SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.01 AMSAT Symposium Deadlines Approaching AMSAT News Service Bulletin 277.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 3, 2004 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-277.01 It is not too late to register for the AMSAT 2004 Space Symposium and Annual Meeting. The dates are Friday, October 8th - Sunday, October 9th. Our Saturday night Banquet Speaker is Astronaut Carl Walz, KC5TIE. Carl is a veteran of 4 space flights and has logged 231 days in space. Please note that although you can register at the door for the AMSAT Space Symposium, there is a cut-off date for the banquet and the bus. That date is Wednesday, October 6th. SO - if you planning to attend the banquet or go on the bus to the Hazy Center, please call the office ASAP. The number is 301-589-6062. [ANS thanks Martha, AMSAT Manager for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.02 Microsat Goes on Display at Smithsonian AMSAT News Service Bulletin 277.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 3, 2004 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-277.01 Dr. Perry Klein, W3PK reports that The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has installed the Microsat Mechanical Test Model last week so that it will be on display in time for AMSAT's 35th Anniversary meetings. They suspended it from the ceiling outside the NN3SI Smithsonian Amateur Radio Club station, located at "The Information Age" exhibit on the first floor, West end of the American History Museum. It's been a number of years since an OSCAR satellite has been on continuous display at the Smithsonian. OSCAR 1 was in the Hall of Satellites at the National Air and Space Museum for several years, but has since been in storage at the Smithsonian's Garber Facility in Suitland, Maryland. OSCAR 1 and PC-Sat are currently being readied for display at the Air and Space Museum's Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport when the Center's space exhibit hangar opens, expected soon. [ANS thanks Perry, W3PK for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.03 Echo Schedule Update - 25 Sep 2004 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 277.03 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 3, 2004 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-277.03 PSK31 Experimenters Wednesday Info from Mike, KE4AZN. Wednesday night I finally had a PSK31 signal to tune in and was able to get Echo configured for better audio in PSK31 mode. The improvement was very noticeable to the ear, and the one and only report I received from that time frame indicated 100% copy on 4 different signals. Unfortunately, that setup only ran one orbit before Echo was switched into another mode. I think we have something that can be worked with now. We will try another PSK31 session in the future and hopefully see good results as we learn to operate this mode on a satellite. For the record. We are using the SQRX wide band receiver to receive 10 meter signals on Echo. And the antenna is in fact the VHF whip on the +Z axis of the satellite. There are no changes I can make to the receiver from the ground. I do have control of a few parameters on the transmitter side, in the flight computer (IFC). If you look at the Echo Block Diagram, which has been published in many different places, you will notice three paths that the signal can take in the IFC to the transmitter. Those are Straight, Resistor, and CTCSS (which includes a resistor). For FM repeater mode we run either the Resistor or CTCSS path. This provides the best audio in that mode. What I found was using the Straight path, which eliminates the resistor, improved the output signal of the satellite when receiving on 10 meters USB. Also, the Amplitude of the Transmitters signal can be changed from the ground, and that parameter was modified with the straight path to get the best output. I did not have enough time during that one pass to be sure I found the best amplitude setting, but it was close. Next time we run this mode I feel like you will see a nice improvement in Echo's output. [ANS thanks Mike, KE4AZN for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.04 Echo Schedule October 2004 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 277.04 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 3, 2004 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-277.04 October 2004 Schedule for AO-51 AMSAT-Echo The October Schedule for AO-51 (Echo) is shown below. At the current time there are no plans to load new software up to Echo. If for some unplanned reason there is a need to work with Echo and deviate from the plan a note to the Echo page on AMSAT.ORG will be posted. All dates are UTC. The mode change occurs normally between 0100 and 0400 UTC on the date shown. The mode will be active from the date shown until the next Mode Change date listed. Mode Configurations are listed below the schedule. Please do not access the BBS system on Echo when the schedule calls for it to be off. The only time TXA will be turned on during a scheduled off period will be when the satellite is over a command station, and the command station needs to work with the satellite. Accessing the BBS at this time will only slow down and/or delay the command stations efforts. Also, check the broadcast message on the digital downlink. If it says the BBS is CLOSED then do not transmit on the digital uplink. October 2004 AO-51 (Amsat Echo) Schedule Updated 27 Sep 2004 Sep 30 FM Repeater, V/U, High Power Mode ON 9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS OFF, TXA OFF Oct 6 Experimenters Wednesday 38k4 Digital Downlink, V/U, PBP BBS OPEN for Users FM Repeater OFF, TXB OFF Oct 7 FM Repeater, V/U, ON 9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS, OPEN for Users Oct 13 Experimenters Wednesday No Mode Change Scheduled, Continue current Mode Oct 14 FM Repeater, V/U, ON 9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS, OPEN for Users Oct 20 Experimenters Wednesday FM Repeater, L/U, ON, Output Power TBD 9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS OFF, TXA OFF Oct 21 FM Repeater, L/S, ON 9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS OFF, TXA OFF Oct 27 Experimenters Wednesday TBD, Check back later for Planned Mode [ANS thanks Mike, KE4AZN for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.05 Partial list of Echo Operating Modes AMSAT News Service Bulletin 277.05 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 3, 2004 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-277.05 AO-51 ECHO MODES (list not complete) FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145.920 mhz FM, 67 hz PL Tone Downlink 435.300 mhz FM, Output 1/2 watt FM Repeater, V/U, High Power Mode Uplink: 145.920 mhz FM, 67 hz PL Tone Downlink 435.300 mhz FM, Output 2 watts FM Repeater, L/U Uplink: 1268.700 mhz FM, 67 hz PL Tone Downlink 435.300 mhz FM, Output ?? watt FM Repeater, L/S Uplink: 1268.700 mhz FM, No PL Tone Downlink 2401.200 mhz FM PSK31, V/U Uplink: 28.140 mhz USB, PSK31 Mode Only Downlink 435.300 mhz FM 9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS (Packsat Broadcast Protocol BBS) Uplink: 145.860 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital Downlink: 435.150 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital, 1/2 watt 9k6 Digital, V/U, High Power, PBP BBS (Packsat Broadcast Protocol BBS) Uplink: 145.860 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital Downlink: 435.150 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital, 1 watt 9k6 Digital, L/U, PBP BBS (Packsat Broadcast Protocol BBS) Uplink: 1268.700 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital Downlink: 435.150 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital, ?? watt 38k4 Digital Downlink, V/U, PBP BBS (Packsat Broadcast Protocol BBS) Uplink: 145.860 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital Downlink: 435.150 mhz FM, 38k4 PBP Digital, 1 watt 38k4 Digital Downlink, L/S, PBP BBS (Packsat Broadcast Protocol BBS) Uplink: 1268.700 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital Downlink: 2401.200 mhz FM, 38k4 PBP Digital, 1 watt [ANS thanks Mike, KE4AZN for the above information] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.06 ARISS Status - 27 Sept 2004 AMSAT News Service Bulletin 277.06 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. October 3, 2004 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-277.06 1. Investigator Centre Contact Successful The Investigator Science and Technology Centre in Adelaide, Australia, a non-profit center that provides educational programs to schools, welcomed Kilburn Primary School to participate in a contact with the ISS. Kilburn has an enrollment of approximately 130 students. About 20% of the students are Aboriginal and 25% are from non-English speaking backgrounds. The school focuses on Literacy, Numeracy, ICT and a Supportive School Environment, and many of the students have significant learning needs. On September 23, Kilburn’s fifth and sixth graders had the opportunity to speak with Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, via the telebridge station, WH6PN, in Hawaii. Students posed thirteen questions to Fincke, as an audience of sixty people looked on. The event was covered by the media, which included ABC radio (Australia’s national radio system), University Radio, a local FM station, and a newspaper. An article will also be published in the State Educational Journal for teachers. Mike Fincke used the Kenwood radio to speak to the children of Kilburn. This was the first time the Phase 2 hardware was used for school operations, and because this contact was successful, the ARISS team plans to use the Kenwood radio for the remaining contacts of Expedition 9. After the contact, the radio was placed in repeater mode, and will remain in this mode until the next school contact scheduled for September 30. 2. Upcoming School Contacts The Primary School of Montaud in Montaud, France has been scheduled for a contact with Mike Fincke. It is planned for September 30 at 1158 UTC. Two Poland high schools and a university will share an ARISS contact. All three schools are located in the Pomorskie Province. Gdynia Maritime University and Gdynskie Liceum Autorskie STO (High School) both located in Gdynia and Zespol Szkol Ogolnoksztalcacych Nr 5 (High School) in Gdansk are scheduled to speak to the ISS on Wednesday, October 6 at 11:55 UTC. 2. Marina Air Fair Contact Mike has expressed interest in a contact with the Marina Air Fair in Marina, California. This event will take place on Saturday, October 16. 3. ARRL Article on the Aoyama School and ESA ESOC Contacts The ARRL ran a web story on two recent ARISS contacts. Links to the audio of both the Aoyama Gakuin Elementary School and “Long Night of the Stars” ESA ESOC contacts may be found on their website. See: “Astronaut Thrills Audiences in Japan, Germany via Amateur Radio,” at http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2004/09/23/2/?nc=1 4. ESA ESOC “Long Night of the Stars” On September 18, an open house known as “Long Night of the Stars,” was held at the control center of ESA ESOC in Darmstadt, Germany. The highlight of the evening was the contact with Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, on board the International Space Station. There was wide media coverage including newspapers, magazines, news agencies, the Hessen TV station, and several radio stations. Over 120,000 people listened in on the contact. ESA ran an article on the event entitled, “Sell-out crowd wowed by ESOC's Long Night of the Stars,” and can be found at: http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/ESOC/SEMIP61XDYD_0.html The ARISS-Europe website also posted a story on the gala with a link to the audio of the contact. See: “ASTRONAUT MIKE FINCKE PARTICIPATES TO THE “LONG NIGHT OF THE STARS,” at http://www.ariss-eu.org/2004_09_20.htm 5. ARISS International Meeting The monthly ARISS International Teleconference was held on Tuesday, September 21. The main item discussed was the agenda for the face to face meeting scheduled for next month. The AMSAT/ARISS meetings will be held on October 8 – 13 in Arlington, VA. To view the agenda, see: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/symposium/agenda2004.php 6. ARRL Posts ARISS News on LM_Net The LM_NET list is a school Library Media listserv for school library media specialists and people involved in the school library media field. The ARRL PR Committee now posts news items to this listserv whenever an ARISS radio contact is scheduled in the USA during school hours. [ANS thanks Carol for the above information] /EX