SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-350.01 AMSAT-UK 12TH COLLOQUIUM - FIRST CALL FOR PAPERS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 350.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 15, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-350.01 The 12th AMSAT-UK Colloquium will be held at Surrey University, Guildford, Surrey, U.K., from Friday 25th to Sunday 27th July 1997. Since IARU will be at the Amsat-NA symposium, this year's event will comprise three days of technical matters only; there will be NO "political" subjects. Amsat-UK invite authors to submit papers, about amateur radio space and associated activities, for this event; AMSAT normally prefer authors to present the papers themselves rather than having someone else read them in the authors' absence. This call will be repeated about March 1997. Abstracts of Papers for presentation should be submitted as soon as possible; the date for full submissions will be announced in the future bulletin. It is likely that the final date will be about one month prior to the event in order that the "Proceedings" document be available to participants. Submissions should be sent *ONLY* to G3RWL, via the following routes: Internet e-mail: g3rwl@amsat.org Packet Radio: G3RWL @ GB7HSN.#32.GBR.EU Terrestrial mail: R W L Limebear G3RWL 60 Willow Road Enfield EN1 3NQ United Kingdom. AMSAT-UK also invite anyone with requests for Program Topics to submit them as soon as possible to G3RWL as above. Invitations for papers on specific subjects will be included in the future bulletin. NOTE. SEND ALL OTHER INQUIRIES ABOUT COLLOQUIUM-97 TO THE AMSAT-UK OFFICE: AMSAT-UK LONDON E12 5EQ [ANS thanks Richard W L Limebear, G3RWL, for this announcement.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-350.02 25TH ANNUAL SKN ON OSCAR HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 350.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 15, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-350.02 Amateurs are most cordially invited to join in the 25th annual Straight Key Night on OSCAR, sponsored by AMSAT-NA for Amateur Radio satellite enthusiasts worldwide. Activity has been growing each year. It's entirely unofficial: no rules, no scoring and no need to send in a log. Just call CQ SKN in the CW passband segment of any OSCAR satellite, or answer a CQ SKN call from another station, from 0000 to 2359 UTC on January 1, 1997. OSCAR Zero (EME) contacts count too. Of course, all SKN operating must be done with a straight hand key. Please nominate someone you work for recognition as having the "best fist." To send in a nomination, address it via packet radio to W2RS @ WA2SNA.NJ.USA.NA or to W2RS @ GB7HSN.#32.GBR.EU (whichever is closest to you), via the Internet to , or via "snail-mail" to W2RS' callbook address. Those nominated will be featured in a bulletin sent to Amateur Radio publications and posted to packet radio and the Internet in early February. [ANS thanks Ray Soifer, W2RS, for this event information.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-350.03 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FOR AMSAT HF NETS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 350.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 15, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-350.03 Due to the Christmas and New Years holidays, the 75 Meter Regional AMSAT HF Nets will not meet on 24 December and 31 December. If anyone wants to meet and exchange greetings at the appointed hours, feel free to do so, but no formal nets will be conducted. Why not work the AMSAT Straight Key Night on 31 December instead. The 20 Meter Net will continue on its normal schedule, since it occurs on 22 and, 29 December. AMSAT Operations personnel would like to thank you for your participation in the HF Nets during 1996, and would like to solicit your support for 1997. In particular, we could use some additional Net Control Stations. The greatest need is for the Mid-America 75 Meter Net. If you live in the middle of the US, have a respectable 75 meter signal, have access to the Internet, are current on AMSAT activities, and would like to serve as a Net Control Station, please contact Keith Pugh, W5IU, at w5iu@amsat.org. We can always use relief help on the other nets also. Happy Holidays! [ANS thanks Keith Pugh, W5IU, AMSAT-NA VP of Operations for this net update.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-350.04 VEC2TLE SOFTWARE VERSION 9648 RELEASES HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 350.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 15, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-350.04 Ken Ernandes N2WWD, announces the release of the Vector to Two-Line Elements (VEC2TLE) software version 9648. This new version's two key features automate Space Shuttle Keplerian element updates, eliminating most of the "cut-and-paste" required in the past. The software first finds and reads State Vectors embedded in ordinary text files. Then VEC2TLE replaces/updates the Keps in the user's Two-Line and/or AMSAT Keplerian element file(s). The latter option is used to over-write existing Keplerian elements (of the same 5-digit catalog number) with the new Keps computed from the State vector. These new features have been tested extensively during the recent STS-80 Space Shuttle mission. The tests were conducted using [primarily] the NASA Spacelink STSTLE electronic mailing list as follows: The E-Mail updates were written to plain text files that were then read by VEC2TLE. The software used the State Vectors embedded in these files to automatically create or replace Keplerian elements for the Space Shuttle, the ORFEUS/SPAS, and the Wake Shield Facility. The updates were accomplished flawlessly and far more quickly than would be required to manually cut, paste, and over-write the corresponding Keplerian elements. VEC2TLE is available from a variety of sources including the AMSAT and NASA Spacelink Web pages and may be purchased directly from AMSAT Headquarters. The AMSAT and NASA Spacelink Web page URLs are: http://www.amsat.org/ http://spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov/ VEC2TLE may be registered free of charge for use in support of a hobby such as Amateur Radio. Questions or comments regarding this new version of VEC2TLE should be addressed to Ken Ernandes, N2WWD at: n2wwd@amsat.org [ANS thanks Ken Ernandes, N2WWD, for this software news.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-350.05 STSPLUS VERSION 9650 NOW AVAILABLE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 350.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 15, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-350.05 David H. Ransom, Jr. announces the release of STSPLUS Version 9650 satellite tracking software. This is primarily a FEATURES UPDATE, adding "Night Vision" capability where the screen is RED for use on laptops outdoors (like teachers and Boy Scout Troops have requested!), and a new Location Map Mode which allows the user to specify the map center coordinates for the orthographic maps and "move around" and look at the maps. A number of teachers have requested this feature for use as a geography teaching tool. In addition and as usual, Dave found and fixed a number of relatively minor bugs that crept into the code. The new version (as well as all my other software) is now posted on my FTP site at: ftp://ftp.mindspring.com/users/dransom The new files for STSPLUS are in the /stsplus subdirectory and are: stsplus.new STSPLUS Version 9650 Update Notes sop9650a.zip STSPLUS Version 9650, Complete Package Part 1 of 2 sop9650b.zip STSPLUS Version 9650, Complete Package Pare 2 of 2 sop9650u.zip STSPLUS Version 9650, Update from Version 9610 or later. As always, comments, suggestions, and bug reports are most welcome! [ANS thanks David H. Ransom, Jr. For this news on the update of STSPLUS.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-350.06 W6AMW SK HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 350.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 15, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-350.06 One of AMSAT's area coordinators has passed on, W6AMW, Bob Dalleske. ANS sends it condolences to Bob's family. Bob's efforts to promote the hobby will be greatly missed. [ANS thanks Cliff Buttschardt, K7RR, for this sad news.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-350.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 350.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 15, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-350.07 FO-29 The FO-29 commander of JARL tech lab announced in 02z 15-Dec-1996 that the bird had been switched into ANALOG MODE due to a software problem. FO-29's schedule will be announced around 09Z on 16-Dec-1996. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this update.] MIR: MIR on 145.200 (Downlink) MIR on 145.800 (Uplink) For packet operation 145.800 is used for both Tx and Rx operation (i.e. Simplex). Hi all, This is an official message from Mir's PMS: Stat : PR Posted : 12/09/96 22:41 To : ALL >From : R0MIR @ BBS : xID : Subject: HELLO We finished our second space walk. After the first one we had a problem with our antenna. Tonight we repaired it and now it's Ok. We back your pardon for such an occasion. 73 de Mir crew CMD(B/H/J/K/KM/L/M/R/S/SR/V/?)> [ANS thanks Claudio Ariotti, IK1SLD ,for this information on MIR.] SAFEX, the 70cm repeater on MIR, is up and running. RS-12: The sat is giving extremely good downlink signals on 2 meters. In this period of poor propagation on 15 m, the T-mode is providing very easy access to the satellite. Interesting DX activity has been spotted in Europe with stations in Egypt, Crete, Cameroon, etc. [ANS thanks Stefano Badessi, PA3FWP, for this report.] RS-10: Operating normally. Very busy with lots of QSOs heard over north America and Europe. RS-15 Operating normally. (Hint: If SSB doesn't work for you, try CW. CW is very easy to hear on the downlink!) KO-23: Operating normally. Efficiency over 80%. KO-25: KO-25 is open again and operating normally The bird's efficiencies has been running 95 to 99%. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for his reports on KO-25 and KO-23.] AO-27: December-08-1996. Good conditions on the bird and good QSO in it's orbits over Europe during the weekend Heard: F6HLG, DG5MNC, EB5BCF, EA5AAJ, DH5JY, DL2DRD etc [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] As of NOV 2, the AO-27 schedule is as follows: TEPR 4 = 16 = 8 Minutes in Length TEPR 5 = 52 = 18 Minutes in Length TX-3 is on Mid Power during TEPR 5. This will have the TX turn on 8 Minutes after the satellite enters the sun for a duration of 18 Minutes. This is a "back to US Latitudes"operation. N4USI, AO-27's current Command Station sends his thanks all for their messages about the satellite turning on later than expected. He reports he's deliberately letting the "turn on" time drift later (for about 4-5 Minutes) so stations in the southern latitudes can also have a chance to work AO-27. Every few months he will be letting the turn on time drift like this to give more stations a chance to make contacts thru the satellite. [ANS thanks Michael, N4USI , AO-27 Control-op, for this update.] AO-10: Operating normally. Stacey E. (Chuck) Mills, W4SM, reports that Ken Ernandes is looking into getting updated keps. Though the orbit doesn't change very fast, things are now off by a bit, especially at perigee. Mills calculated the blon/blat, -125/5, about one year ago and is waiting to see if predictions for this year hold up. . A lot of activity was noted this weekend when the sat was over America. The bird was still workable up to phase 60. Still a bit of FM-ing when operating in CW [ANS thanks Stefano Badessi, PA3FWP, for this report.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-350.08 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 350.08 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, DECEMBER 15, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-350.08 AMSAT-OSCAR-16 (PACSAT) Continues in good working order. (to see telemetry data) uptime is 818/07:58:34 Time is Sat Dec 14 13:18:12 1996 Rx D DISC 0.572 k Rx D S meter 154.000 C Rx C DISC -1.211 k Rx C S meter 127.000 C Rx B DISC 2.678 k Rx B S meter 156.000 C Rx A DISC -0.462 k Rx A S meter 108.000 C Rx E/F DISC 0.212 k Rx E/F S meter 150.000 C +5 Volt Bus 4.911 V +5V Rx Current 0.044 A +2.5V VREF 2.527 V 8.5V BUS 8.680 V IR Detector 42.000 C LO Monitor I 0.002 A +10V Bus 11.000 V GASFET Bias I 0.003 A Ground REF 0.000 V +Z Array V 24.654 V Rx Temp -10.288 D +X (RX) temp 0.603 D Bat 1 V 1.362 V Bat 2 V 1.370 V Bat 3 V 1.374 V Bat 4 V 1.349 V Bat 5 V 1.357 V Bat 6 V 1.532 V Bat 7 V 1.376 V Bat 8 V 1.329 V Array V 23.672 V +5V Bus 4.968 V +8.5V Bus 9.015 V +10V Bus 10.975 V BCR Set Point 111.095 C BCR Load Cur 0.389 A +8.5V Bus Cur 0.034 A +5V Bus Cur 0.267 A -X Array Cur 0.104 A +X Array Cur -0.019 A -Y Array Cur -0.019 A +Y Array Cur 0.150 A -Z Array Cur -0.020 A +Z Array Cur 0.089 A Ext Power Cur -0.015 A BCR Input Cur 0.371 A BCR Output Cur 0.354 A Bat 1 Temp 6.049 D Bat 2 Temp 4.839 D Baseplt Temp 5.444 D PSK TX RF Out -0.029 W RC PSK TX Out 0.650 W PSK TX HPA Tmp -0.002 D +YArray Temp 0.603 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -1.817 D RC PSK BP Temp -1.817 D +ZArray Temp -12.104 D S band HPA Tmp 206.000 C S band TX Out -0.088 W Total Array C= 0.344 Bat Ch Cur=-0.035 Ifb= 0.027 I+10V= 0.362 PACSAT TX:010C BCR:76 PWRC:5AE BT:3C WC:25 EDAC:E3 [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] FO-20 Strong downlink signal and very busy with activity. OSCAR-11 Good, steady signals have been received from OSCAR-11 on 145.826 MHz. Once again there has been a small rise in the internal temperatures, which are now at the maximum values recorded in January. Telemetry values are nominal, although the battery voltage of around 13.8 is slightly below the levels recorded a few months ago. The 14 volt main bus current is steady at 635 milli-amps. The WOD survey is unchanged. The WOD, channels 0, 10, 20, 30, solar array currents, dated 17-September. The operating schedule is unchanged. ASCII status (210 seconds) ASCII bulletin (60 seconds) BINARY SEU (30 seconds) ASCII TLM (90 seconds) ASCII WOD (120 seconds) ASCII bulletin (60 seconds) BINARY ENG (30 seconds) There are also additional status blocks after each bulletin is transmitted, and between ASCII TLM and WOD. The mode-S beacon is ON, but telemetry indicates that it has partially failed. There have been two reports of it being heard weakly, since the failure. Any reports of reception on 2401 MHz. would be most welcome. Please e-mail g3cwv@amsat.org. The 435.035 MHz. beacon is normally OFF. However it can sometimes be heard when the satellite is being commanded by ground control, i.e. within range of Guildford, UK. Likely times are between 1500 and 1800 UTC, Fridays or at weekends. When the 435 beacon is transmitting, the 145 beacon is normally OFF. The data transmitted is mainly BINARY. [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information.] IO-26 ( ITAMSAT): Operating normally. Some report indicate that the downlink signals from the bird are stronger. [ANS thanks Richard W L Limebear, G3RWL, for this report.] DO-17(DOVE) Jim White reports that DOVE had timed out on December second. DOVE's software was then uploaded again to correct the time out problem. Signals from Dove are once again being received. [ANS thanks Jim White, WD0E, and Sergio Adrian Gorgone, LW7DXF, for this information.] LUSAT-OSCAR-19 This satellite is normally working. (to see telemetry data) LUSAT (LO-19): *- uptime is 542/22:42:12 Time is Sat DEC 14 12:47:22 1996 Rx D DISC 1.023 k Rx D S meter 143.000 C Rx C DISC 0.510 k Rx C S meter 116.000 C Rx B DISC 1.140 k Rx B S meter 148.000 C Rx A DISC 0.528 k Rx A S meter 148.000 C Rx E/F DISC 1.069 k Rx E/F S meter 140.000 C +5 Volt Bus 4.971 V +5V Rx Current 0.045 A +2.5V VREF 2.527 V 8.5V BUS 8.524 V IR Detector 40.000 C LO Monitor I 0.002 A +10V Bus 11.024 V GASFET Bias I 0.003 A Ground REF 0.000 V +Z Array V 22.813 V Rx Temp -3.235 D +X (RX) Temp -0.991 D Bat 1 V 1.383 V Bat 2 V 1.385 V Bat 3 V 1.398 V Bat 4 V 1.380 V Bat 5 V 1.409 V Bat 6 V 1.444 V Bat 7 V 1.383 V Bat 8 V 1.385 V Array V 22.495 V +5V Bus 5.030 V +8.5V Bus 8.889 V +10V Bus 11.400 V BCR Set Point 128.000 C BCR Load Cur 0.227 A +8.5V Bus Cur 0.025 A +5V Bus Cur 0.209 A +X Array Cur -0.016 A -X Array Cur 0.112 A -Y Array Cur 0.003 A +Y Array Cur 0.241 A -Z Array Cur 0.004 A +Z Array Cur -0.004 A Ext Power Cur -0.020 A BCR Input Cur 0.367 A BCR Output Cur 0.278 A Bat 1 Temp 2.374 D Bat 2 Temp 2.374 D Baseplt Temp 2.935 D PSK TX RF Out 0.106 W RC PSK TX Out 0.898 W PSK TX HPA Tem -2.113 D +Y Array Temp -2.113 D RC PSK HPA Tem 0.131 D RC PSK BP Temp -3.235 D +Z Array Temp -6.600 D LU Bcn Temp A -1.552 D LU Bcn Temp D -2.113 D Coax Rly Stat 2.000 C Coax Rly Stat 255.000 C Total Array C= 0.360 Bat Ch Cur= 0.052 Ifb= 0.008 I+10V= 0.219 LUSAT TX:019 BCR:80 PWRC:36E BT:3C WC: 0 [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] . WEBERSAT (WO-18) The satellite remains in good condition. Bob Argyle has completed the initial reload of WeberSat; and the satellite is now broadcasting telemetry frames every 15 seconds. The remaining software modules will be loaded soon followed by the resumption of photos and spectra. [ANS thanks Tommy Davis, IK3WVJ, for this report.] [Please send your Satellite reports to bjarts@uslink.net or to wt0n@amsat.org] /EX