[amsat-bb] CAPE-2 Ground Station Software Lite Edition Published!
I am pleased to announce the first public release of the CAPE-2 GroundStation Software Lite Edition has been released. The software will help decode, receive data and send limited commands to the satellite in orbit. For more information, refer to the link below. Link: http://ulcape.org/cape-2-groundstation-software-lite-published/ For all users, please use this program when tracking CAPE-2, and try issuing both commands, and send us back the results. The data obtained from these commands are very valuable to the team, and we appreciate the help and support from everyone the past few weeks. Thanks and please email me at Rizwan at DigitalPhoenixProductions dot com if you need any help with the software. Sincerely, Rizwan Merchant Call Sign: KF5BNL Notice of Confidentiality This E-mail is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510-2521 and is legally privileged. This information is confidential information and is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. This email communication contains private and confidential information that is intended for the specific recipient, if you have received this communication in error please contact the sender immediately by phone or email to be removed from the contact list and please destroy all contents immediately. ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] ANS-342 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-342 The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation. ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including 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. The news feed on http://www.amsat.org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it. Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor at amsat.org. In this edition: * WD9EWK releases videos of working AO-73 * AO-73 added to LoTW list of recognized satellites * South Africa ZACube-1 Tshepisosat Telemetry Requested * New Award from The Star Comm Group * Listening Help Requested for Trailblazer and DragonSat * CAPE-2 Tracking Information Updated * Successful Launch of NROL-39 CubeSats * NASA Enhances 'Space Station Live' and Launches New Weekly Web Series * NASA Education and Virginia Space Grant Opportunities Available * See What You Are Missing if You Don't Receive Your Own AMSAT Journal * ARISS News * Satellite Shorts From All Over SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-342.01 ANS-342 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins AMSAT News Service Bulletin 342.01 >From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD. DATE December 8, 2013 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-342.01 WD9EWK releases videos of working AO-73 Patrick Stoddard WD9EWK has been working the new AO-73 satellite from his back yard. Most of the time, he has been using his normal portable all-mode satellite station - two Yaesu FT-817NDs, Elk handheld 2m/70cm log periodic antenna. On November 30 he replaced one of the FT-817NDs with a Kenwood TH-F6A - using its all-mode receiver to copy the downlink. December 1 he used an Icom IC-R20 receiver for the downlink. He's used these radios in the past on other satellites, and for some hamfest demonstrations on VO-52 Patrick had used the FT-817ND/TH-F6A combination. He has made a series of videos (satellite audio combined with slideshows) from several AO-73 passes he has worked. They are available at: http://www.youtube.com/va7ewk One of the AO-73 videos contains audio from two passes, and is about twice as long as the others which have audio from a single pass. After working these passes, he is convinced that this new satellite performs as well as VO-52, for both its uplink and downlink. This is a very good thing! AO-73 hears very well, as long as you're careful to match the polarization of the satellite's antennas. The downlink is strong enough to allow the use any of these radios as the receiver on higher passes. For lower passes, he will probably use his second FT-817ND for the downlink receiver. It is good to know that, at least on the higher passes, there are lots of options for a downlink receiver. On the same higher passes, he learned that he can cut the power down from 5W to 1W and even 500mW. High power is not necessary to be heard through the transponder. Patrick's next project with AO-73 will be using a FUNcube Dongle Pro+ as the downlink receiver, for both the transponder and telemetry, while working the transponder with an FT-817ND as his transmit radio. He reinstalled HDSDR and its ExtIO DLL for the Pro+ dongle on his 64-bit Windows 7 laptop, and it is working well. He will be installing the FUNcube-1 dashboard software. Patrick has an old netbook running Linux, and is curious to see how the dongle works with that operating system. His hope is to be able to use the dongle and a laptop as the downlink receiver, without being wiped out by the 5W signals from an FT-817ND. If all is successful, he believs he will have a new combination for his all-mode satellite station that he can use for upcoming demonstrations. Using the dongle and dashboard software during daytime AO-73 passes at hamfests would be something different, and a great thing to show off to the hamfest crowds. Patrick thanks all who worked on getting this satellite built and launched. "Even with the transponder on only for the nighttime passes, it has been fun to be on a new satellite so soon after its launch." [ANS thanks Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK the above information] - AO-73 added to LoTW list of recognized satellites New version (Ver. 2.7) of configuration file config.xml now available on Logbook server Changed in config.xml version 2.7: Added entry for AO-73 (FunCube) to list of recognized satellites Please log into your LoTW account, click on YOUR ACCOUNT - Your Certificates - download latest configuration file. This will update the satellite list and accept AO-73. You should be able to sign the QSOs with TQSL to make a TQ8 file with those QSOs. [ANS thanks Kathy Allison KA1RWY, ARRL LoTW Specialist for the above information] --
[amsat-bb] Unfortunate callsign
Unfortunate callsign on oscar.dcarr.org at the bottom of the page, some dill has entered a fake callsign that should really not be there in the first place. Look for the row labeled ISS-SSTV, there is only one entry. ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] WTB Yaesu CA-10 charger cup for FT-51
Anyone have one they will part with? 73, Drew KO4MA ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: AO-73 now on oscar.dcarr.org
Hi David, Thank you on behalf of the FUNcube-1 team! I hope the satellite status page will be used by many to indicate the activity. It would be nice to see the nighttime/daytime schedule appear in the data as Active / Telemetry only! Wouter PA3WEG FUNcube team On Sun, Dec 1, 2013 at 7:06 AM, David Carr wrote: > > I have been out of town for several days, but AO-73 should now be active > on oscar.dcarr.org. Please enjoy! > > 73s, > David Carr > KD5QGR > ___ > Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: help MixW
Nick, A quick look did not show a playback mode, though I could well have missed it. When I want to do this I use Virtual Audio Cables to go from the player of choice, usually Audacity, to the target program. The typical Flex settings work fine. I have used this with many terrestrial and space modes. It is much better to use wave files if available, though mp3 will usually work with low baud rate, robust decoding systems. 73s, Alan WA4SCA <-Original Message- mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Nick Pugh K5QXJ http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb < ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: AO-73 QSOs on the beacon?
Hi All, >From a design perspective, the transponder would require about 30 to 40dB more uplink power to produce a signal overlapping the telemetry. That signal would then be a maximum of 9dB above telemetry, compared to the rest of the transponder. Since the transponder is used, the power spreads between users, further reducing the effect. The telemetry signal and transponder are combined, with the telemetry stepped down 9dB, and the filter rejection for the transponder at the telemetry frequency is better than 30dB (40dB with some ripple, I measured 35dB rejection on the engineering model) The AGC acts on the composite output, so if no-one is on the main passband, the transponder will start running full gain (43dB extra). This will possibly reduce the required uplink power to actually overlap the telemetry. But this only happens on high power uplinks combined with no-one running in the main passband. As soon as someone triggers the AGC with a signal in the main passband, the AGC will kill the overlap. There also is FM-ing of the telemetry beacon, but this effect is small (~100Hz), and the BPSK decoder can cope with it. I think it is more likely that AO-7 was up, or some local intermod is producing this effect, but this effect being on the satellite can not be completely excluded. Thanks for sharing this information! Wouter PA3WEG FUNcube RF Board designer On Sat, Dec 7, 2013 at 8:25 AM, Michael Fletcher wrote: > > Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: AO-73 QSOs on the beacon? >>From: Michael Fletcher >>Date: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 08:55:41 +0200 (EET) >> >> >> AO-7, mode B, happens pretty often... >> > > As I noted earlier, the only few times I have heard traffic _on_ > the AO-73 beacon frequency is when AO-7 is above the horizon > in the sun and in Mode B. VO-52 downlink traffic comes close too > occasionally, due to Doppler and orbits, but not _onto_ the beacon per se. > > And my ancient FCD is running just fine, with a highly selective > HB LNA and a very sharp multicavity notch for my local APRS > repeater at 144.800 MHz. > > Michael OH2AUE > > > -- > > > > ___ > Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. > Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! > Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb > ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] help mixw
Is there a way to connect a prerecorded mp3 file to mixw ? nick Thanks nick Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: CAPE-2 Keps
Hi all 5.1 v is essentially the battery voltage on our li cells which is very bad news. We believe our charging scheme has failed and cooked our batteries. We now think we have no battery capacity . The good news we can maintain a positive power budget when we are in daylight. Please keep sending us your signal reports Thanks nick ARS K5QXJ EM30xa 30.1N 92.1W Office 337 593 8700 Cell 337 258 2527 Helping UL become a world Class Engineering and Educational School -Original Message- From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of g0...@aol.com Sent: Friday, December 06, 2013 6:06 PM To: py4...@yahoo.com; amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: CAPE-2 Keps Hi Roland. Nice data from CAPE-2. Curious about the unregulated bus voltage around 5.2V. Doesn't seem to fit with a single or double Li poly cell. However, if it's the output from 2 series solar cells, that might indicate the batteries are fully charged and we are seeing the max power point tracker backing off because nothing needs current. (hence the high voltage) All speculation. Sadly I need to be a few hundred miles further south to get a decent elevation. Thanks for the very interesting site. Regards David -Original Message- From: Roland Zurmely To: AMSAT Sent: Fri, 6 Dec 2013 23:14 Subject: [amsat-bb] CAPE-2 Keps In the last 2 orbits, object 2013-064C in tle-new.txt from Celestrack is the best match ! I decoded two AX25 framse in the 2 orbits: 1:Fm W5UL-15 To W5UL [19:02:26R] +W5UL,CAPE-2,e,OR,201301282000CST,5101mV,01018,e,27C,32C,ulcape.org# 1:Fm W5UL-15 To W5UL [20:42:24R] +W5UL,CAPE-2,e,OR,201301282004CST,5278mV,01019,e,28C,33C,ulcape.org# 73 de Roland PY4ZBZ ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
[amsat-bb] Re: Cape-2 Keps
At ulcape.org Try these 2013-064C 1 39382U 13064C 13340.77463025 .00029790 0-0 12885-2 0 279 2 39382 40.5057 152.7955 806 137.9724 222.1433 15.21802407 2547 nick -Original Message- From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Dave Marthouse Sent: Friday, December 06, 2013 4:42 PM To: amsat-bb@AMSAT.Org Subject: [amsat-bb] Cape-2 Keps Hi Gang, Where are the latest keps for Cape-2 stored? I don't see it in the amsat.org listings. Dave Marthouse N2AAM dmartho...@gmail.com ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb ___ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb