SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.01 SPECIAL EVENT STATION HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 249.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-249.01 The EROS Data Center located near Sioux Falls, South Dakota will be celebrating its 25th anniversary on September 19, 1998 by hosting a special event amateur radio station. The EDC is a national mapping center under the direction of the United States Geological Survey department. The EDC houses the largest archive of aerial photos, satellite and space shuttle images in world. EDC is a ground receiving station for NOAA-14 and 15, and will also be a ground operations station for the upcoming Landsat-7 satellite. The Amateur Radio operators of the EDC will be hosting special event station W0E during the anniversary. Chad, KG0MW, South Dakota AMSAT Area Coordinator says the station will be active on several satellites, including UO-22, RS-12 and both FO-20 and FO-29. "Conditions permitting", KG0MW said, "operation on AO-10 is also planned." Full HF operation is also scheduled. A color QSL card will be available for those successful in contacting W0E. Information about the EDC is available at the following URL: http://www.edcwww.cr.usgs.gov/content_about.html More information about special event station W0E can be obtained from KG0MW at: cphillips@edcmail.cr.usgs.gov. [ANS congratulates the EDC on its 25th anniversary and thanks Chad Phillips, KG0MW, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.02 1998 PACK RAT CONFERENCE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 249.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-249.02 Ron, WZ1V, tells ANS satellite operators will not want to miss the 1998 Pack Rat Conference. It will be packed with technical presentations, an interesting speaker lineup and several technical sessions, including noise figure measurements, network analyzers, spectrum analyzers and power supplies. All equipment will be operational up to 10 GHz. The conference is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 1998. Presentations will include the following: * Aurora Detector by Dave, K1WHS * Patch Antennas by Chris, WB2VVV * Coplaner Microstrip Design by WA3ZKR * 28 GHz, 10 Watt Solid State PA by Mike Gaffney * EHF Imaging by WA1MBA * Andrew Products and EME by Tom, WA8WZG * High Speed Meteor Scatter by W1FIG and KO0U * New Microwave Devices by N2CEI More information on the 1998 Pack Rat Conference is available at the following URL: http://www.ij.net/packrats [ANS thanks Ron Klimas, WZ1V, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.03 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 249.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-249.03 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** The AMSAT-NA booth at the ARRL Convention in Boxboro, Massachusetts was headed by Ernie, K1ELA, Arthur, N1ORC, and Tony, WA1ENO. George, W1ME, conducted an AMSAT forum and satellite demonstration with retransmission of AO-27 passes. ANS thanks all those involved for a job well done. --NN0DJ ** Renowned former TV newsman Walter Cronkite, KB2GSD, will be back in the anchor chair for the historic shuttle flight that carries John Glenn back into space this fall. Cronkite, who's 81 and retired from his long-held anchor position at CBS in 1981, will report on Glenn's return to space for CNN. --ARRL Letter ** Paul, VP9MU, of AMSAT-BDA and the Station Program, reports setup and patch files for 'Station' are now located on the AMSAT-NA web site. Paul thanks KB5MU for finding the Station Program a new home. --VP9MU ** Mike, N1JEZ, operating portable, activated rare grid square FN45 on AO-27 recently. Equipment used included an Arrow antenna, 70cm preamp, duplexer, Yaesu FT-470 HT and a 20-watt amplifier. All equipment was powered with a 6-amp Gel Cell battery. A total of 26 stations were worked. --AMSAT BB **Andy, WD9IYT, says the AMSAT Journal would like to get together a set of images of different QSL cards issued by the various Mir operations. Anyone who might have images or cards they'd be willing to scan, please contact Andy at wd9iyt@amsat.org. --Andy, WD9IYT ** Activities to bring the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft back to normal operating conditions continue with good results. The delicate recovery activities are being directed by the ESA SOHO project team from the Operations Center at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. --ESA ** ANS is sad to report that once again, the hearts of all of the personal at the Johnson Space Center go out to the Shepard family on the death of Louise Shepard. JSC tells AMSAT News Service that Louise Shepard was a very special person. She was a constant source of strength for her husband, Alan, and a valued, effective advocate of the human spaceflight program from its inception. Along with JSC, ANS sends our deepest condolences to her three daughters and the entire Shepard family. --ANS Editor, NN0DJ ** Ignacio, CE2MH, reminds all to check out the AMSAT-CE web page at the following URL: http://www.entelchile.net/amsatce. --AMSAT BB ** A new battery technology being developed for military use holds the promise of longer operating times for all sorts of equipment including portable ham radio gear. The new battery weighs half as much and generates nearly three times the specific power of nickel-hydrogen technology, or 150-watt hours per kilogram of battery weight. The sodium-sulfur design costs half as much as nickel-hydrogen and is reported to be more reliable due to simpler design. --Newsline ** Doug, KA8QCU, reports the September issue of Satellite Times is the last issue. KA8QCU said due to high costs and low subscription numbers the publisher has decided to end the magazine. Many subscribers said it was one of the few magazines that they read cover to cover. KA8QCU says, "it will be missed." --AMSAT BB /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.04 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 249.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-249.04 MIR/SAFEX SAFEX II 70 cm Repeater Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz Downlink 437.950 MHz FM Semi-operational. SAFEX II 70 cm QSO Mode Uplink 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz Downlink 437.925 MHz FM Semi-operational. PMS Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK Operational. The PBBS is running a Kantronics KPC-9612 + V.8.1 TNC. The commands are similar to most PBBS and BBS systems. Some frequency changes concerning the PMS system have been reported to ANS recently. No official announcement of any frequency change has been received from MIREX. ANS regards any Mir frequency change as 'temporary' unless an official announcement is received from MIREX. MIREX has announced an on going APRS School Days Test. MIREX is allowing schools to use APRS for position and status reports via R0MIR. Non-school stations are asked to refrain from using APRS type transmissions or beacons via R0MIR. [ANS thanks Scott Avery, WA6LIE, and the MIREX team for Mir status information] RS-12 Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.408 MHz Robot Uplink 21.129 MHz Downlink 29.454 MHz Operational, mode KT. Strong 2-meter downlink signals have been reported. RS-15 Uplink 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.352 MHz (intermittent) Semi-operational, mode A John, G7HIA, reports on a recent overhead pass in central England he did not copy the RS-15 beacon but his return signal was very strong with minimal QSB from elevation to about 30 degrees. John was running about 20 watts to a 5-element beam. OSCAR 10 AO-10 Uplink 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB Beacon 145.810 MHz (unmodulated carrier) Semi-operational, currently in 'sleep' mode. Stacey Mills, W4SM, reports another sleep phase appears to be underway. "I suspect that the rotational speed is so slow as to be incapable of holding a stable attitude heading. Hence, we may be entering a time of chaotic useful periods and sleep periods which cannot be predicted." W4SM has more information about the satellite at the following URL: http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/AO-10.html [ANS thanks Stacey Mills, W4SM, for his AO-10 status information and web site] AO-27 Uplink 145.850 MHz FM Downlink 436.792 MHz FM Operational. Gary, KD5DAY, reports on a recent AO-27 pass the bird was very noisy and he lost the signal about 5 minutes into the pass. AO-27 TEPR States are currently: 4 = 36 = 18 Minutes 5 = 72 = 36 Minutes This means AO-27's transmitter turns on 18 minutes after entering the Sun and stays on for 18 minutes. AO-27's transmitter is turned off at all other times during the orbit. N4USI reminds stations that this happens on every orbit, approximately 14.2 times a day. The current TEPR settings will cause the satellite to be on during the daytime at northern latitudes. [ANS thanks Michael Wyrick, N4USI, AO-27 Control-op for this update] JAS-1b FO-20 Uplink 145.900 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Operational. FO-20 in mode JA continuously. Raul, EB4GZO, will be looking for US station on both FO-20 and FO-29. He may activate the Radio Club Universidad de Alcala callsign as well -- EA4RKU. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status reports] JAS-2 FO-29 Voice/CW Mode JA Uplink 145.900 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Operational. Digital Mode JD Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK Not operational, the satellite is in JA (voice) mode. Kazu, JJ1WTK, tells ANS that OBC bit error investigation continues and the satellite will remain in voice mode. FO-29 has entered a period of 'full illumination' by the Sun. This illumination period will extend through the end of December. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for this report] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 249.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-249.05 KITSAT KO-23 Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK Downlink 435.175 MHz FM Operational. The telemetry is nominal. Jim, AA7KC reports KO-23 downlink efficiencies are exceeding 90%. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for this report] KITSAT KO-25 Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK Downlink 436.50 MHz FM Operational. The telemetry is nominal. Jim, AA7KC reports KO-25 downlink efficiencies are exceeding 90%. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for this report] UO-22 Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK Downlink 435.120 MHz FM Operational. More information on the satellite is available at the following URL: http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/ [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, Operations Manager of UO-22 for this report] OSCAR-11 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 Baud AFSK Beacon 2401.500 MHz Operational. In response to many requests for information about methods of decoding OSCAR-11 signals, a package of hardware information has been added to the satellite web site. The site also contains some software for capturing data, decoding ASCII telemetry and WOD information. The URL is http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ Beacon reception reports should be sent to: g3cwv@amsat.org. [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for this information] PACSAT AO-16 Uplink 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.86 MHz FM 1200 bps Manchester FSK Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB, 1200 bps RC-BPSK 1200 Baud PSK Beacon 2401.1428 MHz Operating normally. The AO-16 command team has authorized an APRS experiment on AO-16 to explore the use of the 1200-baud PACSAT for APRS position/status reporting. The test periods will run each Tuesday from 0000 to 2359 UTC. The telemetry is nominal. Time is Sat Sep 05 11:38:04 1998 uptime is 1448/06:03:51 +Z Array V 21.892 V Array V 20.820 V +X (RX) Temp -0.002 D RX Temp -4.842 D +5V Bus 4.874 V +8.5V Bus 9.015 V +10V Bus 11.150 V RC PSK TX Out 0.472 W Baseplt Temp 3.629 D +Z Array Temp 6.654 D RC PSK BP Temp 2.419 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 3.629 D +Y Array Temp -0.002 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 1.209 D Total Array C= 0.404 Bat Ch Cur= 0.026 Ifb= 0.027 I+10V= 0.286 TX:010B BCR:84 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:28 General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at: http://www.arrakis.es/~ea1bcu/wod.htm [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report] LUSAT LO-19 Uplink 145.84 145.86 145.88 145.90 MHz FM 1200 bps Manchester FSK Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB 1200 bps RC-BPSK Currently semi-operational. Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, reports LUSAT/Oscar-19 ground control station LU8DYF has succeeded in regaining control of the satellite. Downlink signals show good modulation with an ASCII message containing the following text: July 31 - 1998. No BBS service. On Board Computer reload in progress. Digipeater active. Thank you - Norberto - LU8DYF. EA1BCU reminds operators the digipeater mode is "a very interesting option to make contacts with other stations, or to be connected with your own station to evaluate the on-line the state of your installation." Bob, WB4APR, says an efficient way to communicate via a space digipeater is to use un-numbered UI frames, which require no acknowledgment. This way several stations can talk all to each other. Telemetry is as follows: Time is Sat Sep 05 12:06:07 1998 uptime is 035/22:28:31 Bat 1 Temp -0.991 D Bat 2 Temp 0.692 D Baseplt Temp 0.692 D RC PSK TX Out 0.659 W RC PSK BP Temp -2.113 D RC PSK HPA Tmp -0.991 D +Y Array Temp 1.813 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -2.113 D +Z Array Temp 0.131 D Total Array C= 0.323 Bat Ch Cur= 0.108 Ifb=-0.004 I+10V= 0.168 TX:017 BCR:8A PWRC:62D BT:3C WC: 0 [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for this report] ITAMSAT IO-26 Uplink 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM 1200 Baud PSK Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB Semi-operational. Telemetry is reported as being received on 435.822 MHz at 1200 baud PSK. No additional information is available at this time. TMSAT-1 TO-31 Downlink 436.923 MHz The TMSAT-1 micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998. The satellite is expected to be available for general amateur use shortly. Viktor, OE1VKW, reports receiving signals from TO-31 with a total of 7518 bytes (files and telemetry) received on a recent pass. A brief overview of the TMSAT satellite and commissioning plan is available at the following URL: http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/amateur/tmsat/tmsat_commissioni ng_plan.html [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for this report] TechSat-1B GO-32 Downlink 435.325 435.225 MHz HDLC telemetry framed so a TNC in KISS mode will decode it The TechSat-1B micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998. The satellite is expected to be available for general amateur use shortly. The satellite does not have a continuos beacon, but does transmit a 9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (for about 3 seconds in length), currently on 435.225 MHz. The TechSat team has also constructed a home page about TechSat. To view the site, point your web browser to: http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/ [ANS thanks Shlomo Menuhin, 4X1AS, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-249.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 3 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 249.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 6, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-249.06 THE FOLLOWING SATELLITES ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: RS-16 Attempts to command the Mode A transponder have been unsuccessful. The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational. The RS-16 transponder is non-operational. No additional information is available at this time. DOVE DO-17 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK Beacon 2401.220 MHz Non-operational. The 145.825 MHz and 2401.220 MHz downlinks are off the air. No additional information is available at this time. WEBERSAT WO-18 Downlink 437.104 MHz SSB 1200 Baud PSK AX.25 Non-operational. WO-18 is reported to be in MBL mode after a software crash. No additional information is available at this time. --ANS END--- Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to ans-editor@amsat.org, (or to) ANS Editor, Dan James, NN0DJ, at nn0dj@amsat.org. /EX