SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0221 * SpaceNews 21-Feb-00 * BID: $SPC0221 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY FEBRUARY 21, 2000 * AMSAT OSCAR-27 NEWS * ======================= On February 12, 2000, Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ reset the TEPR states on AO-27 as follows: TEPR 4 22 TEPR 5 58 [Info via Chuck Wyrick, KM4NZ] * KITSAT-OSCAR-23 NEWS * ======================== The KITSAT-OSCAR-23 command station reports that KO-23 will be in full sunlight between 14-February and 15-March. The satellite is expected to be operational during this period. * OSCAR-11 NEWS * ================= During the period 15 January to 15 February 2000 good signals have been received from OSCAR-11's 145.826 MHz FM beacon transmitter. The battery voltage during daylight passes has dropped slightly. The average value observed was 13.8, with a range of 13.6 to 14.1 volts. The internal temperatures have decreased slightly. They are now 5.0C and 3.2C for battery and telemetry electronics respectively. The spin period has drifted up and down in the range -266 to -329 seconds. There have only been 11 negative correction and three positive correction counts during the month, although the Z axis counter still increments at about 10 counts per day. The WOD survey of channels 10, 20, 30, 40 (+Y, -X, +X solar array currents, array voltage), dated January 06 has been transmitted. Note the year of this WOD survey is incorrectly displayed as 99. This survey clearly shows the solar eclipses, and a spin period of 340 seconds. The operating schedule remains 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 the amateur radio satellites. There are additional status blocks after each bulletin is transmitted, and between ASCII TLM and WOD. The Mode-S beacon is ON, transmitting an unmodulated carrier, but telemetry indicates that it has partially failed, and delivering half power. This beacon is a useful test source for those testing Mode-S converters, prior to the launch of P3-D. However, the signals are very weak, and there is a lot of Doppler shift. Users should also note that the polarization of OSCAR-11 is LHC. Even if you can't hear OSCAR-11, your equipment may still be OK for P3-D. Any reports of reception on 2401 MHz would be most welcome, and should be directed to Clive Wallis via e-mail at: g3cwv@amsat.org. The 435.025 MHz beacon is normally OFF. However, it can sometimes be heard when the satellite is being commanded by ground control, ie. within range of Guildford, UK. When the 435 MHz beacon is transmitting, the 145 MHz beacon is normally OFF. The data transmitted is mainly binary. Listeners to OSCAR-11 may be interested in visiting an OSCAR-11 Web site designed by Clive Wallis. The web site contains details of hardware required and 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. Also included are some audio files, examples of each type of data transmitted by OSCAR-11. Each one plays for about ten seconds. There are also examples of Mode-S reception. All the audio files are zipped, so that they can be played off-line. These should help listeners identify the various types of data, and give an indication of the signal quality required for successful decoding. The URL is - http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ [Info via Clive Wallis, G3CWV] * SUNSAT NEWS * =============== Henry Chamberlain, ZS1AAZ, has provided the following news and SUNSAT operating schedule. G4AJG/4S7PE, Peter Perera, will be in Sri Lanka for the next three weekends and controllers are making SUNSAT available for operations there. SO35 continues in Mode B (FM repeater) with an uplink frequency of 437.290 MHz FM (+/- 9 kHz Doppler shift) and the downlink is 145.825 FM. For newcomers: set the uplink to 437,285 MHz at the start of the pass and gradually increase the freqency till it reaches 437,295 MHz. If your transceiver has enough memory possitions, program the memory with small increments. AUSSIE SPECIAL EVENT There will be a special event station on 26 February 2000, run by the Moorabbin District Radio Club in Australia. Two successive passes will be made available for this event. Contact person is Tony Langdon, VK3JED. PARROT OPERATION During the passes over the RSA on 26 and 27 February, SUNSAT's Parrot repeater will be activated. Uplink and downlink frequency will be 145.825 MHz FM. SUNSAT will transmit a single tone burst, after which there will be a ten second period during which incoming signals will be digitized and stored. Then a double tone burst will be transmitted, followed by a 10 second replay of the recorded signals. The cycle will then be repeated. If there is a demand, the Parrot operation can be repeated else where in the world. Drop an Email to saamsat@intekom.co.za. All other passes will be 436.290 MHz uplink, and 145.825 MHz downlink. All times are UTC. 25/26 February 2000 Australia 22:51 to 23:05 Special event station Australia 00:30 to 00:44 Special event station Sri Lanka 04:04 to 04:18 RSA 07:13 to 07:27 Parrot Repeater 27 February 2000 Japan 00:12 to 00:26 Sri Lanka 03:24 to 03:38 RSA 08:12 to 08:26 Parrot Repeater USA 15:12 to 15:26 4 March 2000 Sri Lanka 02:43 to 02:57 RSA 07:31 to 07:45 Europe 07:54 to 08:08 USA 14:30 to 14:44 5 March 2000 Sri Lanka 03:42 to 03:56 RSA 06:51 to 07:05 Europe 07:14 to 07:28 South America 13:33 to 13:47 SPECIAL EVENTS The SUNSAT team will consider operating the satellite for special events. Please send a detailed request to SAAMSAT@intekom.co.za well in advance (3 - 4 weeks) of the event. Please describe the event and supply a program. SUNSAT OPERATING AWARD SA AMSAT has introduced a SUNSAT Operating Award to reward stations for the number of contacts they have made with individual stations. There are three categories: Bronze for 25 contacts, Silver for 50 contacts, and Gold for 100 contacts. The objective is to work as many different callsigns as possible with the restriction that only one contact per pass may be claimed for the Award. No duplicate contacts are allowed, a station qualifies only once. To claim the award, applicants must submit a copy of their log, verified by the chairman of a local Radio Club or two Amateurs to SA AMSAT, P O Box 1842, Hillcrest 3650 South Africa. There will additional surprises for the first 3 successful applications. Short-wave Listeners may also apply for the award. Their logs must include the callsigns of both the stations monitored. The cost of the award is $5 or 5IRC's to cover postage. Johann Lochner, ZR1CBC reports that after numerous requests, a summary of the active modes and frequency allocations for SUNSAT SO-35 is available at the following URL: http://esl.ee.sun.ac.za/~lochner/sunsat/modes.html It will be updated as new modes are activated in the near future. [Info via Hans van de Groenendaal] * CVITK NEWS * ============== A new version of the CVITK program has been made available. The new version: * Is easier to use with Windows * Can convert several files in one "AMSAT.ITK" * Limits the satellite name to 14 characters (display defect) * Can convert orbital elements with epoch in "00001.2345...", " 0 1.2345..." and " 1.2345..." The name of the file is "CVITK_E2.ZIP". The French version is "CVITK_F2.ZIP". Either version may be downloaded from: http://www.amsatnet.com/ Further information is available through John, F6HCC at: F6HCC@amsat.org John also mentions that many European stations are attempting transatlantic contacts through AO-27 when the satellite is over the mid-Atlantic. Europeans are searching for stations on the north-east coast of the US or east coast of Canada to have a QSO. AO-27 is usable for these contacts at around 11:00 UTC. [Info via Jean Blineau, F6HCC] * 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/ MAIL: John A. Magliacane, KD2BD Department of Engineering and Technology Brookdale Community College 765 Newman Springs Road Lincroft, New Jersey 07738 U.S.A. PACKET: KD2BD @ N2TDU.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