaston Bertels, ON4WF has provided an update regarding the condition
of the ARISS HamTV system aboard the ISS.

In mid-April, the Ham Video transmitter on board the Columbus module
of the ISS stopped working. Extensive testing was performed by the
crew on June 1, 2018 which comprised connecting the transmitter to
the second ARISS L/S-band patch antenna on the nadir of Columbus.
The test was negative. Ground stations did not receive any signal
from Ham Video.

Since on-board repair is impossible ARISS is planning to return the
transmitter to Earth. Bertels wrote, "We hope this plan will be accepted
by the space agencies and the cost of operations funded by sponsors.
Schools and crew members performing educational ARISS school contacts are
delighted to use Ham Video. We will do the best we can to restart this
service as soon as possible. We will keep you informed on progress."

Additional information about the HamTV project can be found on-line at:
https://www.amsat-on.be/

[ANS thanks Gaston Bertels, ON4WF and ARISS HamTV for the above information]



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Call for Volunteers, ANS Seeks Rotating Editors

The AMSAT News Service (ANS) is seeking volunteers to serve as
rotating editors for its weekly newsletter.

Editors work on a rotating schedule, each taking a different turn
editing a specific week's newsletter as scheduled by the ANS Editor
in Chief. Editors support each other by seeking and reporting to the
Editor of the week, information and resources of interest to the
AMSAT community. The number of newsletters assigned will be dependent
upon the number of available editors at any given time. The average
editor can expect to spend, on average, 4-5 hours for each newsletter,
dependent on available material. Prospective editors are required to
be AMSAT members in good standing and have a genuine interest in
satellite operation and an understanding of AMSAT's mission. Former
editing experience is a plus but not required.

If interested, please submit an inquiry, including your contact
information to ans-editor ＠ amsat.com.

[ANS thanks the ANS editors 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 addi-
tional benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT
Office.

Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership
at one-half the standard yearly rate. Post-secondary school students
enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu-
dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status.
Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership
information.

73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Lee McLamb, KT4TZ
kt4tz at amsat dot org

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http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans