SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-320.S1 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 320.S1 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 16, 2003 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-320.S1 AO-40 AMSAT OSCAR 40 Catalog number: 26609 Launch Date: November 16, 2000 Status: Currently, the U/V/L-1/L-2 to S-2/K passband is active at various times. Uplink V-band 145.840 - 145.990 MHz CW/LSB U-band 435.550 - 435.800 MHz CW/LSB L1-band 1269.250 - 1269.500 MHz CW/LSB L2-band 1268.325 - 1268.575 MHz CW/LSB S1-band 2400.350 - 2400.600 MHz CW/LSB Downlink: S2-band 2401.225 - 2401.475 MHz CW/USB K-band 24,048.010 - 24,048.060 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 2401.323, 24,048.035 AO-40 experimental transponder operation started on May 05, 2001 at approximately 08:00 UTC when the U-band and L1-band uplinks were connected to the S-2 transmitter passband downlink via the Matrix switch. The AO-40 passbands are once again on. The AMSAT AO-40 Beacon + 20 net has resumed. Gene, W3PM has an Excel spreadsheet that will help evaluate your AO-40 groundstation. Download it at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/software/spreadsheet/w3pm-ao40-v2.1.zip Scott, NX7U has written a stand-alone version of Gene. W3PM's link budget spreadsheet. Two advantages/features: 1. Doesn't require Excel to run. 2. Will calculate your uplink SNR based on a Nova for Windows listing file, plus the maximum transmit power to keep from triggering LEILA. Download it at: http://members.cox.net/nx7u/ao40/Software The "AO-40 FAQ", compiled by Steve, VK5ASF is available at: http://www.amsat.org Ground stations capturing telemetry from AO-40 are asked to send a copy of the data to the AO-40 archive at: ao40-archive@amsat.org. For the current transponder-operating schedule visit: http://www.amsat-dl.org/journal/adlj-p3d.htm [ANS thanks AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL for this information] ===== ARISS - INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION Catalog number: 25544 Launch date: September 2000 Worldwide packet uplink: 145.990 MHz FM Region 1 voice uplink: 145.200 MHz FM Region 2/3 voice uplink: 144.490 MHz FM Worldwide downlink: 145.800 MHz FM Sponsors: AMSAT, ARRL, ARISS Status: Operational. Digipeater: active The current Expedition 8 crew is: Commnader Mike Foale, KB5UAC Flight Engineer Alexander Kaleri, U8MIR The ISS Fan Club and information about the "ISS Achievment Award can be found at: http://www.issfanclub.com Information on how to access the Amateur Radio equipment aboard the ISS is available at: http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/unprotopage.html The ISS daily crew schedule can be found at: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines/ Remember that the crew operates on UTC time. U.S. callsign: NA1SS Russian callsigns: RS0ISS, RZ3DZR TNC callsign: RS0ISS-1 The QSL routes for W/VE stations working the International Space Station (all callsigns): U.S. stations (a SASE is required): Margie Bourgoin, KB1DCO Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2, 3, etc.) QSL ARRL, 225 Main Street Newington, Connecticut 06111 Canadian stations: Radio Amateurs of Canada Attn: ARISS Expedition-1 (or 2, 3, etc.) QSL 720 Belfast Road, Suite 217 Ottawa, Ontario KEG 0Z5 European stations (a SASE and 2 IRC's are required). AMSAT-France 14 bis, rue des Gourlis 92500 Rueil Malmaison France More information is available at: http://ariss.gsfc.nasa.gov/ or http://www.rac.ca/ariss [ANS thanks Will Marchant, KC6ROL, and Jean-Louis Rault, F6AGR, for this information] ===== AO-7 AMSAT OSCAR 7 Catalog number: 07530 Launch Date: November 15, 1974 Return to active status: June 21,2002 Uplink: 145.850 to 145.950 MHz CW/USB Mode A 432.125 to 432.175 MHz CW/LSB Mode B Downlink: 29.400 to 29.500 MHz CW/USB Mode A 145.975 to 145.925 MHz CW/USB Mode B Beacon: 29.502 MHz, 145.972 MHz, 435.1 MHz, 2304.1 MHz Status: Semi-operational in sunlight. Jan King, W3GEY reports AO-7 is running off the solar panels only. It will only be on when in sunlight and off in eclipse. Therefore, AO-7 will reset each orbit and may not turn on each time. On July 11, 2002 AO-7 was successfully commanded for the first time since it was declared dead 21 years ago. Commands were sent and accepted to change the CW beacon code speed. Emily, W0EEC has created a website to allow the users of AO-7 to record contacts, observations and use of the satellite more effectively at http://www.experthams.net/ao7 This includes the ability to log contacts. Tim, K3TZ has written a program to decode AO-07 telemetry. The program can be downloaded at: http://www.qsl.net/k3tz/files/K3TZ_AO-07_Telemetry_Decoder_0.5.zip For more AO-7 info: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/ao7.html [ANS thanks Pat Gowen, G3IOR and Jan King, W3GEY for this information] ===== RS-15 RADIO SPORT RS-15 Catalog number: 23439 Launch Date: December 26, 1994 Uplink: 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/USB Downlink: 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 29.352 MHz (intermittent) SSB meeting frequency: 29.380 MHz (unofficial) Status: Semi-operational, mode-A, using a 2-meter uplink and a 10-meter downlink. Dave, WB6LLO, has antenna information for mode-A operation. http://home.san.rr.com/doguimont/uploads [ANS thanks Dave Guimont, WB6LLO, for this information] ===== FO-20 JAS-1b Catalog number: 20480 Launch Date: February 07, 1990 Uplink: 145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink: 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 435.795 Status: Semi-Operational. FO-20 is in mode JA continuously. FO-20 has been reported silent by numerous operators. Tak, JA2PKI, reported FO-20 control station operators believe that the UVC (Under Voltage Controller) is now regulating the transponder. The controller monitors battery voltage and tries to protect the batteries from over discharge. [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-20 status reports] ===== AO-27 AMRAD Catalog number: 22825 Launched: September 26, 1993 Uplink: 145.850 MHz FM Downlink: 436.795 MHz FM Status: Semi-operational, mode J. The latest information on AO-27 from control operator Michael Wyrick, N3UC (former N4USI), can be found at: http://www.ao27.org An AO-27 question-and-answer page is available on the AMSAT-NA web site, with updates by Ray, W2RS. The URL is: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/intro/ao27faq.html [ANS thanks AMRAD for AO-27 information] ===== FO-29 JAS-2 Catalog number: 24278 Launch Date: August 17, 1996 Voice/CW Mode JA Uplink: 145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB Downlink: 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB Beacon: 435.795 MHz Digital Mode JD Uplink: 145.850 145.870 145.910 MHz FM Downlink: 435.910 MHz 1200-baud BPSK or 9600-baud FSK Callsign: 8J1JCS Digitalker: 435.910 MHz Status: Operational. Mineo, JE9PEL, has an FO-29 satellite telemetry analysis program that will automatically analyze all digital telemetry from the satellite (such as current, voltage and temperature). FO29CWTE is available at: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/ [ANS thanks Kazu Sakamoto, JJ1WTK, for the FO-29 status reports] ===== SO-41 SAUDISAT-1A Launch Date: September 26, 2000 Catalog number: 26545 Uplink: 145.850 MHz Downlink: 436.775 MHz Broadcast Callsign: SASAT1-11 BBS: SASAT1-12 Status: Operational but intermittent. The spacecraft is operating in Mode-J, currently configured as an analog FM voice repeater, as power and spacecraft experiments permit. Further information is available at: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/so41.html [ANS thanks Turki Al-Saud for this information] ===== SO-50 SAUDISAT-1C Catalog number: 27607 Launched: December 20, 2002 Uplink: 145.850 MHz (67.0 Hz PL tone) Downlink: 436.795 MHz Status: Operational. SO-50 carries several experiments, including a mode J FM amateur repeater experiment operating on 145.850 MHz uplink and 436.800 MHz downlink. The repeater is available to amateurs worldwide as power permits, using a 67.0 Hertz tone on the uplink, for on-demand activation. [ANS thanks Turki Al-Saud for this information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-320.S2 WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 2 AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 320.S2 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, NOVEMBER 16, 2003 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-320.S2 UO-11 OSCAR-11 Catalog number: 14781 Launched: March 1, 1984 Downlink: 145.826 MHz FM (1200-baud AFSK) Mode-S Beacon: 2401.500 MHz Status: Semi-operational. OSCAR-11 now operates in a default mode, controlled by the watch-dog timer. The satellite transmits continuous ASCII telemetry for about 8 - 9 days on 145.826 MHz., followed by about 10 - 12 days of silence. These times appear to be somewhat variable, and this regular sequence might be interrupted by ground control. The mode-S beacon on 2401.5 MHz transmits continuously. At the present time, ground control are unable to command the satellite, due to low temperatures affecting the command decoder. They will attempt to command the satellite when the command decoder temperature has risen to 15C. A Windows Soundcard program for displaying and capturing OSCAR-11 data is now available. This is MIXW2, a general purpose Amateur Radio data communication program written by Nick Fedoseev UT2UZ. You can download the program from http://www.mixw.net You need the latest version 2.07. Unfortunately the documentation for this version of MIXW2 does not cover the OSCAR-11 application. However there is a package of instructions and examples on G3CWV's website: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/ along with more information on OSCAR-11. [ANS thanks Clive Wallis, G3CWV, for OSCAR-11 status information] ===== AO-16 PACSAT Catalog number: 20439 Launch Date: January 22, 1990 Uplink: 145.90 145.92 145.94 145.96 MHz FM (using 1200-baud Manchester FSK) Downlink: 437.026 MHz SSB (1200-baud PSK) Mode-S Beacon: 2401.1428 MHz Broadcast Callsign: PACSAT-11 BBS: PACSAT-12 Status: Semi-operational, the digipeater command is on. A WOD collection of current graphics along with general information and telemetry samples can be found at: http://www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu [ANS thanks Miguel Menendez, EA1BCU, for AO-16 status information] ===== UO-22 UOSAT Catalog number: 21575 Launched: July 17, 1991 Uplink: 145.900 FM 9600-baud FSK Downlink: 435.120 MHz FM Broadcast Callsign: UOSAT5-11 BBS: UOSAT5-12 Status: Operational. More information on the satellite is available at the following URL: http://www.sstl.co.uk/ [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for UO-22 information and Jim Weisenberger, AA7KC, for status information] ===== IO-26 ITAMSAT Catalog number: 22826 Launch Date: September 26, 1993 Uplink: 145.875 145.900 145.925 145.950 MHz FM (1200-baud) Downlink: 435.812 MHz SSB Broadcast Callsign: ITMSAT-11 BBS: ITMSAT-12 Status: Semi-operational, the digipeater function is on and open for APRS users. On November 18, 2002 Alberto, I2KBD reported: The current configuration of IO-26 allows only limited telemetry in MBL (safe) mode. To enable full telemetry and digipeating, we must re-load the full IHT high level software suite. This was delayed several times, but we plan to do that in the near future. When the IHT code is running, the bulletin will announce that. [ANS thanks ITAMSAT Project Manager Alberto E. Zagni, I2KBD, for IO-26 information] ===== NO-44 PCSAT Catalog number: 26931 Launch Date: September 30, 2001 Uplink/downlink: 145.827 MHz 1200 baud AX.25 AFSK via W3ADO-1 Aux/Uplink: 435.250 MHz 9600 baud via PCSAT-2 (off) APRS Downlink: 144.390 MHz (Region 2) Status: Semi-Operational. PCSat is a 1200-baud APRS digipeater designed for use by stations using hand-held or mobile transceivers. Downlinks feed a central web site at http://pcsat.aprs.org The APRS-equipped PCSat was built by midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy under the guidance of Bob Bruninga, WB4APR. For more information, visit the PCSat web site at: http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/pcsat.html [ANS thanks Bob Bruninga, WB4APR, for PCSat information] ===== MO-46 TIUNGSAT-1 Catalog number: 26548 Launched: September 26, 2000 Uplink: 145.850 or 145.925 MHz 9600-baud FSK Downlink: 437.325 MHz Broadcast callsign: MYSAT3-11 BBS: MYSAT3-12 Status: Operational at 38k4-baud FSK. TiungSat-1 is Malaysia's first micro-satellite and in addition to commercial land and weather imaging payloads offers FM and FSK Amateur Radio communication. TiungSat-1, named after the mynah bird of Malaysia, was developed as a collaborative effort between the Malaysian government and Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. [ANS thanks Chris Jackson, G7UPN/ZL2TPO, for this information] ===== AO-49 AATiS OSCAR-49 (SAFIR-M) Catalog number: 27605 Launched: December 20, 2002 Uplink 435.275 1200-baud AFSK Downlink 145.825 9600-baud FSK (optional voice message) Broadcast callsign: DP0AIS Status: Operational. AO-49 (SAFIR-M) is a German amateur radio payload onboard the small German scientific satellite "RUBIN-2". AO-49 was built by the German amateur radio association "AATiS e.V." (German acronym for "Arbeitskreis Amateurfunk und Telekommunikation in der Schule", which means: 'working group for amateur radio and telecommunications in schools'). AO-49 is designed as a "store and broadcast" system for APRS based messages, dedicated for the use of schools in combination with the existing WX-Net and planned buoy experiments in Germany. No transmissions detected since the 1st of February 2003! It appears AO-49 is not properly aligned to illuminate the solar panels. This should end soon. Due to its orbit, AO-49 will be in a phase without eclipses until 13Feb03. Martin DG8UAU has written a small software program "SAFIR-M Decoder" to allow decoding of the received DATA0 frames. It is available at: http://amend.gmxhome.de in the section Aktuelles. Details on AO-49 (SAFIR-M) can be found at: http://amend.gmxhome.de Information about AATiS e.V. is available at: http://www.aatis.de [ANS thanks Oliver Amend, DG6BCE for this information] /EX