SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-290.01 DCC ON THE CUTTING EDGE AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 290.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 17, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-290.01 The 18th ARRL-TAPR Digital Communications Conference held recently in Phoenix offered a vision of Amateur Radio where individual ham bands are irrelevant. Some 150 digital enthusiasts attended the sessions held in late September. The wave of the future could be ultra wide band, according to Conference speaker (and an ARRL Pacific Division Assistant Director) Dewayne Hendricks, WA8DZP. Ultra wideband --or UWB-- is related to new methods of spectrum sharing among large numbers of users. During a forum Hendricks described UWB as akin to a group of people sharing a large house rather than each owning smaller, separate houses. The FCC initiated a Notice of Inquiry last year seeking comment on UWB issues. ARRL Southwest Division Vice Director Art Goddard, W6XD, says Hendricks' DCC presentation suggested that the notion of individual Amateur Radio bands could become irrelevant in a UWB era, where software-driven equipment and spectrum sharing protocols would determine what frequency or frequencies best suit the desired communication at that particular moment. As in the past, this year's DCC saw the introduction of new and improved versions of APRS. Horzepa said that Rob Wittner, KZ5RW, demonstrated a work-in-progress version of APRS/CE for handheld computers running the Windows CE operating system. Audio from all the conference presentations may be heard at: http://www.tapr.org The Conference Proceedings are available from the ARRL. [ANS thanks the ARRL and TAPR for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-290.02 ANS IN BRIEF HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 290.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 17, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-290.02 ANS news in brief this week includes the following: ** Mars -- the ultimate theme park? According to news reports the hottest tourist spot of the next century could be the planet Mars. Experts insist astronauts will take their first step on the red plant within 10 years and space tourism will follow shortly thereafter. -SpaceDaily ** Space debris experts from around the globe recently gathered at the European Space Agency Operations Center for the 17th meeting of the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee. The IADC is concerned with all technical issues of the space debris problem. The main objectives of IADC are to exchange results of research in the field of space debris, to cooperate in research activities and to identify debris mitigation options. -ESA ** The Galileo spacecraft's October flyby of Io was highly successful, according to published reports. In the coming weeks the spacecraft will transmit stored images and spectra of several volcanoes and other colorful features from the flyby. -Sky & Telescope ** HR2KOS reports an interesting web site that might help those who want to visualize satellite orbits and Kepler's laws - along with other simulations and visualizations including SWR, the flow of RF through coaxial cable and antenna patterns. Check out the site at the following URL: http://www.phy.hw.ac.uk/resources/demos/. -Rick, HR2KOS ** AMSAT-France reports that a logbook with all QSL cards and requests received for FX0STB or R0MIR confirmations can be viewed at the following URL : http://www.citeweb.net/f4rtp/Logbook/. The list will be regularly updated as AMSAT-France receives new requests. -AMSAT-BB ** According to published news reports China is planning to build a satellite launching center near Hainan Island in the South China Sea. Construction of the facility is due to start soon. -SpaceDaily ** Trying to decode satellite signals from some of the digital birds? Steve Bible, N7HPR, did some research in this area when he was at the Naval Postgraduate school, providing a web interface for reading messages downloaded from the digital satellites. His paper is on the subject can be found at http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/papers/papers.html. -John, G0ORX ** Astronomers had hoped that by crashing the Lunar Prospector spacecraft near the Moon's south pole, they would at last gain proof that there's ice locked up in perpetually dark crater floors. Unfortunately, such evidence did not arise. Although telescopes around the world and in space were turned to watch, they detected no plume of debris at the time of the impact, much less any water vapor. -Sky & Telescope ** The PicoSats are coming. A mission scheduled to be launched in late November from Vandenberg Air Force Base will give a preview of how tiny satellites would operate in constellations. More information is available be clicking on the following Internet web site: http://www.spacedaily.com/spacecast/news/nanosat-99f.html. -SpaceDaily ** Some North America doorstep astronomy from ANS: The brightest star very high in the west during evening is Vega, 25 light-years away. The bright star higher above Vega is Deneb, a much more distant supergiant about 1,500 light-years away. -Sky & Telescope --ANS BULLETIN END--- /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-290.03 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 290.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 17, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-290.03 RADIO SPORT RS-12 Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 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 Robot Downlink 29.454 MHz Semi-operational, beacon only. RADIO SPORT RS-13 Uplink 21.260 to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 145.960 to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 29.460 to 29.500 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 145.960 to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB Beacon 29.458 MHz Robot Uplink 145.840 MHz Robot Downlink 29.504 MHz Operational, in mode-KA with a 10-meter downlink and a 15-meter and 2-meter uplink. RS-13's Robot CW auto-transponder is active. For confirmation of an RS-13 Robot contact, send your QSL card along with the Robot QSL number to: Radio Sport Federation Box 88 Moscow Kevin, AC5DK, has information about RS-12/13 that contains a simple explanation on how to operate on the satellite, including a forum for operators to exchange information, pose questions or even set up schedules via RS-12/13. AC5DK's RS-12/13 Satellite Operators Page: http://www.qsl.net/ac5dk/rs1213/rs1213.html AC5DK's RS-12/13 Satellite Forum: http://www.hotboards.com/powerforum/pwrforum.exe?who=rs1213 RADIO SPORT 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) SSB meeting frequency 29.380 MHz (unofficial) Semi-operational, mode-A, using a 2-meter uplink and a 10-meter downlink. Dave, WB6LLO, has operating information for both RS-15 and RS-13 on his personal web site. In addition to satellite data, antenna information for mode-A operation is also featured. The WB6LLO web site URL is: http://home.san.rr.com/doguimont/uploads 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, mode-B. AO-10 has been locked into a 70-cm uplink and a 2-meter downlink for several years. DX continues to be heard and worked on AO-10. Kimio, 8J1RL, is very active while he is also QRV on EME. 8J1RL will be looking for more contacts through February 2000. Jerry, K5OE, worked G1WPR, and John, M1BTR, reports QSO's with W6VPH and KD7MW. John, K6YK, reports hearing/working KL0BK, WL7BQM, FO5QS, V73CW, JA5LG, VE6XT, F2OQ, EB1FG and ZL2VBV. Masa, JN1GKZ, reports his web page shows the current AO-10 spin period and spin rate (by measuring the beacon with FFTDSP software). The JN1GKZ web site can be found at the following URL: http://www.din.or.jp/~m-arai/ao10/beacone.htm 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] AMRAD AO-27 Uplink 145.850 MHz FM Downlink 436.795 MHz FM Operational, mode J. John, K6YK, reports "many stations on every pass." Stations giving out new grids/counties/states included N3ZLL, N7SFI, N6KMR/mobile, K6YK/mobile, K0LEE, N2YQP, KL0BK and XE2YVW. Chuck, KM4NZ, recently reset the TEPR states on AO-27 (on October 11, 1999). TEPR 4 is 22 TEPR 5 is 58 [ANS thanks Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ, and Michael Wyrick, N4USI, for AO-27 information] JAS-1b FO-20 Uplink 145.900 to 146.000 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 MHz CW/USB Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously. FO-20 continues to function quite well. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status reports] JAS-2 FO-29 Voice/CW Mode JA Uplink 145.900 to 146.000 MHz CW/LSB Downlink 435.800 to 435.900 MHz CW/USB Semi-operational, rotated with digital mode and digi-talker. Digital Mode JD Uplink 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM Downlink 435.910 MHz FM 9600 baud BPSK Digitalker 435.910 MHz Semi-operational, rotated with analog mode and digi-talker. Mike, KF4FDJ, has put together a very informative document on FO-29, addressing analog, digital and digi-talker modes. To obtain a copy e-mail Mike at: kf4fdj@amsat.org Kazu, JJ1WTK, reports the FO-29 operational schedule (announced by the JARL) is as follows: through October 18th Digitalker October 19 - 21 JA October 22 - November 8th Digitalker November 09 - 15 JA Mineo, JE9PEL, has updated his FO-29 satellite telemetry analysis Program. The software will automatically analyze all digital telemetry from the satellite such as current, voltage and temperature. The JE9PEL FO-29/software update is available at: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-29 status reports] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-290.04 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 290.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 17, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-290.04 KITSAT KO-25 Uplink 145.980 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 436.500 MHz FM Operational. Jim, AA7KC, reports KO-25 is performing well with good downlink efficiency. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for KO-25 status information] KITSAT KO-23 Uplink 145.900 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 435.175 MHz FM Semi-operational. ANS has learned (from HL0ENJ) that satellite downlink telemetry shows two of KO-23's battery cells to be very unstable. Jim, AA7KC, confirms KO-23 returned to service on 10-13-99 as planned. The satellite is performing well with good downlink efficiency. [ANS thanks Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, and KyungHee Kim, HL0ENJ, for KO-23 status information] UOSAT UO-22 Uplink 145.900 or 145.975 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK Downlink 435.120 MHz FM Operational. Carol, W9HGI, reports UO-22 is performing within acceptable limits. W9HGI operates the West Coast Packet Satellite Gateway (WSPG) for the Worldwide Packet Network (WPN). More information on the satellite is available at the following URL: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ [ANS thanks Carol Byers, W9HGI and Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for UO-22 status information] OSCAR-11 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM, 1200 baud AFSK Mode-S Beacon 2401.500 MHz Operational. 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) The ASCII bulletin is currently a static message, detailing modes and frequencies of all active amateur radio satellites. More information on OSCAR-11 is available at the following URL: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for OSCAR-11 status information] PACSAT AO-16 Uplink 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.86 MHz FM using 1200 baud Manchester FSK Downlink 437.0513 MHz SSB RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK Mode-S Beacon 2401.1428 MHz Operational (with the exception of the mode-S beacon, which is currently off). AO-16 has operated continuously for over 1,800 days since its last software reload. AO-16 telemetry is as follows: Time is Sat Oct 16 22:45:40 1999 uptime is 1854/17:03:12 +10V Bus 10.300 V +X (RX) Temp -8.473 D RX Temp 5.444 D +5V Bus 4.687 V +8.5V Bus 7.764 V +10V Bus 10.100 V BCR Set Point 20.935 C BCR Load Cur 0.520 A RC PSK TX Out 0.566 W RC PSK BP Temp -5.448 D +Y Array Temp -22.390 D +Z Array Temp -14.524 D Total Array C= 0.000 Bat Ch Cur=-0.496 Ifb= 0.204 I+10V= 0.316 TX:010B BCR:1E PWRC:59E BT: A WC:25 EDAC:C1 General information and telemetry WOD files can be found at: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu A complete collection of WOD graphics corresponding to the year of 1998 can be found at: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/wod1998.zip [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for AO-16 status information] LUSAT LO-19 Uplink 145.84 145.86 145.88 145.90 MHz FM using 1200 baud Manchester FSK Downlink 437.125 MHz SSB RC-BPSK 1200 baud PSK Currently semi-operational. No BBS service. The digipeater is active. LO-19 telemetry is as follows: Time is Sat Oct 16 23:05:09 1999 uptime is 442/09:30:31 +X (RX) Temp -7.161 D RX Temp 4.057 D RC PSK TX Out 0.644 W RC PSK BP Temp 2.374 D RC PSK HPA Tmp 1.252 D +Y Array Temp -16.135 D PSK TX HPA Tmp 2.374 D +Z Array Temp -13.331 D Total Array C= 0.008 Bat Ch Cur=-0.280 Ifb= 0.116 I+10V= 0.173 TX:017 BCR:1E PWRC:62D BT:3C WC: 0 General information and telemetry samples can be found at: http://www.ctv.es/USERS/ea1bcu/lo19.htm [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for LO-19 status information] TMSAT-1 TO-31 Uplink 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK Downlink 436.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK Operational. ProcMail V2.00G has been released by G7UPN. This software permits the processing of image files from TO-31. It has been posted to the AMSAT-NA FTP site at the following URL: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/wisp [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for TO-31 status information] PANSAT PO-34 Uplink/downlink frequencies have not been established. The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions. PanSat, developed by the Naval Postgraduate School, was launched from the shuttle Discovery during STS-95. PanSat spread-spectrum digital transponders will be available to amateur radio operators in the near future along with software to utilize this technology. Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, PanSat Project Manager recommends 'The ARRL Spread Spectrum Sourcebook' as a good place to start in understanding the spread-spectrum scheme. For more information, visit the official PanSat web site at: http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/pansat/ PanSat is the featured cover article in the July/August 1999 issue of the AMSAT-NA Journal (written by KD6DRA and N7HPR). [ANS thanks Dan Sakoda, KD6DRA, for this information] SUNSAT SO-35 Semi-operational. Modes of operation and uplink/downlink frequencies have yet to be officially established. SunSat was launched February 23, 1999 aboard a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. SunSat stands for Stellenbosch University Satellite and takes it name from the South African university whose students constructed the payload. The SunSat package includes 1200 and 9600 baud digital store-and-forward capability and a voice 'parrot' repeater system that will be used primarily for educational demonstrations. The satellite has two VHF and two UHF transmit-receive systems. SunSat has been in mode-B recently. Greg, KE4ROL, reports excellent downlink signals. Ray, W2RS, was active from the AMSAT-NA Symposium along with Danny, VA3JDH, Jerry, K5OE, and others. The announced SUNSAT schedule through November 7th is as follows: 23-October India, Indonesia, Russia, Pakistan 05:09 to 05:24 UTC Continuous over Africa to Europe 10:00 to 10:29 South America 14:54 to 15:12 24-October Eastern Australia 00:54 to 01:09 UTC Africa to Europe 09:16 to 09:48 USA 16:14 to 16:29 30-October Australia 01:55 to 01:14 UTC Africa and Europe 08:37 to 09:07 South America and East USA 15:32 to 15:47 31-October Australia 02:55 to 03:10 UTC Africa and Europe 09:35 to 10:08 South America 16:30 to 16:47 06-November Australia 02:16 to 02:34 UTC Africa to Europe 08:54 to 09:26 South America 13:52 to 14:12 07-November Indonesia and Japan 01:52 to 02:06 UTC Africa to Europe 09:55 to 10:25 Western USA 16:50 to 17:06 Times are UTC. Uplink is on 436.291 MHz (+/- doppler up to 9 kHz). Downlink is on 145.825 MHz. For more information on SunSat, visit the following URL: http://sunsat.ee.sun.ac.za [ANS thanks Garth Milne ZR1AFH, for this information] UoSAT-12 UO-36 Downlink 437.025 MHz 437.400 MHz UoSAT-12 was successfully launched on April 21, 1999 from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome. UO-36 carries a number of imaging payloads, digital store-and-forward communications and mode L/S transponders. The satellite is not currently available for general uplink transmissions. UO-36 has been transmitting 9600-baud FSK telemetry framed in a VLSI format using a downlink frequency of 437.400 MHz. Chris, G7UPN, reports UO-36 is also (at times) testing on 437.025 MHz at a baud rate of 38,400 (38k4). G7UPN also tells ANS that UO-36 is severely power limited and Chris is working on a new protocol to allow the downlink to only be switched on over active ground stations. "Once we get this going, UO-36 will be running the 38k4 downlink, and will be available when spacecraft resources (primarily power) permit," said G7UPN. Presently the BBS is still closed. S-band high speed downlink commissioning continues at rates between 128kb/s and 1Mb/s. The S-band downlink frequency has not been announced. The VK5HI/TMSAT viewer shareware is available on the AMSAT-NA web site at the following URL: ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/display/ccddsp97-119.zip Further information on UO-36 is available from: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ [ANS thanks Chris G7UPN/ZL2TPO, and the University of Surrey for this information] ITAMSAT IO-26 Uplink 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM 1200 baud Downlink 435.822 MHz SSB Semi-operational. IO-26 was launched on the September 26, 1993, recently celebrating its sixth birthday. Alberto, I2KBD, reports IO-26 has been opened to APRS use. ITAMSAT ground controllers have switched the digipeater function to 'on'. [ANS thanks ITAMSAT Project Manager Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD, for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-290.05 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 3 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 290.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 17, 1999 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-290.05 THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME: MIR SPACE STATION Ham radio activity aboard the Mir space station came to a close on August 28, 1999 as the crew returned to Earth, leaving the station unmanned. Mir is in a stable orbit with only essential systems running. All Amateur Radio activities have ceased. Currently, the station is being prepared for re-entry sometime in the first quarter of 2000, however, the final fate of the space station has not been formally announced. Stay tuned to ANS for further developments. Current Amateur Radio equipment aboard Mir includes: MIR SAFEX II 70-cm Repeater Uplink 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz Downlink 437.950 MHz FM Not operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed. MIR SAFEX II 70-cm QSO Mode Uplink 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz Downlink 437.925 MHz FM Not operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed. MIR PERSONAL MESSAGE SYSTEM (PMS) Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK Not operational. RS-16 The 435 MHz beacon (only) is operational. Attempts to command the mode A transponder 'on' have been unsuccessful to date. No additional information is available at this time. DOVE DO-17 Downlink 145.825 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK 2401.220 MHz Non-operational. DOVE stopped transmitting in March 1998. The 145.825 MHz and 2401.220 MHz downlinks are off the air and the satellite has not responded to ground station control. 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. TECHSAT-1B GO-32 Downlink 435.225 MHz using HDLC telemetry Unknown status. ANS has not received any recent updates concerning the current status of GO-32. The TechSat-1B micro-satellite was successfully launched from the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome on July 10, 1998. Last reported, the satellite does not have a continuos beacon, but does transmit a 9600-baud burst every 30 seconds (for a continuous 3 seconds in length), on 435.225 MHz. The TechSat team has constructed a home page about TechSat. To view the site, point your web browser to: http://techsat.internet-zahav.net/ No additional information is available at this time. SEDSAT-1 SO-33 Downlink 437.910 MHz FM 9600 baud FSK The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions and recovery efforts have been unsuccessful over the past year. Mineo, JE9PEL, reports he has again received minimal telemetry (one frame) from the satellite recently, dated September 20th. SedSat-1, signifying Students for the Exploration and Development of Space Satellite number one, was successfully launched and placed in orbit on Saturday, October 24, 1998. For more information on SedSat-1 visit the satellite web site at the following URL: http://www.seds.org/sedsat No additional information is available at this time. /EX