SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-021.01 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 021.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 21, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-021.01 FO-29 Voice/CW (Uplink 145.9-146.0MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9MHz CW/USB) Digital (Uplink 145.85, 145.87, 145.910 MHz FM, Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK) The JAS-2(FO-29) Digital mode at the current time. [ANS thanks, Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK for this update.] MIR: (New frequencies implemented 1 January 1997: Uplink 145.2 MHz FM Downlink 145.8MHz FM) Note, the above split is used for both packet and voice operation. See ANS-012.01 for more information. Those tracking the MIR should be sure their Keplerian elements are post 97008 due to a maneuver MIR made on that date. This Keplerian data came from Dr. TS Kelso's Celestial Web BBS on the Grove server ( http://www.grove.net/~tkelso/) . Mir 1 16609U 86017A 97009.12698316 .00022866 00000-0 28015-3 0 9471 2 16609 51.6519 165.6956 0007543 244.5338 115.4824 15.60228904622199 [ANS thanks Tom Smith, KC5MXA, for this update.] SAFEX, (Uplink 435.750MHz FM, Downlink 437.950MHz FM, Subaudible tone 141.3 Hz) The repeater appears to be down at this time. See above bulletin for further information. RS-12: (Uplink 21.21-21.25MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.41-29.45MHz or 145.91-145.95Mhz CW/SSB) 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: (Uplink 145.865-145.905MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4MHz CW/SSB) Operating normally. Very busy with lots of QSOs heard over north America and Europe. RS-15 (Uplink 145.858-145.898MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.354-29.394MHz CW/SSB) Be aware that RS-15 has battery charging problems. When the satellite is in the dark it's dead. [ANS thanks Bob Johnson, W7LRD, for this report.] (Hint: If SSB doesn't work for you, try CW. CW is very easy to hear on the downlink!) KO-23 (Uplink 145.85, 145.9MHz FM, Downlink 435.175MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK.) KO-23 Frequency, for the best downlink efficiency, seems to be approximately 2KHz low. The satellite operation, excluding this minor anomaly, is performing well. . . .KO-25: (Uplink 145.87MHz FM, Downlink 436.5MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK.) KO-25 Normal operation KO-25 returned to full service on 1/7/97. Operating Normally.. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for his reports on KO-25 and KO-23.] AO-27: (Uplink 145.85MHz FM, Downlink 436.8MHz FM) Jan-06-97 11:26 UTC) It is working normally in its orbits on Europe. It being listened to by stations in Germany, France, Spain, Canary Islands (EA8), 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: (Uplink 435.030-435.18MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 145.975-145.825MHz CW/USB) Operating normally. Stacey E. (Chuck) Mills, W4SM, reports that Ken Ernandes is attempting to obtain updated Keps, however the satellite is apparently in an inopportune orbit to accomplish this. It has been suggested that amateurs may be able to do better, at least for the next few months by various ranging experiments of their own.. There have been various discussion on AMSAT-BB on this. However, in the meantime, AO-10's orbit doesn't change very fast. Parameters are now off by a bit, especially at perigee. W4SM calculated the blon/blat, -125/5, about one year ago and is waiting to see if predictions for this year hold up. Below is a 14-day update on the AO-10 Keps from the NASA OIG RAID RBBS. AO-10 1 14129U 83058B 96299.11613815 -.00000305 00000-0 10000-3 0 4631 2 14129 25.8792 182.5891 6052907 60.2572 346.3435 2.05882271 72548 [ANS thanks Ken Ernandes, N2WWD, for these keps.] .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-021.02 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 021.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 21, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-021.02 AMSAT-OSCAR-16 (PACSAT) (Uplink 145.9, 145.92, 145.94, 145.86MHz FM, Downlink 437.0513MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK.) It is working normally in its orbits on Europe. Example of a lit orbit. (Jan-05-97 12:36:03 UTC) The batteries load (About Tot.Bat/V = 10.865 Volts) The RC/PSK TX-OUT= 0.633 - 0.704 Wtts. Example of a nocturnal orbit. (Jan-05-97 23:57:05 UTC) The batteries load (About Tot.Bat/V = 10.433 Volts) The Transponder RC/PSK TX-OUT= 0.760 Watts.. [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] FO-20 (Uplink 145.9-146.0MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9MHz CW/USB) Strong downlink signal and very busy with activity. OSCAR-11 (Downlink 145.825MHz. FM, 1200 Baud PSK) During the past month (18 December - 14 January) good, steady signals have been received from OSCAR-11 on 145.826 MHz. [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information.] IO-26 ( ITAMSAT): (Uplink 145.875, 145.9, 145.925, 145.95MHz FM, Downlink 435.822MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK.) Operating normally. TLM values are carried on AMSAT-BB. [ANS thanks Daniele Piercarlo, IK2XRO, ITMSAT Command Station for this report.] DO-17(DOVE) ( Downlink 145.825MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK.) 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 (Uplink 145.84, 145.86, 145.88, 145.9MHz FM, Downlink 437.1528MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25.) It is working excellently in its orbits on Europe. Example of a lit orbit. (Jan-05-97 12:00:44 UTC) The batteries in good state (Tot. Bat/V = 11.08 Volts) The RC/PSK TX-OUT= 1.004 - 1.079 Wtts. . [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] . WEBERSAT (WO-18) (Downlink 437.104MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25.) WeberSat (WO-18) is operational transmitting telemetry, and Week 4 WOD CH#: 2F 30 35 36 3B 40. The new attic code has been loaded and a test picture taken. There will be more to follow in the coming weeks as testing of the software continues. [ANS thanks Tommy Davis, IK3WVJ, for this report.] [Please send your Satellite reports to bjarts@uslink.net or to wt0n@amsat.org] /EX