SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0503 * SpaceNews 03-May-99 * BID: $SPC0503 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY MAY 3, 1999 * PSK31 SUCCESS VIA AMSAT-OSCAR-10 * ==================================== On April 26, 1999 between 2100 and 2151 UTC, Peter, KD7MW of Seattle, U.S.A. and Frank, DL6DBN of Siegen, Germany had a 2-way QSO on the AMSAT-OSCAR-10 satellite using G3PLX's PSK31 software. As Peter's earlier one-way test indicated, both stations really had to work for it, compensating for transponder frequency shift, QSB and QRN. The QSO was far from conversational, but it was a start! Peter feels that if PSK31 (or a mode derived from it) is optimized for satellite use particularly with regard to frequency control, some nice possibilities will open up. His tests show that when tuned in well, PSK31 can copy nicely through the very low S/N ratios experienced on OSCAR 10. If anyone else would like to schedule a PSK31 contact with Peter via satellite, feel free to contact him via e-mail at: kd7mw@amsat.org Frank, DL6DBN adds that it is of great importance to tune correctly to the received signal (within 2 Hz) which for older synthesized receivers (with 20 Hz tuning steps) is only possible with a combination of the downlink receiver tuning and software carrier frequency tuning. Both methods are not handy so far. What is needed is a fast AFC loop and automated receiver tuning controlled by the PSK31 decoding software. If the PSK31 reception software is properly locked to the correct frequency, reception is good. With a PC and soundblaster, Frank compares it to CW in a narrow filter of 200 Hz. One must be able to at least hear a bit of the PSK31 signal to tune it in. As the contact between Peter and Frank showed, QRP is poor for contacts via AO-10. Frank operated with an EIRP of 300 to 350 watts while Peter ran about 1000 W EIRP. Frank could copy almost 50 % of Peter's transmission correctly while Peter read only parts of Frank's transmission. Two days before the contact, Frank could copy his own full-duplex signals at apogee from a second PC better (60 % copy). Frank assumes lower Doppler-shift at apogee was the reason for his success. Frank also feels that while PSK31 might be difficult on AO-10 with its unstable transponder, it could be great on Phase 3-D. For LEO satellites with their high Doppler-shift, modifications to PSK31 will be for any success. Frank expects to conduct further tests at different mean anomalies and elevation angles. Further information on PSK31 may be found at the following URL: http://aintel.bi.ehu.es/psk31.html [Info via Peter KD7MW, and Frank DL6DBN] * RS-13 NEWS * ============== Harry Bryant, AA2WN reports that Gordon, 6Y5GH, was active last weekend on RS13 from Kingston Jamaica. Harry had a very nice QSO with Gordon and Gordon had an excellent signal on the bird. [Info via Harry Bryant, AA2WN] * AMSAT-NA CALL FOR PAPERS * ============================ This is the second call to authors who wish to present papers at the 17th AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting and Space Symposium to be held October 8-11, 1999 at the Hanalei Hotel in San Diego, California. Symposium presentations will also be printed in the official Proceedings document. You do not need to be a member of AMSAT-NA to present a paper or attend the Symposium. The subject matter should be topics of interest to the Amateur Radio satellite service. Key dates for submitting papers are as follows: One page abstracts due and should be submitted as soon as possible for consideration. June 1, 1999 - authors will be advised if accepted August 1, 1999 - camera ready copy of accepted papers due Abstracts should be sent to Symposium chair Duane Naugle, KO6BT, via email at: ko6bt@amsat.org or via terrestrial mail to: Duane Naugle, KO6BT 4111 Nemaha Drive San Diego, California 92117-4522 USA Proceedings of the Symposium will be printed by the ARRL and made available at and immediately after the meeting. If authors do not wish to present a paper but have a topic of interest, please submit the topic and arrangements may be made for a stand-in presenter. Receipt of submissions will be confirmed. Additional information may be found at http://www.amsat.org/ [Info via Duane, KO6BT] * AMSAT-OSCAR-10 SPIN RATE STUDY * ================================== Masa, JN1GKZ in Japan last fall found some AO-10 spin rate data and plotted it on a graph. He found that AO-10's spin rate is not constant, but rather varies up and down. The spin rate was increasing at last fall, and started decreasing around last December. Masa would like to hear from those who have spin rate or spin period data to share so he can further his study. He promises to plot the data received on an AO-10 spin rate web page he is creating at the following URL: http://www.din.or.jp/~m-arai/ao10/beacone.htm [Info via Masa, JN1GKZ, jn1gkz@jamsat.or.jp] * FUJI-OSCAR-29 SCHEDULE * ========================== Although digitalker operation was planned to begin on Wednesday 28-Apr-99, it had to be postponed until Friday 30-Apr-99 because of the poor efficiency in uploading the voice data to the satellite. The FO-29 operating schedule for the month of May is as follows: Fri 30-Apr-99 0600 UTC - Mon 10-May-99 0400 UTC : Digitalker Mon 10-May-99 0400 UTC - Mon 17-May-99 0300 UTC : Mode JA Mon 17-May-99 0300 UTC - Mon 24-May-99 0400 UTC : Mode JD (1200 baud) Mon 24-May-99 0400 UTC - Mon 31-May-99 0300 UTC : Mode JA [Info via Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK] * GSFC SPECIAL EVENT * ====================== For those who receive this issue of SpaceNews a day early, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center will begin the celebration of it's 40th anniversary on 02-May-99. The Goddard Amateur Radio Club will be operating a special event station from the club station, WA3NAN on Sunday 02-May-99. Operations will take place on one or more of the following frequencies +/- QRM and depending upon propagation: 7185 kHz 14295 kHz 21395 kHz The hours of operation will be from 1400 UTC to 2000 UTC. [Info via Ron Parise, WA4SIR] * SpaceNews NEWS * ================== It's time for a reminder! SpaceNews is available on the Amateur Packet Radio Network, the AMSAT-OSCAR-16 and KITSAT-OSCAR-25 satellites, and in plain text format at the following URL: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/news/spc1999.html SpaceNews may also be downloaded from ftp.amsat.org using anonymous FTP. Issues are located in the /amsat/news subdirectory. SpaceNews is also frequently posted to the rec.radio.amateur.space Usenet newsgroup. Electronic mail subscriptions to SpaceNews are available by sending an e-mail request to: majordomo@amsat.org Include the following text in the body (not subject) of your message: subscribe ans This subscription will include not only SpaceNews, but official weekly AMSAT-NA News Service bulletins as well. Further information is available at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/listserv/lists.html * FEEDBACK/INPUT WELCOMED * =========================== Comments and input for SpaceNews should be directed to the editor (John, KD2BD) via any of the paths listed below: WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/ PACKET : KD2BD @ KS4HR.NJ.USA.NA INTERNET : kd2bd@amsat.org, magliaco@email.njin.net SATELLITE : AMSAT-OSCAR-16, KITSAT-OSCAR-25 <<=- SpaceNews: The first amateur newsletter read in space! -=>> <<=- Serving the planet (and beyond) since 1987 -=>> /EX