SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-278.01 IARU SATELLITE FORUM HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 278.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 05,1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-278.01 The IARU, International Amateur Radio Union, satellite forum will be held in conjunction with the Amsat satellite conference hosted by Amsat Canada on Sunday 19 October 1997 from 09:00 - 12:00 at The Delta, Toronto Airport, 801 Dixon Road, Etobicoke Toronto. Listed below are the scheduled events. 09:00 Welcoming 09:10 IARU SATELLITE MONITORING SERVICE - YOU CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE Presented by Hans van de Groenendaal, IARU Satellite Adviser and Member of the IARU Region I Executive Committee 09:30 SATELLITE FREQUENCY COORDINATION Presented on behalf of Graham Ratcliff, IARU AMSAT Frequency Coordinator by Tom Atkins, President IARU Region 2 10:00 Discussion 10:30 Break 10:45 Open Forum What contribution can satellite operators make to the protection of the future of Amateur Radio During the debate the following issues will be discussed: - Preparation for WRC99 - The African Challenge - Frequency allocations - Uses of amateur satellites by third parties i.e. Emergency communications The objective of the Open Forum is to come up with guidelines that can be shared with AMSAT Groups world-wide and individual Satellite Operators. For details and bookings for the Amsat-NA Satellite Conference please contact Robin Haighton VE3FRH Email address: ve3frh@wchat.on.ca. [ANS thanks Robin Haighton VE3FRH, for this update.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-278.02 SPUTNIK EDUCATIONAL EVENT HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 278.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 05,1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-278.02 The flight model and one backup model of the SPUTNIK PS-2 "School Satellite" are in Baikonur awaiting flight opportunity to Space Station MIR. Launch of the cargo ship Progress M-36 is scheduled for Sunday 05-Oct-1997. Later in October, SPUTNIK PS-2 shall be hand-released during Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA). The minisatellite will transmit the original "beep-beep" with 200 mW on frequency 145,80 MHz FM in the 2m Amateur Radio Band. Battery capacity allows operation for minimum one month. The launch of the mini Sputnik is scheduled for October 12th, from MIR station . The frequency will be around 145.800 MHz FM. ANS will try to get more info about the "switch on" time. For details see http://www.oceanes.fr/~fr5fc/spoutnik.html On October 10/11/12 there will be "Science en fˆte" event in France . Reunion Island will be active on HF and VHF (via RS) they can be contacted via the Internet at. http://www.oceanes.fr/~fr5fc/sef.html [ANS thanks Rudolf Appel and Philippe Mondon, FR5DN, for this information.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-278.03 GULF OF MEXICO DXPEDITION HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 278.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 05,1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-278.03 Eddie Pettis, N5JGK informs us that he will be working AO-27 QRP/maritime mobile from the cruise ship M/S Enchanted Isle during October 25-31, 1997. Departing out of New Orleans, N5JGK will use GPS to determine and work rare grid square locations in the Gulf of Mexico. Key AO-27 passes to work N5JGK are on October 26th and 31st. Additional information can be obtain via n5jgk@aol.com. [ANS thanks Eddie Pettis, N5JGK, for this news.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-278.04 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 278.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 05,1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-278.04 MIR Simplex 145.985 MHz, FM SAFEX, MIR 70 cm Repeater (Uplink 435.750 MHz FM, Downlink 437.950 MHz FM, Subaudible tone 141.3 Hz) Not operational at this time. RS-10 (Uplink 145.865-145.905 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4 MHz CW/SSB) RS-10 Still silent. RS-12 (Uplink, 145.91-145.95 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.41-29.45 MHz .) Operational, now in mode A. The 10 meter downlink is very distorted. However no FM was detected. Perhaps the parent payload is causing the problems. [ANS thanks Ben Hall, WY4D, for this report.] RS-15 (Uplink 145.858-145.898 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.354-29.394 MHz CW/SSB) Operational. (Hint: If SSB doesn't work for you, try CW. CW is very easy to hear on the downlink!) RS-16 Transponder information on RS-16. Uplink = 145.915 - 145.948 MHz Downlink = 29.415 - 29.448 MHz Beacons = 29.408 , 29.451 MHz Pwr 29 MHz Down = 1.2 W /4 W Beacon 1 = 435.504 MHz Beacon 2 = 435.548 MHz Pwr 435 MHz Beacons = 1.6 W FO-20 (Uplink 145.9-146.0 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9 MHz CW/USB) Operational. FO-20 in mode JA continuously. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report.] KO-23 (Uplink 145.85, 145.9 MHz FM, Downlink 435.175 MHz FM, 9600 Baud FSK.) KO-23 downlink efficiency, (30% range), is still very low. KO-23's orbit is once again in full sunlight and eclipses won't begin again until October 8th. The recurring problem of heat-induced signal distortion has returned for a bit. [ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM and Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, 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.] AO-27 (Uplink 145.85 MHz FM, Downlink: 436.792 MHz FM .) Operational. 1749 UTC pass of AO-27 today (10/5/97) one of the control operators (KM4NZ) of AO-27 announced they were putting the bird back in digital mode for further telemetry gathering. The bird will return to analog on Thursday 10/9/97. [ANS thanks Mike Seguin, N1JEZ, for this update.] FO-29 Voice/CW Mode JA (Uplink 145.9-146.0 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 435.8-435.9 MHz CW/USB) Digital Mode JD (Uplink 145.85, 145.87, 145.910 MHz FM, Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK) Operational. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-278.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 278.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 05,1997 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-278.05 AO-10 (Uplink 435.030-435.18 MHz CW/LSB, Downlink 145.975-145.825 MHz CW/USB) Operational,. AO-10 still has strong signals but occasional deep fading during a perigee pass over the southern US on 9/30/97 at about 3500 miles using only a 3 element linear polarized 2m yagi without preamp. For now AO-10 looks like its workable from some less elaborate stations. [ANS thanks Jim Dawdy for this report.] OSCAR-11 (Downlink 145.825 MHz. FM, 1200 Baud PSK. Beacon 2401.500 MHz..) Operating normally. OSCAR-11 users are welcome to visit Clive's web site. It contains some software for capturing data, and decoding ASCII telemetry and WOD. There is an archive of raw data (mainly WOD) for analysis, which is continually being expanded, as new data is captured. The URL is - http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ [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.) Operating normally. Uptime is 1112/06:32:34. Time is Sat Oct 04 11:59:14 1997 RC PSK TX Out 0.414 W Total Array C= 0.384 Bat Ch Cur= 0.064 Ifb= 0.018 I+10V= 0.271 TX:010B BCR:81 PWRC:59E BT:3C WC:25 EDAC:23 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.) DOVE has returned to 2 meters. Operational software has again been successfully loaded into DOVE (DO-17) by the DOVE command team. WD0E started the software at 09/17/97 19:40 UTC and reports it seems to be running OK. Reports on the condition of the batteries for the next 24 hours would be appreciated. Please send them to wd0e@amsat.org. Jim reports it remains to be seen how long the intermittent watchdog timer in the satellite will allow this software to run. The s-band transmitter is on to facilitate testing of s-band equipment on the ground, particularly for those working toward P3D S capability. Power level on the 2 meter transmitter is about 1W day and night. Telemetry is currently being sent every 60 seconds, but this could change due to power management needs. [ANS thanks Jim White, WD0E, for this update.] WEBERSAT (WO-18) (Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK AX.25.) No report available. 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.) Operating normally. Uptime is 836/21:57:28. Time is Sat Oct 04 12:02:38 1997 RC PSK TX Out 1.004 W Total Array C= 0.132 Bat Ch Cur=-0.074 Ifb= 0.043 I+10V= 0.202 TX:01A BCR:7F PWRC:36E BT:3C WC: 0 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.) UO-22 is operating normally. Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, has reloaded the Store and Forward communications task on the UO-22 On-Board Computer. This task includes incremental checksums which should make uploading slightly faster. In the old task, once an upload was complete, the spacecraft had to perform the checksum on the complete file. Depending on the file length, this could take quite a long time. With the new task, the checksum is computed on the fly - while the data is actually being uploaded. Thus there is no need to recompute it at the end of the transfer and this checksum delay is then removed. However, all files that were started before Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, loaded the task around 1000 UTC on the 19th will receive a corrupt body checksum error when the upload is completed. If the file is uploaded again, it should be accepted. If trying to upload a large file that was started before the above time, then start again. If anyone gets persistent body checksum errors while uploading files to UO-22 would they please let Chris Jackson know as soon as possible [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, Groundstation and Operations Manager, for this report.] IO-26 ( ITAMSAT) Uplink 145.875, 145.9, 145.925, 145.95 MHz FM, Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB, 1200 Baud PSK.) The actual beacon is: 26th September 1997 Happy birthday ITAMSAT! Today IO-26 is 4 years old and all sub-systems are OK Best wishes from the IT-AMSAT team [ANS thanks Daniele, IK2XRO, and Piercarlo, IW2EGC, 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