SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.01 KB5UAC ACTIVE ON MIR HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 152.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 01, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-152.01 Ham-astronaut Mike Foale, KB5UAC, who swapped places with Jerry Linenger, KC5HBR, aboard the Russian Mir space station in mid-May, already is making good on his promise to keep Mir active on the ham bands. Foale is scheduled to spend more than four months on the space station before returning to Earth in September. Al Lark, KD4SFF, of Greenville, South Carolina, was among the first US stations to snag a QSO with Foale (who was using R0MIR at the time). During a Memorial Day contact, KD4SFF got a chance to try out a few Russian phrases during the QSO. The Mir frequencies are 145.800 MHz (downlink) and 145.200 MHz (uplink). Foale has FCC permission to speak with unlicensed third parties via ham radio during his stay on Mir. Foale also has permission to use the German Space Amateur Funk EXperiment (SAFEX) equipment on Mir in addition to the 2-meter gear. During the May 30th 0900 UTC pass of MIR , WT0N worked KB5UAC. Mike was using the R0MIR call. The two had a nice long chat about his grandmother who lives in Minnesota. He also talked about his vacations to northern Minnesota. He vacations about 50 miles from where WT0N lives Mike likes to chat and will take his time and when he talks with others. Remember to compensate for doppler shift both on your uplink and downlink frequencies. They move in opposite directions and the shift is approximately + or - 3.4 KHz. Dave Larsen, N6CO, is the US Mir QSL manager for contacts made with Mir crew members. QSL cards must include date, time, and mode of contact. He does not handle cards for SWL reports. To confirm contacts with the Mir packet radio personal message system (PMS), include the message number issued by the PMS on your QSL. Send QSLs along with a business-size, self-addressed, stamped envelope to: David G. Larsen, N6CO, Box 1501, Pine Grove, CA 95665 USA. For further details, get in touch with Larsen via e-mail at doc@volcano.net. [ANS thanks the ARRL, KD4SFF and WT0N for this report.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.02 RS-10/11 SILENT HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 152.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 01, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-152.02 Various reports have said that, since late on May 25th or early on May 26th RS-10/11 has been silent. Jess Burmeister, KB0VUU, reports. making two contacts on RS-10 on 25 May 97. These contacts occurred at 1745Z with KB4LCI and at 1930Z with N0IBT.. But, on May 26 at 1630 UTC Steve Ford, WB8IMY, reported he heard nothing, not even the beacon. Since the 26th of May, ANS has received several other reports from around the world confirming RS-10 is silent. Mark Behrens, W4GP, states he checked all of the A, K, &T beacon frequencies for RS-10 and -11 and heard nothing. This pass started in eclipse and came into the Sun about half way through. At this time no official word on what has caused the silence of RS-10/11. But, efforts continue in an attempt to get some official word. [ANS thanks all the amateurs who have helped gather information on RS-10.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.03 SATELLITE DX NEWS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 152.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 01, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-152.03 POLAND, SP. Look for Special Event Station SN9JP to be QRV from June 1 to 15 in celebration of a visit to Poland by Pope John Paul II. Activity is expected on 80 to 10 meters. Some 2 meter satellite activity is also planned. QSL via SP9PKZ. DODECANESE, SV5. Laci, HA0HW, with HA4GDO, HA6NL, HA6PS and HA6ZV, will be QRV as SV5/homecalls/p from June 3 to 17. CW, SSB and RTTY activity is expected on 160 to 10 meters, including the newer bands. There may also be some 2 meter and satellite activity. Look for them on RS-10, 12 and 15, with downlink frequencies of 29421/29441 KHz and 29321/39341 KHz. QSL to home calls. [ANS thanks the ARRL for this DX update.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.04 TRAKNET GROUND STATION HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 152.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 01, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-152.04 The first TRAKNET ground station is reportedly on line as AA2BN in New Jersey. His station will automatically crosslink, any properly formatted UI position reports that get digipeated by AO-16 over to the eastcoast APRS tracking network. In fact, if this works right, you may even see your position on the WEB page below... Here are several possible POSITION formats that should work: URCALL>CQ,PACSAT-1:[GRID]comment 4 digit Grid Sq URCALL>GRIDSQ,PACSAT-1:]S[comment 6 digit Grid Sq URCALL>APRS,PACSAT-1:!3959.11N/07429.11Wcomment LAT/LONG Even if one doesn't have a PACSAT modem, any TAPR-2 compatible TNC can be modified using only a single 7400 chip to XOR the TNC data with its clock straight into the Mic jack of a 2m FM radio (via an RC filter). See MD/NJ/PA APRS LIVE: http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/aprs.html See GPS on ANY radio: http://www.tapr.org/tapr/html/mic-e.html [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga for this info.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 152.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 01, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-152.05 MIR: (Uplink 145.2 MHz FM Downlink 145.8 MHz FM) Note, the above split is used for both packet and voice operation. Mike Foale, KB5UAC, is active on 2 meters with a strong downlink signal. He likes to chat. SAFEX, MIR 70cm Repeater (Uplink 435.750 MHz FM, Downlink 437.950 MHz FM, Subaudible tone 141.3 Hz) At the time that this report was being written, no activity has been reported on the 70 cm SAFEX repeater. RS-10 (Uplink 145.865-145.905 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4 MHz CW/SSB) No activity has been reported from the bird since late May 25th or early May 26th. See ANS bulletin ANS 152.02. RS-12 (Uplink 21.21-21.25 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.41-29.45 MHz or 145.91-145.95 Mhz CW/SSB) Signals on RS-12 in North America during May and June (almost exclusively daylight passes) are weakened by increased ionospheric activity which is keeping 15m active during the daylight hours. This makes it especially important for the 'old timers' to warn the newcomers on RS-12 to set their uplink frequency and leave it alone to prevent sweeping across the 15m band and QRM-ing the terrestrial QSOs in progress [ANS thanks Dick Montgomery, N3DV, for this update.] RS-15 (Uplink 145.858-145.898 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.354-29.394 MHz CW/SSB) Be aware that RS-15 has battery charging problems. When the satellite is in the dark it has low output power.. [ANS thanks Geoff Perry for this report.] (Hint: If SSB doesn't work for you, try CW. CW is very easy to hear on the downlink!) RS-16 RS-16's 70 cm beacon is active. No other activity but the beacon and the beacon spurs. (Spurs at ~ +/-45KHz,+/-30KHz,+/-15KHz of beacon frequency) [ANS thanks Chuck Duey, KI0AG, for this report.] Peter Groves, G3MWQ , reports that RS-16 at 0855 GMT on 28/5/1997, that the satellite appeared over his S. W. Horizon, and the Beacon on 435.504 was devoid of telemetry, and a complete jumble of noise, varying widely in strength. At 0901 GMT the beacon stabilized to CW telemetry and held stable for about 30 seconds. It then returned to the previous unstable state, disappearing over HIS Northern horizon. No other beacons were detectable here (29.407, or 435.548) 73 Peter FO-20 (Uplink 145.9-146.0 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9 MHz CW/USB) Operating normally. Strong downlink signal. Very busy during passes over North America. Please remember to adjust the higher frequency for doppler when the bird is in analog, JA, mode. This means adjust the 70 cm frequency, the downlink, for doppler shift. You do not have to adjust the 2 meter frequency, the uplink, for doppler. KO-23 (Uplink 145.85, 145.9 MHz FM, Downlink 435.175 MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK.) KO-23 operating normally. Ronald Osborne, an Amsat Area Coordinator, reports copying KO-23 from 01:04-01:17Z, 01 JUN. There is a message "KO-23 will be reset between June 4 and June 6". [ANS thanks Ronald Osborne, N2OGB, for this report.] KO-25 (Uplink 145.980 MHz FM, Downlink 436.5 MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK.) KO-25 operating normally. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for his reports on KO-25 and KO-23.] AO-27 (Uplink 145.85 MHz FM, Downlink: 436.792 MHz FM (As of April 1, 1997) Operating normally. AO-27 (1-Jun-1997- 10:58 UTC Orbit-19182) The satellite continuous working normally over Europe Current AO-27 schedule information can be found at www.umbra.com Tepr 4 = 32 counts 16 Minutes Tepr 5 = 66 counts 18 Minutes AO-27 Will turn on Every pass 16 Minutes after entering the sun and will stay on for 18 minutes. This corrects the early shut off that has been going on for the passed few weeks. [ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control-op, and Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this update.] FO-29 Voice/CW (Uplink 145.9-146.0 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9 MHz CW/USB) Digital (Uplink 145.85, 145.87, 145.910 MHz FM, Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK) Please remember to adjust the higher frequency for doppler when the bird is in analog, JA, mode. This means adjust the 70 cm frequency, the downlink, for doppler shift. You do not have to adjust the 2 meter frequency, the uplink, for doppler. The latest FO-29 Schedule can be found at. http://www.kt.rim.or.jp/~jr1nvu/eindex.html 1997 May 30(Fri) 01:07z JD 9600bps FSK MailBox June 6(Fri) 08:25z JA 13(Fri) 00:39z JD 1200bps PSK MailBox 20(Fri) 09:41z JD 9600bps FSK MailBox 27(Fri) 00:11z JA July 4(Fri) 09:13z JD Digi-talker 8(Fri) 09:06z JA [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 152.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 01, 1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-152.06 AO-10 (Uplink 435.030-435.18 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 145.975-145.825 MHz CW/USB) AO-10, Stacey Mills reports that AO-10 will be in "sleep" mode for the few weeks. The transponder and beacon do not have enough power to operate.. [ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM, for this report.] OSCAR-11 (Downlink 145.825 MHz. FM, 1200 Baud PSK. Beacon 2401.500 MHz..) Operating normally. Telemetry nominal. The battery voltage has recently improved to around 13.9 volts, and the internal temperatures have continued to fall, due to solar eclipses. The battery temperature is now 4 degrees C, or 18 degree below the full sunlight condition. 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) [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information.] AMSAT-OSCAR-16 (PACSAT) (Uplink 145.9, 145.92, 145.94, 145.86 MHz FM, 1200 bps Manchester FSK Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB, 1200 bps RC-BPSK 1200 Baud PSK. Beacon 2401.1428 Mhz.) Operational. Beacon> May 1997 PACSAT AO-16 Owned and Operated by AMSAT-NA Command Team WJ9F, WD0E, VK7ZBX, KB5MU AO16 Command Team Graphic information about WOD/Telemetry values can be found at: http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/wod.htm [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] DO-17(DOVE) ( Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK. Beacon 2401.220 MHz.) WJ9F is continuing to work on reloading DOVE. [ANS thanks Jim white, WD0E, DO-17 Command Team, for this news.] WEBERSAT (WO-18) (Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25.) Webersat (WO-18) is currently in MBL mode after a system crash. The satellite appears to be in good condition broadcasting MBL telemetry. [ANS thanks Tommy Davis, IK3WVJ, for this report.] LUSAT-OSCAR-19 (Uplink 1200 bps Manchester FSK Uplinks: 145.84, 145.86, 145.88, 145.9 MHz FM, Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB, 1200 bps RC-BPSK.) Operational. Beacon> 22 de Enero de 1997. 7 aņos ! 7 years !Gracias a todos los amigos que lo hicieron posible. Amsat- ,LU8DYF Graphic and general information about Telemetry values can be found at: http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/lo19.htm [ANS thanks Miguel A. Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report.] UO-22: (Uplink: 145.9 or 145.975 MHz FM. Downlink 435.120 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK.) OBC186 flight software will be reloaded June 30th during the morning passes over Surrey. It is hoped that this reload will fix the current problem with uploads being rejected. This will take two passes and it would be beneficial if users would not transmit to the spacecraft until it is opened for operations as this will slow down the reload process. [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, Groundstation and Operations Manager, for this report.] IO-26 ( ITAMSAT) (Uplink 145.875, 145.9, 145.925, 145.95MHz FM, Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK.) IO-26 controllers report that the spacecraft is now in IHT mode. The new ROBOT software is under currently undergoing tests. The beacon reports that the digipeater is OFF and that the ROBOT is undergoing tests. Controllers ask that groundstations please do not transmit on any of the satellite's uplink frequencies for the time being. [ANS thanks Daniele Piercarlo, IK2XRO, ITMSAT Command Station for this report.] [Please send your Satellite or News reports to ANS Editor B.J. Arts, WT0N, via e-mail, at bjarts@the-bridge.net or to wt0n@amsat.org] /EX