SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-256.01 AMSAT EARLY REGISTRATION HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 256.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 13, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-256.01 Russ, K5NRK, reminds ANS that early registration for the upcoming 16th Annual AMSAT Meeting and Space Symposium ends September 15th. The early registration fee is just $25.00 (versus $30.00 after 9/15/98). Registration forms can be obtained via the symposium web site at the following URL: http://pages.prodigy.com/DXHF93A Registration forms are also available in the July/August issue of the AMSAT Journal. K5NRK says participants may fax registration forms to the AMSAT-NA office (301-608-3410) or call the office directly with the information (301-589-6062). Those who register early will be eligible for a free night's stay at Harrah's Hotel and Casino in Vicksburg. The drawing for this prize will take place September 21st, with the winner announced by ANS. K5NRK says "see yawl in Vicksburg!" [ANS thanks Russ Tillman, K5NRK, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-256.02 TMSAT-1 COMMISSIONING ALMOST COMPLETE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 256.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 13, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-256.02 Chris Jackson, G7UPN / ZL2TPO, tells ANS that TMSAT-1 commissioning has largely been completed and the satellite is in very good shape. Jackson and his team are presently concentrating on testing and calibration of TMSAT-1's multispectral imaging system, reporting a number of very good image sets have been downloaded from the satellite. G7UPN reports that shortly after launch, an anomaly was observed with the satellite's downlink transmitter, causing the ground operations team to take a cautious attitude to operations. Jackson says the downlink power periodically drops to approximately less than one watt. At the same time a corresponding increase in reverse voltage is noted. Ground control stations are not certain as to the cause of this condition and tests are continuing to try and find an answer to the problem. Jackson says that for this reason "we are presently operating the transmitter only over the command stations in Bangkok, Thailand and Surrey, England. This will probably continue for another few weeks." G7UPN says if all goes well, ground control stations expect to operate the transmitter for extended periods, adding, "this will allow amateur operators in other locations to receive data from TMSAT, and at this time we also hope to open the BBS for general use by amateurs." Open BBS operation will allow most licensed amateur radio operators, with the correct equipment, to upload and download data from the satellite. Jackson says due to the large size and high quality of the images on TMSAT, he hopes that the majority of activity on the satellite will concentrate on downloading the available high quality images, such as a recent multispe ctral image taken of the San Francisco Bay area. Image sets from TMSAT-1 are being posted to the web, point your browser to the following URL: http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/EE/CSER/UOSAT/amateur/tmsat/index.html [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-256.03 LMCC BACKING AWAY FROM 70 CENTIMETERS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 256.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 13, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-256.03 According to the ARRL, an official of the American Automobile Association (AAA) says the Land Mobile Communications Council (LMCC) is backing away from its request that the FCC reallocate 420 to 430 MHz and 440 to 450 MHz from the federal government to the Private Mobile Radio Service. A recent letter by the AAA's Gary Ruark said that strong support for ham radio from the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration has caused the LMCC to back off its demand to reallocate the 70-cm subbands it had requested last spring. Because of this, Ruark said, "it is doubtful that the FCC would ever agree to that portion of the LMCC petition addressing sharing frequencies with amateur radio operators." Last June, AAA asked the LMCC to file supplemental comments with the FCC to withdraw the request to share the 70-cm band with Amateur Radio. AAA is an LMCC member. A copy of Ruark's letter is available on the ARRLWeb page, at http://www.arrl.org. [ANS thanks the ARRL for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-256.04 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 256.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 13, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-256.04 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** ANS is sad to report that the hearts of all of the personal at CNN go out to the John Holliman family. Correspondent Holliman died from injuries received in a car accident near his home in suburban Atlanta. He was 49. Holliman served as an Atlanta-based national correspondent. One of his beats was to cover space exploration, and he was the lead reporter for the Pathfinder mission to Mars in the summer of 1997. Among his upcoming assignments was to co-anchor (with Walter Cronkite) John Glenn's return to space. Along with CNN, ANS sends our deepest condolences to the entire Holliman family. --W3IWI, N0NSV ** From September 15-20th, special event station K2BR will be operating in the HF bands, AO-27 and possibly FO-20 and FO-29. K2BR, in FM29, Atlantic City, New Jersey - will be celebrating the annual Miss America Pageant. --Jeff, KB2WQM ** ARRLWeb Extra, the new ARRL web publication, is online now. ARRLWeb Extra will offer news and features, photos and sounds from the world of Amateur Radio and the ever-changing communication scene. A totally new online publication, The ARRLWeb Extra, will publish Amateur Radio news and features --including insider news, technical and how-to topics, additional information on Product Review items, 'first looks' at upcoming products that will be reviewed in QST, and occasional offbeat items. The URL is http://www.arrl.org/members/. --ARRL Letter ** The WSWSS '98 VHF Conference is about to get underway (on October 3rd) in Sunnyvale, California. The program agenda will include '10 GHz Operating' by KK6MK and W6BY, 'Introduction to GPS' by W6RXQ, 'Yaesu FT-847 and FT-100 Operations' by K7JA - and many more presenters. For details and agenda check out the following URL: http://www.qth.net/wb9ajz/wswss98. --WSWSS Reflector ** September 19th is Amateur Radio Awareness Day, a good time to promote Amateur Radio and elevate public awareness of the hobby by writing an article for your local paper, establishing a 'Field Day' type station in a local mall or park, or perhaps making a presentation before a civic group. This is an excellent opportunity for satellite operators to show our side of the hobby. Publicity kits and ideas and ideas are available from the ARRL, e-mail jgagne@arrl.org for more info. --ARRL Letter, NN0DJ ** Recently, Discovery Channel Italy featured a series of three documentaries about satellites, including a segment on the AMSAT Lab in Orlando. The report compared the huge costs of commercial satellites, showing how ingenious amateur built satellites can be, such as using the 'pan' antennas bought at the supermarket. --Roberto, IK4JQW ** Several Hawaiian stations with satellite capability are making quite an effort to give mainland US stations a chance to work KH6 via various birds. AH6HH, WB6FZH/KH6 and NH6VB have all been active on the FO satellites lately. -- Aloha from NH6VB. ** Amateur Radio on the International Space Station is progressing well. The first station will have 2-meter voice and packet capability, using antennas designed and built by an Italian team and installed by the Russians. A German team is at work on an interim station that would add 70-cm capability plus a Digitalker. The US team is building a packet module, adapter module, the hand held radio and associated cables, as well as preparing a Safety Data Package required by NASA. The final ISS equipment list is still in the conceptual stages but probably will include all-mode capability from ten meters through 13 centimeters, including Amateur fast-scan television. --Newsline ** Andy, WB2GZM/VK3JJH, reports a Newsbyte story entitled 'Researchers Warn End of Year Storm Threat to Satellites' is available at the following URL: http://www.currents.net/newstoday/98/08/30/news2.html. --AMSAT BB /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-256.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 256.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 13, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-256.05 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 (not available in mode KT) 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. Ray, W2RS, reports receiving the following about RS-12 via packet from G3IOR: "I had communications with Andy, RK3KPK. He tells me that the Aero-Cosmic Laboratory is no more and that RS-12 command is now in the hands of Alex Papkov, in Kaluga City, Russia. Jerry, K5OE, did some on-air tests of the two RS-12 downlinks and reports the 2-meter downlink is as good or better than 10 meters. K5OE reports the 2m downlink has better overall quality but is subject to some minor QSB and more doppler correction. Many stations have reported strong 2-meter downlink signals from the satellite in mode KT. 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 Jerry, K5OE, reports often hearing K6YK on RS-15. K5OE also says the beacon has been off lately and he was able to work KB8VAO on voice, giving him a 5x7 report with the bird at about 40 degrees elevation. 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. 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. [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-256.06 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 2 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 256.06 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 13, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-256.06 KITSAT KO-23 Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 Baud FSK Downlink 435.175 MHz FM Semi-operational. Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-23 is semi-operational with downlink efficiencies below 20% over the last week. No additional information on the cause of the reduced downlink efficiency is available at this time [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. The satellite is operating well, with downlink efficiencies greater than 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 12 11:31:25 1998 uptime is 1455/05:57:12 BCR Input Cur 0.495 A BCR Output Cur 0.394 A Bat 1 Temp 1.814 D Bat 2 Temp 1.814 D Baseplt Temp 4.839 D +Y Array Temp 3.024 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 1.209 D +Z Array Temp 2.419 D RC PSK TX Out 0.472 W Total Array C= 0.473 Bat Ch Cur= 0.073 Ifb= 0.022 I+10V= 0.298 TX:010B BCR:84 PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:1D 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." Dirk, ON1DLL, recently experimented with a voice packet program by connecting to himself and sending a compressed wav-file. He reports the experiment worked quite well. Telemetry is as follows: Time is Sat Sep 12 12:00:07 1998 uptime is 042/22:22:31 Baseplt Temp 1.252 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 2.935 D PSK TX HPA Tmp -0.430 D +Z Array Temp -0.991 D Total Array C= 0.275 Bat Ch Cur= 0.090 Ifb= 0.019 I+10V= 0.145 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. Chris Jackson, G7UPN, says TMSAT-1 commissioning has largely been completed and the satellite is in very good shape. Jackson and his team are presently concentrating on testing and calibration of TMSAT-1's multispectral imaging system, reporting a number of very good image sets have been downloaded from the satellite. The satellite is expected to be available for general amateur use shortly. [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-256.07 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 3 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 256.07 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 13, 1998 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-256.07 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