Text 717, 482 rader
Skriven 2005-12-10 21:01:11 av Amsat List (1:323/120.0)
Ärende: 
========
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE
ANS-345

ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, 
The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS reports on the activities of a 
worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in 
designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital 
Amateur Radio satellites.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to:

ans-editor@amsat.org

In this edition:

* AMSAT President's Letter for December 2005
* Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2006
* PCSAT2 Operations Guidance II
* ARISS Status December 5, 2005
* New Items at the AMSAT Online Store
* KO4MA Announces Possible Satellite Operation from KG4
* Houston AMSAT Net Moves Satellites
* N5AFV Announces FM Satellite DXpedition

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.01
AMSAT President's Letter for December 2005

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 345.01
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 11, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-345.01

Fellow AMSAT Members,

I am quite pleased as AMSAT's Executive Vice President to have the 
opportunity to fill in on this month's President's Letter while Rick, Barry 
and Gunther are hard at work on various fundraising activities for AMSAT.

It is a very exciting time to be a member and supporter of AMSAT.  One part 
of AMSAT's Vision is a constellation of High Earth Orbit (HEO) satellites. 
To accomplish this, it was recognized that the old method of working on 
single satellites in a serial fashion would not work and that several 
satellites would need to be constructed in parallel.  That is exactly what 
is now beginning to happen with AMSAT-DL's P3E and AMSAT-NA's Eagle 
projects.

Over the recent Thanksgiving holiday weekend, AMSAT President Rick Hambly, 
W2GPS, VP of Engineering, Dr. Bob McGwier, N4HY and Dr. Al Katz, K2UYH, 
President of Lintech and professor of electrical engineering at College of 
New Jersey, hosted a meeting for several radio amateurs and a student to 
tackle some of the RF parts of AMSAT-NA's Eagle project.

The attendees included:

Dr. Tom Clark, W3IWI, AMSAT-NA chief scientist
Paul Drexler, W2PED, Microwave R.F. designer
Matt Ettus, N2MJI, Gnu Radio project co-leader and designer of the USRP
                   (universal software radio peripheral)
Dr. Marc Franco, N2UO, Lintech, Inc. Engineer
Steve Hendricksen, EE student at the College of New Jersey
Jan King, W3GEY/VK4GEY, AMSAT founder, former VP Engineering,
                        and former board member
Paul Wade, W1GHZ, well know Microwave engineer whose web based
                  microwave handbook is read the world over.
Marc Zaharchuk, WA3CRM, Lockheed Space RF Engineer

Rick, W2GPS, got the meeting started with an overview of the project, our 
organization and the goals of Eagle.  Bob, N4HY, then discussed the overall 
RF requirements for the spacecraft, including the use of SDX as the primary 
linear transponder with the need to plan for an all-analog backup and for 
command receivers.  Tom, W3IWI, then gave a detailed analysis on the C-C 
Rider phased array of patches.  Matt, N2MJI, talked about Gnu Radio, the 
Universal Software Radio Peripheral, and his proposal for the CC Rider 
ground station which has been generously funded by Phil Karn, KA9Q.

As a result of the weekend, Marc, N2UO, who has years of RF experience 
including amplifiers in space, has signed up to do the envelope restoration 
(HELAPS) transmitters.  John Stephensen, KD6OZH, has signed up to lead the 
receiver development and is working first on the 70 cm receiver.  Paul, 
W1GHZ, has agreed to design a critical component for CC Rider, the bandpass 
filter that will be needed to allow the transmitter and receiver to share 
antennas. Finally, Al Katz, K2UYH, President of Lintech, Inc. has graciously 
offered to host an RF facility for the AMSAT Eagle project at Lintech in 
Hamilton, NJ.  This provides the Eagle RF team with access to a large 
collection of lab/test equipment and a first class clean room facility for 
the development, construction and testing of Eagle's RF modules.

The RF group is not the only part of the Eagle Team making progress. The 
mechanical and structural group is also hard at work on the modules and 
spaceframe for Eagle.

One of the challenges in a project as complex as Eagle is managing all the 
data.  During the Eagle Team meeting in Pittsburgh the concept of using a 
Wiki based system was discussed.  From that discussion Emily, W0EEC, 
implemented Eaglepedia, which will enhance the updating and sharing of 
information on a scale never before seen on any AMSAT project.  Eagle team 
members are already uploading files and information and pending resolution 
of a few outstanding security issues, Eaglepedia will be linked to the AMSAT 
website.

While all this exciting activity is going on within the Eagle team, AMSAT-DL 
is also making steady progress on their P3E satellite.  As I'm writing this 
several AMSAT-NA members are in Germany working on the IHU-3 and other 
modules for P3E.  More details about the results of this meeting will be 
coming soon.

There is a lot of hard work being done by a lot of volunteers in many 
different locations.  All this effort needs your support to maintain the 
building momentum.  There are many ways to show your enthusiasm for getting 
these HEO satellites built.  Join the President's Club, donate directly to 
the project of your choice, join or renew your AMSAT membership.  All of 
these can be done through the mail, web site or a phone call to Martha in 
the AMSAT office.

73,
Lee McLamb, KU4OS
AMSAT Executive Vice President

[ANS thanks Lee, KU4OS for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.02
Straight Key Night on OSCAR 2006

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 345.02
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 11, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-345.02

Once again, AMSAT-NA is pleased to sponsor Straight Key Night on OSCAR for 
enjoyment by all radio amateurs.

OSCAR SKN 2006 will run for 24 hours, 0000-2400 UTC, on 1 January 2006. It's 
very simple: no rules, no scoring, and no need to send in a log. Just 
operate CW through any OSCAR satellite using a straight hand key, working as 
many other SKN participants as you can. Contacts via the moon (OSCAR Zero) 
count too.

As in past years, all participants are requested to nominate one of the 
operators they worked for "Best Fist" recognition. Your nominee need not 
have the best fist of those you heard, just of those you worked.

Please send all nominations to Ray Soifer via w2rs@arrl.net (Note the new 
address. Ray's old address, w2rs@amsat.org, only works sporadically now due 
to ISP problems.)

A list of those nominated will be published via the AMSAT News Service in 
early February, and in The AMSAT Journal.

[ANS thanks Ray, W2RS for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.03
PCSAT2 Operations Guidance II

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 345.03
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 11, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-345.03

Bob, WB4APR passed along the following info concerning PCSAT2 operations:

Since the purpose of the PCSAT series of amateur satellites is to encourage 
the development of more satellites for mobile communications, we decided to 
further modify the recommended operations plan for PCSAT2 to allow some 
testing from mobiles in the user service agreement. See:
http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pec/useragreemt.txt

We added paragraph 1b below:

1) PCSAT2 is for users and data applications. It is NOT for UNATTENDED 
beaconing of fixed text from fixed stations... except for remote data or 
environmental sensor experiments at low rates...

1b) However, since the PCSAT series of satellites were designed [to] promote 
a... capability for mobiles, the unattended beaconing from a vehicle at a 5 
minute rate for the purpose of assessing antenna or success statistics is 
authorized.

The caution still applies, however, IF PCSAT2 is using its 2m downlink on 
145.825, to make sure you are not transmitting during a pass when the ISS 
crew is using voice.

Our goal is to have enough Amateur Satellites always listening on 145.825 
AX.25 packet to relay short position and message data from mobiles anywhere 
on the planet, especially when they are out of range of the installed 
terrestrial packet infrastructure and Internet.

We also need more unattended ground stations listening on the PCSAT2 
downlinks and feeding the data into the global APRS Internet system. If you 
have a spare receiver, and a TNC, you are welcome to put it on either of 
these downlinks: 435.275 routine (PC2), or 145.825 (PC1 and sometimes PC2), 
or 145.825 for ARISS.

PCSAT callsigns:

Notice that the currently active calls are PCSAT-1 on NO-44 also called 
PCsat, and PCSAT2 (no SSID) which is on ISS.

The callsign PCSAT-2 is also on board PCsat but it is only used for 9600 
baud packet downlink and so is not involved in this current exercise. I see 
some stations trying to use the call PCSAT-2 and it will not work at this 
time.

As stated above, our goal is to have enough Amateur Satellites always 
listening on 145.825... and with both PCSAT-1 and PCSAT2 operating on the 
same channel that is giving most of us 12 passes a day to experiment with.

The goal is for a distant traveler in the wilderness to be able to get a 
message out a few times a day and for travelers to get their position out 
about once a day via this system. We think that with 3 or 4 satellites in 
orbit and travelers beaconing once every 10 minutes while on such 
expeditions, that at least one report per day will get back to 
civilization.. This could support hundreds of amateur radio wilderness 
travelers PER footprint.

[ANS thanks Bob, WB4APR for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.04
ARISS Status December 5, 2005

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 345.04
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 11, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-345.04

1. Massachusetts Contact Successful

On November 29, seventeen students from Hawthorne Brook Middle School in 
Townsend, Massachusetts each asked a question of Bill McArthur, KC5ACR. One 
hundred students, teachers, parents, and administrators, including the 
district superintendent, attended.  Among the seven media representatives 
who covered the event were those from four newspapers: Worcester Telegram, 
Townsend Times, Community Journal, and Groton Herald.

An article in the Community Journal is available for viewing by subscribers 
only until the article is one week old, at which time the entire article may 
be viewed by non-subscribers as well. See: 
http://www.thecommunityjournal.com/news/2005/1202/Townsend/034.html

One of the sixth graders present for the contact, (who did not ask a 
question), remarked afterwards, "I'll remember this for the rest of my 
life."

2. Canadian School Contact Successful

Students from the Ralph McCall School in Airdrie, Alberta, Canada 
experienced a successful contact with the ISS on Friday, December 2.  Bill 
McArthur, KC5ACR, answered 18 questions posed to him by eighteen students. 
The audience was comprised of 920 students from Ralph McCall, and 140 from 
the Chestermere School. Many dignitaries attended: Member of Parliament 
Myron Thompson, the Superintendent of Schools, one associate superintendent, 
a local School Board trustee, the mayor of the city of Airdrie, 4 City 
Councilors, Alberta education representative from the Emerging Technologies 
branch, and local high school principals. In addition, the principal from 
Sir James Lougheed Elementary School, the next Alberta school scheduled for 
an ARISS contact, also attended.  The contact received extensive media 
coverage. CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) 24 hour news channel, 
Newsworld, CBC local television, CBC radio, CTV news local affiliate, City 
TV, Global TV, Calgary Sun, Calgary Herald, 3 local Airdrie and area 
newspapers, and a Reuters writer all covered the event.
The CBC posted a story on its website, "Space station astronaut takes call 
from Alberta students." See: 
http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2005/12/02/astronauts-school051202.htm

This contact was carried live on the IRLP 9010 Discovery Reflector, and 
through streaming audio (shoutcast) on its companion website. Echolink was 
also used, and twelve connections were made from the following countries: 
Thailand, the U.K., the U.S.A., and Germany.

3. Russian Contact Successful

On Thursday, November 24, school children in Star City, Russia, had a 
successful contact with the ISS via amateur radio.  Among the audience 
attending the event were students, representatives from the Gagarin 
Cosmonaut Training Center (GCTC) and other cosmonauts.

4. Central Park Contact Update

On November 23, students from the Central Park Middle School in Schenectady, 
New York spoke with Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, on board the ISS. Fifty students, 
teachers, parents and others attended.  Four television stations covered the 
event, broadcasting the contact to approximately 500,000.  The Albany Times 
Union scheduled an interview with the school's public relations officer. The 
school is currently working with the Schenectady Amateur Radio Association 
and its after-school program to begin a ham radio club for students.

5. ARRL Article on ESA CERN and New York Contacts

ARRL wrote a web story on the ESA CERN and Central Park contacts entitled, 
"Spacewalks 'Thrilling,' Astronaut Tells Students during Ham Radio Chat." 
See:
http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2005/11/30/1/?nc=1

6. ARRL Article on PCSAT2

On November 29, ARRL ran an article on PCSAT.  "PCSat, PCSat2 operational 
information announced," may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/

7. SuitSat Status

The Russian EVA to deploy SuitSat has been delayed.  The new tentative date 
for EVA/deployment is February 2, 2006.

8. McArthur Active on ISS Ham Radio System

Astronaut Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, continues to thrill the amateur radio 
community as he makes general contacts via the ISS Ham radio system. He was 
active on November 30 over the U.S., and again on December 1 over South 
America.  He made additional contacts with stations in the U.S. over the 
December 3 - 4 weekend.

On December 1, ARRL posted a story on McArthur's contacts over the 
Thanksgiving holiday. "ISS commander cheers for Army in contact with Naval 
Academy's W3ADO" may be found at: http://www.arrl.org/

In anticipation of the Army-Navy game, held on Saturday, December 3, Bill 
transmitted a message via the ISS Ham packet radio system's beacon which 
read, "Go Army! Beat Navy!"

9. Astronaut Training Status

Congratulations to astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria, who on Wednesday, 
November 30, passed his amateur radio license exam.

10. Italian Astronaut Visits with School Children

On November 9, students from the Istituto Comprensivo F. Negri in Casale 
Monferrato, Italy, had the opportunity to speak with Bill McArthur, KC5ACR, 
on board the ISS.  On November 28, Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori, IZ6ERU 
attended a conference in Casale Monferrato and met with three students, ages 
10-11, from the Negri Institute, adding to the excitement of their space 
contact. Vitorri participated in two of his own ARISS contacts in April 2005 
with the Marconi and Malignani Institutes in Civitavecchia and Palmanova, 
respectively, and the winning school of the ESA competition in ESRIN, 
Frascati, Italy, during his Eneide Mission on the ISS.

[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.05
New Items at the AMSAT Online Store

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 345.05
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 11, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-345.05

Many new items have been added to the AMSAT Online Store.

In addition to the 2005 Wall Clock with weather station, there is now a 2005 
Desk Clock with weather station. Either clock is a really nice addition to 
your home, office or ham shack.

The 2005 23rd AMSAT Symposium Proceedings with all the articles that were to 
be presented at Lafayette is available for purchase.

A must have item, the 2004 22nd AMSAT Symposium DVD is also available. A 
year in the making, the DVD contains all of the proceedings, board of 
directors minutes, video, and audio of all the presentations and much, much 
more.

These items and more can be purchased with your donation at 
http://www.amsat.org and click on AMSAT Online Store.

[ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.06
KO4MA Announces Possible Satellite Operation from KG4

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 345.06
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 11, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-345.06

Drew, KO4MA wants to give amateur stations a "heads up" in regards to a 
possible Caribbean satellite operating opportunity.

Drew wrote, "This is still somewhere between tentative and confirmed, but it 
looks like I'm going to be in KG4 from the evening December 14 to December 
18. If I can secure the license upon arrival, I'll try to be QRV in the 
evenings and possibly early morning passes."

The best bet will be to look on SO-50, FO-29, and VO-52. Drew says he will 
post his latest updates on the AMSAT-BB.

[ANS thanks Drew, KO4MA for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.07
Houston AMSAT Net Moves Satellites

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 345.07
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 11, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-345.07

The Houston AMSAT Net, still on the W0KIE radio network, can now be heard on 
Intelsat Americas 6, 93 degrees West, Transponder 1, 6.2 and 6.8 MHz 
wideband audio.

[ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-345.08
N5AFV Announces FM Satellite DXpedition

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 345.08
From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD.
December 11, 2005
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-345.08

Allen, N5AFV says he is pleased to announce that he will be bringing his FM 
satellite gear on a cruise ship sailing from Port Everglades, FL to the 
island of Dominica and back.  He plans to work the FM birds AO-27, SO-50 and 
AO-51 using his Icom W32A HT and an AL800 telescoping antenna.

While Allen plans shipboard operation, and has done so successfully in the 
past, there is always the possibility that he will not be allowed to operate 
from the ship. If that happens, Allen will try to operate onshore at the 
ports of call where he can do so.

Itinerary
Dec 17, Leave Port Everglades, FL, 1700 EST
         Call signs N5AFV and N5AFV/C6A
Dec 18, Nassau, Bahamas, 0800-1600 local time
         Call sign N5AFV/C6A
Dec 19, At Sea
         Call sign N5AFV/C6A
Dec 20, San Juan, PR, 1300-2300 local time
         Call sign KP4/N5AFV
Dec 21, St. Thomas, USVI, 0800-1700 local time
         Call sign KP2/N5AFV
Dec 22, Dominica, 1200-1900 local time
         Call sign J79AFV
Dec 23, St. Barts, 0800-2300 local time
         Call sign FJ/N5AFV
Dec 24, Tortolla, BVI, 0800-1500 local time
         Call sign VP2V/N5AFV
Dec 25, At Sea
         Call sign N5AFV/C6A
Dec 26, At Sea
         Call sign N5AFV/C6A
Dec 27, Arrive Port Everglades, FL, 0700 EST
         Call sign N5AFV

[ANS thanks Allen, N5AFV for the above information]

/EX

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the 
President's Club. Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to 
AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits. 
Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office.

73,
This week's ANS Editor,
Al Marote, WA1LBG
wa1lbg at amsat dot org
----
Via the ans mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe ans" to Majordomo@amsat.org

--- ViaMAIL!/WC v1.60d
 * Origin: Chowdanet (401-724-4410) telnet://chowdanet.com  (1:323/120)