SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-300.01 AO-13 IS ALIVE AND WELL HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 300.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 26, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-300.01 The AO-13 command team are receiving many reports that AO-13 is "missing". That is to say, the reports were unable to locate either transponder or beacon. Please be reassured that AO-13 is working just fine. The problem lies with the keplerian elements. The current set dated day 293 are way, way off. This probably reflects changing processing methods at NORAD as they ready themselves for its re-entry. Perhaps it is now time to make use of the elements contained in ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/satinfo/ao13/decaykep.zip which James Miller prepared to enable us to handle just such a contingency. They are not spot on (there's a time shift of about 10 minutes), but they are stable. Ken Ernandes N2WWD and James Miller are putting a case to NORAD to release position and velocity vectors from time to time. This will enable the command team to integrate the equations of motion and keep the decaykep.zip file accurately up to date. If the decaykep.zip data is used, be sure to read the help text, in particular para 5. at the end. [ANS thanks James R Miller, G3RUH, of the AO-13 command team for this update.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-300.02 AO-13 TELEMETRY NEEDED HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 300.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 26, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-300.02 As AO-13's life comes to an end, it will be of value to completely monitor the final events. There are two demodulators that will download the last two CRCC bytes (513,514) of an AO-13 telemetry frame, allowing the detection (and elimination) of corrupted frames...the MKII-G3RUH 400 baud PSK demodulator and the DSP-93. As there are quite a few DSP-93's out there, Stacey Mills ,WB4QKT, has done some tests on my unit with regard to AO-13. Mills found that the newer software (see below) gives an acceptable download efficiency approximately 60%-70% as good as the MK-II...this can undoubtedly be improved with code tweaking, but is quite useful as is. The current/updated DSP-93 software is available at: ftp://ftp.tapr.org/tapr/dsp93/software/p3c93t.zip Note that this works with only the DSP unit and does not require a TNC. The telemetry comes directly out of the DSP-93 at 1200 baud.. Follow the setup directions in the text file contained with the zipped *.obj files. Also note that this requires the original 19,200 baud rate crystal in the DSP-93. If the passthru modification has been made to the 9,600 baud crystal, this modem won't work. WB4QKT ran Chris Jackson's Windows-based AO-13 telemetry software with his DSP-93, but there are other, equally good programs available. Chris' program works with either WIN 3.1 or WIN95. Chris Jackson's Windows-based telemetry program is available at: ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/software/windows/telemetry/p3tlm.zip Be sure to set the software for 1200 baud COM port, MKII-type modem (514 byte) and DCD Block Indicator. When listening to the telemetry, by all means log it for possible use by the command stations. Set the "USE CRC" function to "on/checked" by clicking on it. Then only CRCC-OK blocks will be LOGGED. Set the "LOGGING" function on by clicking and the "FILTER" function to collect only Q-blocks. IF the K & L frames contain whole orbit data (WOD), to collect one set of these by temporarily adding them to the "FILTER" function, then switching back to Q-block only once CRCC-OK copies have been logged. This will keep the files as short as possible. Please save the files at your QTH in a fashion that allows easy retrieval by orbit# or day#. If specific gaps need filling, a request for files will be placed on the AMSAT bulletin board.. This setup here will also work with P3D, only the telemetry frame byte assignments will need reallocation for P3D's more complex telemetry requirements. [ANS thanks Stacey E. (Chuck) Mills ,WB4QKT, of the AO-13 command team for this news.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-300.03 A0-13/ InstantTrack TIP HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 300.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 26, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-300.03 This might be a good time to remind InstantTrack users of a procedure to preclude a bad element set from overwriting an old good one. 1. Keep two element sets for every satellite that you use. 2. Keep a pair for the rest of the "stable" birds, they rarely need changing, and a bad set is instantly apparent. If the new set is in error, go back to the old one, and have a usable numbers available. Current good set: Satellite: O13-291* (Caps and * denote current set) Object Number: 19216 (program will accept only one group) old set: Satellite: o13-283 (lower case and no * indicate old set) Object Number 12345678 (any 8 digit oddball group; again the program will accept only one number, and your chances of duping it are about as good as winning the lottery!) The good object number must be changed to a random number before the program will accept the object number in the other location. Be sure to make a note of the object number, or keep a list of the ones you use handy. Update the stable ones every few months after determining the last set is valid. [ANS thanks Dave Guimont, WB6LLO, for this tip.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-300.04 HOUSTON AMSAT NET UPDATE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 300.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 26, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-300.04 Recent reports stated that the Houston AMSAT net had lost it satellite uplink. Now come the good news that this may not be the case. It appears that the uplink van will be moved from Tulsa to Concho, OK on November 4. For the one day of the move, a temporary van will be used. The phone company is installing the new telephone lines at the new site and will hopefully have it working the day the van reaches Concho. It looks like the Houston AMSAT Net might only lose their transmission on November 5. The October 29 feed should be just fine and if the net is not heard on November 5, look for it the following week on November 12. The Houston Amsat Net would like to thank the W0KIE Network for all they have done in maintaining their fine service to the Ham Community. Houston AMSAT Net - Tuesday Evenings, 8PM Central on SBS 6, T13B, 6.2 Audio 74 Degrees Next to Galaxy 6. When satellite uplink is available, the Houston Net is carried on many repeaters through North America as well as at 1.860Mhz AM on 160 Meters by WA0RCR in Missouri. It is also available via Real Audio available at http://www.phoenix.net/~paigecom/ [ANS thanks Bruce Paige, KK5DO, for this good news about the Houston Amsat net.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-300.05 STSORBIT PLUS VERSION 9643 RELEASED HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 300.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 26, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-300.05 David H. Ransom, Jr. announces the release of STSORBIT PLUS Version 9643. The key feature of this latest release is the user-selected complementary tracking option for amateur radio use. Complementary (inverted) tracking may be selected from the tracking display. Should a station realize that a tracking pass will be interrupted by a mechanical Azimuth Stop, the program may be commanded to "flip" the Azimuth and Elevation rotor angles with a single keystroke. The resulting C_Az and C_El values provide equivalent antenna pointing angles for satellite tracking and allow continuous tracking throughout the pass. The continuous tracking is provided since the mechanical azimuth stop is flipped 180 degrees from the rotor inversion. Complementary tracking in STSPLUS provides amateur satellite operators with a low-cost implementation of a proven tracking technique. STSORBIT PLUS is available from the RPV Astronomy BBS at (310) 541-7299 and from the following Internet site: http://www.ozemail.com.au/~dcottle/files/ At both sites, the filenames for the complete package are: SOP9643A.ZIP and SOP9643B.ZIP. [ANS thanks David H. Ransom, Jr. For this information.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-300.06 FT7361 V3.0 at AMSAT FTP SITE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 300.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 26, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-300.06 FT7361 is a general purpose FT-736R control program for Windows, Windows-95 and Windows-NT, which offers both terrestrial and satellite features, including multiple types of doppler control. New for V3.0 is support for automated Pacsat tuning control linked directly with Wisp. This should be of interest to people who are new to Pacsat operation, and want a simple means of automatic station control, as well as to people who own a KCT without the radio tuning option. (Use of FT7361's WISP features requires windows 95 or Windows NT, using WISP-95 when it's released. There are no plans to extend the wisp features to Windows V3.1, although the other FT7361 features will work on windows V3.1) FT7361 also provides extensive automatic doppler correction capability when used in conjunction with Winorbit. Other manual and discriminator based tuning modes are also available. The kit is located at ftp.amsat.org in the amsat/software/windows/tuning directory. MS/Word Source documentation is located inside the zip file in FT736.doc Comments, questions, and/or Bug reports are welcome, and should be sent to 'wb1bqe@amsat.org' [ANS thanks Al Lawler , WB1BQE, for this new software.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-300.07 THE FOURTH ANNUAL JEWELRY CONTEST HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 300.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 26, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-300.07 ANNOUNCING THE FOURTH ANNUAL JEWELRY CONTEST to be held at the AMSAT convention in Tucson in November 1996 This year's prize is a brooch, custom made from components removed from an electronic device. The problem is to identify the components and the device from which the components were removed. The stem and leaves of the flower are made from copper wire and copper sheet. Leanore, KA6UCD, will wear the brooch during the convention. She will provide you with a slip of paper on which to write your answer. Identify the components and the device. As a tie breaker name the manufacturer and the month and year in which it was made. There will surely be ties. All are welcome to compete. In the event you are not attending the convention, get your answers to Leanore before 4 November 1996. A depiction of the brooch is on users.aol.com/dguimont/broochx.zip. The petals are coils of about #32 enameled copper wire as an assist to those that will not get to actually see the brooch. THIS IS A FUN THING! Take your significant other to Tucson; that gives you two chances to enter the contest! The winner will be announced at the banquet. Questions or responses to wb6llo@amsat.org or lbguimont@aol.com. Snail mail is ok too. ftp://users.aol.com/dguimont/broochx.zip 1. The contest is, of course, free; and the winner will take the brooch home. 2. ANYONE can enter, licensed or not. Please, only on entrant per person. Change your entry if you wish; just let Leanore know. 3. Previous winners are eligible to enter! 4. The winner will be announced at the banquet. However, you need not attend to win. [ANS thanks Dave Guimont, WB6LLO, for this contest news.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-300.08 SUNSAT LAUNCH DELAYED HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 300.08 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 26, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-300.08 The launch of SUNSAT, South Africa's first satellite carrying an Amateur Radio and Experimental commercial payload has been delayed till early August 1997. The delay is due to rescheduling by USAF of launch of the primary payload on a McDonald Douglas Delta II from Van den berg Airforce Base. SUNSAT is a 60kg, 45 by 45 by 62 cm micro satellite which is being designed, built and tested by twenty four M.Eng. students at the Electronic Systems Laboratory (ESL) in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Stellenbosch University. The final Memorandum Of Understanding was signed between NASA and the South African Foundation for Research and Development (FRD). This secured the NASA launch in return for a inclusion of a NASA GPS receiver in the payload. Currently the launch is scheduled for early August 1997. In June Garth Milne ZS1AFH attended a ground operations meeting at Vandenberg, USA to finalize the integration details with the launch vehicle. The flight model assembly is progressing well. All mechanical items on the top of the satellite have been assembled. This includes 4 monopole antennas for VHF, a modified turnstile antenna with elements bent at 30 degrees, a UHF monopole, the GPS antenna, two horizon sensors, the star camera, magnetometer and tipmass and folded boom. The tipmass contains a star camera, a magnetometer and 8 laser reflectors. The PACSAT BBS is currently being tested and operating well with WISP. The operational frequencies are currently being finalized and will be announced soon. SUNSAT information is also available on the SUNSAT home page at: http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za [ANS thanks SpaceNews for this report.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-300.09 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1. HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 300.09 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 26, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-300.09 FO-29 (Fuji OSCAR 29) is reported to be in good condition. Many QSOs .are heard on this bird. MIR: Several reports have been coming in reporting the reception of MIR on 145.55 voice and packet. Reports show strong signals and much activity over Europe and North America. Other MIR reports indicate that the repeater on 437.950 is back up and going strong. .R0MIR and R0MIR-1(packet bbs) are the calls being used by MIR. Also KC5TZQ, John Blaha, is using his own call on MIR. RS-12: Operating normally. With strong downlink signals reported both on 2 and 10 meters. RS-10: Operating normally. Very busy and lots of QSO's heard over north America. RS-15 Operating normally. Down link signals are never very strong and there is much deep QSB. Some activity heard on the bird over the past week. KO-23: The KO-23 downlink efficiency has improved from the last report. Current efficiencies range from the high eighties to mid 90% range KO-25: Operating normally. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for his reports on KO-23 and 25.} AO-27: Seems to be coming on about half way through it path over North America. [ANS thanks Scott Smith, VE6ITV, for this report.] AO-10: Operating normally. Very little activity heard. /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-293.10 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2. HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 293.10 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 19, 1996 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-293.10 FO-20 FO-20 is also working, and very busy. OSCAR-11: During the last month (18 September to 16 October) good, steady signals have been received from OSCAR-11 on 145.826 MHz. The cure for the shut-down problem has been successful, and no shut-downs have been observed [ANS thanks Richard, G3RWL, for this information.] IO-26 ( ITAMSAT): IY2SAT-1>AMSAT : *** 26th September 1996 *** ITAMSAT is three year old! New ROBOT code is under development. Digipeater is OFF 73 de ITAMSAT Command team [ANS thanks Alberto, I2KBD, ITAMSAT Mission Manager for this update.] DO-17(DOVE) N5HAD and WD0E are continuing to develop, load, and run software in DOVE to troubleshoot the apparent hardware problem. The s-band transmitter was off briefly a couple of weeks ago but is back on now. They will attempt to keep it on as much as possible as a signal source for equipment testing. The analog data being sent from DOVE right now is mostly inaccurate. In the data below the only value that may be correct is the baseplate temperature which usually runs between -5 and +5 C. The focus of the current test software is diagnosis of what appears to be a hardware problem in the satellite that prevents us from running the normal software. We continue to work on that effort. [ANS thanks Jim White, WD0E, for this information.] AO-13: James Miller G3RUH reports that the AO-13 re-entry keps file on the AMSAT ftp site has been updated. See ANS bulletin ANS-300.01 for further details. In addition, a number of reports have been received about the good conditions on AO-13 over the past few days. Many are taking advantage of possibly the final period of good conditions on this old friend. WO-18 (WEBERSAT-OSCAR-18): Has experienced many software crashes recently. Efforts are underway by the command team to identify the cause, and make the appropriate corrections. Controllers all hope that WO-18 will be operational again very soon sending telemetry, photos, weekly whole orbit data (WOD), and light spectra of the Sun or Earth. [Please send your Satellite reports to bjarts@uslink.net or to wt0n@amsat.org] /EX