SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC1204 * SpaceNews 04-Dec-95 * BID: $SPC1204 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY DECEMBER 4, 1995 SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey, USA. It is published every week and is made available for unlimited free distribution. * MIR REFRESHER COURSE * ======================== Ever tried to contact the Cosmonauts on the Mir space station? In this issue of SpaceNews, G. Miles Mann presents some useful hints and friendly advice for those who would like to improve their communications success with the Mir space station. Mir Refresher Course - Part 2 of 3 de WF1F. When is it appropriate to call the MIR Packet BBS? First, configure your TNC to be able to monitor all packet information during transmit and receive, and turn Time Stamp ON. Setting the correct TNC parameters will assist you in a successful connection with the minimum amount of interference. By monitoring the control packet information at the end of each packet header, you can tell if the packet information is: C-Connect request, D-Disconnect request, DM-Disconnect mode, UA-Unnumbered Acknowledge, UI-Unconnected Information frame or I(n)-Information frame (n=0-7). This is a sample of suggested TNC parameters for a KAM. Your actual parameters may vary: AUTOCR OFF LFADD OFF MCON ON MCOM ON MONITOR ON RETRY 8-10 TIME STAMP ON Set your terminal program to save all data to disk. This will help you look back at what was captured after the Mir pass is complete, and even if you are unable to connect to Mir, you can read what other people were sent. This is a sample of a station logging off from Mir: R0MIR-1>WF1F/V [05/01/95 03:50:57]: <>: - Logged off R0MIR-1>WF1F/V [05/01/95 03:50:57]: <>: *** DISCONNECTED [05/01/95 03:50:57] R0MIR-1>CQ/V [05/01/95 03:50:59]: <>: - Logged off "NOW YOU MAY BEGIN CALLING MIR, C R0MIR-1" Look for the "<>" Disconnect frame. This is different from the "<>" Disconnect Busy message. If the station connected to Mir goes our of range, then an idle timer will force a log out after 8 minutes. The Mir PMS will send 15 <> messages, then MIR resets and sends out the desired "CQ, <>" packet (UI = Unconnected Information frame). In part 3, we will discuss how to format your messages for upload to the Mir Personal Message System. [Info via Miles WF1F @ K1UGM.MA.USA.NA] * OSCAR-11 NEWS * ================= Tuesday 21 November 1995. 16:48 UTC. Telemetry nominal, WOD dated 11th November, channels 1, 2, 3, 61. Bulletin $BID UO11.044 dated 18th November, featuring OSCAR-13 schedule, Mars Explorer mission, OSCAR-11 keps, and a useful Internet site. This satellite still continues to provide good signals on 145.826 MHz. The 1200 baud data transmitted is mainly ASCII. The sequence repeats every 10 minutes, and contains a bulletin, spacecraft status, telemetry and whole orbit data. During the summer there were some shutdowns, believed to be due to the watch-dog timer prematurely timing out. However this problem has not been observed recently. [Info via Clive Wallis, G3CWV @ GB7ZPU.GBR.EU] * WEBERSAT NEWS * ================= WEBER-1>CAST : 02-Dec-95 *Collecting and Sending WOD Week2: Misc Ch# 23 24 33 35 36 37 *Photo 8/12 N. Zaire *Photo 9/13 E. Zaire *New Spectrum Monday 73, IK3WVJ & KB7KCL * G0SYX LEAVES UoSAT * ====================== The following is a message from Doug Loughmiller, G0SYX/KO5I: After three truly outstanding years with UoSAT/SSTL, and with some degree of regret, I am leaving my post as Spacecraft Operations and Groundstation manager effective from December 12th, 1995 to return to the United States. In a way, this marks the end of a dream for me, as six years ago I made a conscious decision to make a mid-life career change to work in the small satellite field. It was my belief that people who place things into space are truly special people and I dearly wanted to be such a person. Over the past three years, my association with the people at UoSAT has proven my belief to be true beyond a shadow of a doubt. I am deeply grateful to have been extended the opportunity to become part of their team. But, unfortunately, the time has come for me to return to Texas to once again regain my place on the sidelines as a mere observer while pursuing other professional pursuits. I am very pleased that I will be leaving the UoSATs in the good hands of Chris Jackson, ZL2TPO/G7UPN. Chris, who as we all know is the author of the very popular WiSP program, joined UoSAT about a year ago and has been a valuable addition to the UoSAT family. Chris has a very bright technical mind and is one of the true innovators in amateur radio today. I have had the opportunity to work closely with Chris and have always found him friendly and helpful. He will be an outstanding guardian of the UoSATs and I wish him all the best. My decision to leave UoSAT will undoubtedly mark my departure from amateur space activities. For over the past 15 years I have actively promoted, in one role or another, the concept of radio amateurs placing satellites into orbit and making constructive use of them for the betterment of the entire amateur radio service world-wide. I have been extremely fortunate in that period of time to have had the privilege to work with some of the finest people within the amateur radio fraternity. I am truly thankful to have had these opportunities. The amateur satellite program has come a long way since 1972 when I tracked my first OSCAR and decided that I wanted to play a role in this truly exciting aspect of amateur radio. While we have some truly remarkable things to look back upon, I am convinced that the best is yet to come. As many of you know, I have felt for some time that the Phase 3D project is very important to amateur radio. It is absolutely essential that this mission succeeds and serves as a catalyst for further technical development within the entire amateur radio community as we move into the 21st century. I have a few outstanding commitments to the project and I will be spending some time in the days ahead seeing that these are completed. Once my contributions towards this project are completed I will be focusing my attention and energies into pursuits outside of the amateur satellite program. My time in England has been an enriching and enjoyable experience. I deeply value the friends I have made during my stay here and I truly hope that I will be able to stay in touch once I have returned to Texas. While I hadn't initially planned to be involved with AMSAT-UK when I came to Britain back in 1992, I am very grateful that my British uncle, Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ asked me to join the AMSAT-UK committee. I fully enjoyed my involvement with the organisation and its members. Clearly my involvement with the past several Colloquiums is the high water mark of my contribution to the organisation. Although at times I didn't act like it, (It WAS hard work!), I did enjoy having a hand in the event. I walk away believing that the members who participated truly appreciated our efforts with the Colloquium and for this I am very grateful. I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your help and co-operation and most importantly for the friendship you have extended to me. It has been my privilege to work with all of you and I wish AMSAT-UK as an organisation and each of you individually all the best in your future endeavours. Warmest Regards, Doug G0SYX / KO5I * SOHO IN ORBIT * ================= The joint U.S./European Solar Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) was launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Station, Florida, atop an Atlas IIAS rocket, at 3:08 a.m. EST (8:08 UTC) on Saturday 2 December 1995. The 1.6 ton observatory was successfully released into its transfer orbit 2 hours and 5 minutes after launch. [Info via Keith Stein] * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * =========================== Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below: FAX : 1-908-747-7107 FTP : pilot.njin.net cd to /pub/SpaceNews WWW : http://www.njin.net:80/~magliaco/ PACKET : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@pilot.njin.net SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, LUSAT-OSCAR-19 MAIL : John A. Magliacane, KD2BD Department of Engineering and Technology Advanced Technology Center Brookdale Community College Lincroft, New Jersey 07738 U.S.A. <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> /EX