SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0531 * SpaceNews 31-May-99 * BID: $SPC0531 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY MAY 31, 1999 * SEARCH FOR ET AT HOME * ========================= SETI@home is a scientific experiment that attempts to harness the power of hundreds of thousands of Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). Anyone can participate in this experiment by running a computer program that downloads and analyzes radio telescope data captured by scientists and sends results back to the SETI Institute. By sharing the processing work among hundreds of thousands of small computers, vast quantities of information can be processed without the need for expensive supercomputers. Over 350,000 people are participating in this experiment thus far, and this number is expected to grow rapidly. Since the analysis performed by the SETI@home software operates during a computer's "idle time", it does not interfere with normal computer operations. Versions of the SETI@home software are available for many popular operating systems such as Unix (including Linux, SCO, and the various BSDs), Macintosh, BeOS, and Windoze (95/98/NT). Sponsors and technology partners of SETI@home include The Planetary Society, The University of California Digital Media Innovation Program, Paramount Pictures, Sun Microsystems, Fuji Film Computer Products, Informix, Engineering Design Team, The Santa Cruz Operation (SCO), Quantum Corporation, and The SETI Institute. SETI@home is also supported by private donations, and is based at the University of California at Berkeley. Further information is available at the SETI@home web page at: http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/ * RS-13 QSL INFO * ================== As reported earlier, RS-13's "ROBOT" CW autotransponder is currently active on an uplink frequency of 145.840 MHz and a downlink frequency of 29.504 MHz. Those wishing to confirm their RS-13 ROBOT contact may send their QSL card along with their RS-13 ROBOT QSL number to: Radio Sport Federation BOX 88 Moscow [Info via Tony, AB2CJ] * TECHSAT NEWS * ================ Shlomo Menuhin, 4X1AS, reports that the TECHSAT satellite homepage has been recently updated. The updates include new information on the experiments carried onboard the TECHSAT satellite. News of interest to amateur radio operators will be added shortly. The URL for the TECHSAT page is: http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/ Work on activating the satellite's digital communication transponder is is now a first priority, and controllers are hopeful it will be operational shortly. Additional TECHSAT information will be presented at the 1999 AMSAT-UK Colloquium later this year. * FO-29 NEWS * ============== The JARL has announced a new FO-29 operating schedule that includes a period of Mode JA analog transponder operation during this year's ARRL Field Day weekend. Mon 24-May-99 -to- Mon 31-May-99 : Mode JA Mon 31-May-99 -to- Mon 07-Jun-99 : Mode JD 1200 baud BPSK mailbox Mon 07-Jun-99 -to- Mon 14-Jun-99 : Mode JA Mon 14-Jun-99 -to- Mon 21-Jun-99 : Mode JD 1200 baud BPSK mailbox Mon 21-Jun-99 -to- Mon 05-Jul-99 : Mode JA [Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK] * OSCAR-36 NEWS * ================= UO-36 has been heard transmitting data on 437.025 MHz at 38400 baud. Usually this downlink is operational in addition to the 9k6 downlink on 437.400 MHz when the spacecraft is in sunlight or in range of the command station in Surrey, England. Peter Guelzow, DB2OS shares an almost identical footprint with the OSCAR-36 command station in Surrey, and was able to "grab" several thumbnail and higher resolution earth images taken by OSCAR-36 in recent weeks while they were being downloaded by the OSCAR-36 command station. Peter used a TNC31S along with a 38k4 G3RUH modem and SYMEK's TRX4S highspeed data transceiver to receive the high speed transmissions from OSCAR-36. The TRX4S is capable of 153k6 baud operation using an 300 kHz filter. Peter's version uses an 110 kHz filter, which is still fine for 76k8 operation and also works great at 38k4. No doppler correction is needed with the wide bandwidths involved. The TNC31S was modified to support 9k6 uplink while receiving at 38k4. For 9k6 Uplink on 2-meters, Peter uses his old Kenwood TS-711. Peter reports receiving relatively strong 70-cm downlink signals from OSCAR-36 due to the satellite's quadrifilar antennas and 10-watt output power. However, since the TRX4S was originally designed for terrestrial use, it's necessary to use a preamplifier for better reception. Peter has been able to capture large files without any missing packets. He's able to download about 1.5 MB of data data per pass depending on how actively Surrey is downloading pictures. Downloading these many and large image files at 9600 baud is nearly hopeless, and Peter is even looking forward to seeing the downlink running at 76.8 Kbaud. Peter reports that Colin Hurst, VK5HI, is currently modifying his CCD Display software to include support for the UO-36 format. The thumbnail images can already be displayed after renaming the UTxxxxx.imt files to TMxxxxx.imt files and loading them into CCD Display by clicking on them in the Explorer. Some of the .imi files can also be displayed partially. We may expect a newer version from Colin when he gets all the necessary picture format information and enough time to develop this software, so please be patient with him. English written information about the TRX4S can be found at: http://symek.com/tnc-g/trx4s-ds.htm Chris Jackson, G7UPN reports that the 437.025MHz downlink will eventually be switched to 437.400 MHz (the current 9k6 downlink frequency), and 9600 baud operations on this frequency will be switched off. * PREDICTIONS VIA E-MAIL * ========================== Frits Westra reports that orbital predictions for satellites including the Space Shuttle and amateur satellites can be received from NASA via electronic mail. Details are available at the following URL: http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/RealTime/JPass/PassGenerator/ * THANKS! * =========== Thanks to all those who sent messages of appreciation for SpaceNews in recent weeks, especially: N1NEG N2JUX VU2SXA N3ZLL W4AD N0AYL PA0DVM * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * =========================== Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below: WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/ PACKET : KD2BD @ N2SMV.NJ.USA.NA <-------------- New address! INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, KITSAT-OSCAR-25 <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> <<=- Serving the planet (and beyond) since 1987 -=>> /EX