SB NEWS @ AMSAT $SPC0703 * SpaceNews 03-Jul-00 * BID: $SPC0703 ========= SpaceNews ========= MONDAY JULY 3, 2000 * FUJI-OSCAR-20 NEWS * ====================== Ib Christoffersen, OZ1MY, in Denmark reports that the beacon transmitter on FO-20 is working once again. Sometimes the beacon is modulated, but mostly transmits only a continuous wave (CW) signal. Ib also reports that both the FO-20 and FO-29 satellites carry high-hand circularly polarized antennas, they tend to favor left-hand circularly polarized groundstation antennas due to the current attitude of the satellites. * FUJI-OSCAR-29 NEWS * ====================== The latest FO-29 operating schedule is as follows: 03-Jul-00 -to- 09-Jul-00: Mode J digital 1200bps mailbox mode 10-Jul-00 -to- 19-Jul-00: Mode J analog transponder 20-Jul-00 -to- 31-Aug-00: Digitalker (with NEW digital voice data) Also note that the satellite will be controlled on Wednesdays during the Digitalker period, and may be in analog mode during those Wednesdays. The latest information is available at: http://www.jarl.or.jp/Japanese/3_Fuji/new/uy.htm [Info via Jim Tittsler, 7J1AJH/AI8A] * KITSAT-OSCAR-25 NEWS * ======================== KO-25 has started to take pictures again. Several images taken by the satellite's Earth Imaging Camera (EIS) system are currently available for download from the satellite. In addition, GU8IRF has recently uploaded a color JPG image of Aeolian Island taken by the UO-36 satellite to KO-25. Other images of Spain, Capetown (South Africa), Sale (Austrailia), and Luxor (Egypt) taken by UO-36 were uploaded to KO-25 in JPG format by EA1IW in Spain over the past month. * AMSAT-OSCAR-10 NEWS * ======================= Jim Walls, K6CCC reports having excellent success with the AMSAT-OSCAR-10 satellite. Jim reports having to drop his uplink power down to 3 watts to stay below the level of the beacon. He also successfully made contact with N1RAK in Rhode Island through the satellite using only 100 milliwatts of transmitter power. Jim used a pair of KLM long-boom circularly polarized yagis to work the AO-10 satellite, and had his receive pre-amp switched off during these contacts. [Info via Jim Walls, K6CCC] * KD2BD.ORG NEWS * ================== There's a new place on the web to discuss ideas and projects pertaining to Amateur Satellites, Amateur Radio Communications, and related subjects: http://www.kd2bd.org/ At the present time, the focus of kd2bd.org is to provide support as well as an open exchange of ideas relating to hardware projects and Open Source software developed by John Magliacane, KD2BD for the Amateur Radio community. Visitors to the site have the ability gather information, participate in on-going discussions, and even create their own discussion groups. The site also makes it possible to download files and receive e-mail alerts when new information has been posted to discussion groups of interest to its visitors. The scope of the site is expected to expand as users create their own discussion groups and share information pertaining to their interests. * SUNSAT NEWS * =============== Raul, LU8DPV reports contacting LU6EIL, LU8DPV (Mat del Plata, ARG), CE3EDW in Santiago, Chile, and LU9YTC (Neuquen, ARG) via the SUNSAT satellite on the night of 24-Jun-00. Signals through the satellite were reported to be 5-8 / 5-9. * 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