[amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?
Stefan, I wholeheartedly support your comments. We made a conscious decision many years ago, that in retirement, we would support the Cubesat Program by downloading their telemetry, to give something back to the hobby. Being licensed nigh on 50 years ago and being part of the Amateur Satellite Service for most of those, I would like to think that these young Cubesat designers may become the Amateur Satellite builders of the future, but I doubt I that may be around to reap their rewards. Then again I have been mistaken before. Personally I do not care if a satellite has an OSCAR moniker, we just download whatever telemetry is available from the current Cubesat satellites to assist them in their ongoing analyses. This is not the first time this has been raised, as I remember a few years back, Bob Bruninga raising the topic in respect to one of the satellites he was involved in. Best regards, Colin VK5HI. -Original Message- From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Stefan Wagener Sent: Sunday, 13 November 2011 13:14 To: William Leijenaar Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ? Thanks, Cubesats working within the amateur radio frequency spectrum are commanded by licensed ham radio operators with the same rights and requirements as all of us. Many of them use the frequencies to downlink vital satellite information as well as scientific experiment data. All of this is well within the amateur radio service rules and a very positive contribution by our community to science and education. Your question are valid and they need to be addressed in a constructive, supportive environment where the community works together. I would encourage you attend one or more of the many annual cubists conferences and engage these folks. You certainly have enough to offer! Now having said that, cubesats are a wonderful addition, not a threat and show the diversity of our community. I am always amazed by the ignorance displayed and self-proclaimed expert label used by some as an argument to deny parts of our community their right to use small satellites with amateur radio on board. Interestingly, none of the amateur radio operators working with cubesats have ever argued against HEOs or denied the rest of us that right by questioning how and why we use the spectrum! Fortunately, AMSAT NA and AMSAT UK and many others have recognized the potential and the inclusiveness of the community. Enough said, Stefan, VE4NSA On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 3:34 PM, William Leijenaar wrote: > Hi Stefan, > > So the answer on my question if my 433MHz toy car, when I put it into space, can get an OSCAR number is YES! > According to the AMSAT website you mentioned of course... :-P > - My question was not specific if these satellites can or can't get an OSCAR number. > My intention was more if they should be scheduled as a ham-sat (and with that using ham frequencies). > > I would recommend you to read the following IARU website! > http://www.iaru.org/satellite/prospective.html > (especially section VI. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES) It says the following: > > "Organisations building satellites should compare their mission plans > to the requirements of the amateur-satellite service. Then, they > should determine if it is possible to comply with the requirements of > the amateur-satellite service or if licensing and operation should be > in some other radio service which is more consistent with the nature > and requirements of the mission. > > A. The purposes of an amateur satellite should be: > (1) To provide communication resources for the general amateur radio > community and/or > (2) To conduct technical investigations in all respects consistent with the Radio Regulations. [See RR S1.56 and RR S1.57.]" > > I have great doubts with many off those CubeSats, if they comply to number (1) > The only communication resources they provide is for themselves by a cheap downlink system, by using hams to receive data for them. This is not for the general amateur radio community as mentioned in number (1)... > > The option they have is to go to "some other radio service which is more consistent with the nature and requirements of the mission." > > 73 de PE1RAH, William > > > > >>Would recommend reading the info on AMSAT's website! >> >http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html > >>Stefan, VE4NSA > ___ > 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 express
[amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?
Not to mention the cost of launch to HEO. No one with the capability is giving it away or discounting it. John Sent from my iPod On Nov 12, 2011, at 8:43 PM, Stefan Wagener wrote: > Thanks, > > Cubesats working within the amateur radio frequency spectrum are > commanded by licensed ham radio operators with the same rights and > requirements as all of us. Many of them use the frequencies to > downlink vital satellite information as well as scientific experiment > data. All of this is well within the amateur radio service rules and a > very positive contribution by our community to science and education. > Your question are valid and they need to be addressed in a > constructive, supportive environment where the community works > together. I would encourage you attend one or more of the many annual > cubists conferences and engage these folks. You certainly have enough > to offer! > > Now having said that, cubesats are a wonderful addition, not a threat > and show the diversity of our community. I am always amazed by the > ignorance displayed and self-proclaimed expert label used by some as > an argument to deny parts of our community their right to use small > satellites with amateur radio on board. Interestingly, none of the > amateur radio operators working with cubesats have ever argued against > HEOs or denied the rest of us that right by questioning how and why we > use the spectrum! > > Fortunately, AMSAT NA and AMSAT UK and many others have recognized the > potential and the inclusiveness of the community. > > Enough said, > > Stefan, VE4NSA > > > > On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 3:34 PM, William Leijenaar wrote: >> Hi Stefan, >> >> So the answer on my question if my 433MHz toy car, when I put it into space, >> can get an OSCAR number is YES! >> According to the AMSAT website you mentioned of course... :-P >> - My question was not specific if these satellites can or can't get an OSCAR >> number. >> My intention was more if they should be scheduled as a ham-sat (and with >> that using ham frequencies). >> >> I would recommend you to read the following IARU website! >> http://www.iaru.org/satellite/prospective.html >> (especially section VI. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES) >> It says the following: >> >> "Organisations building satellites should compare their mission plans to >> the requirements of the amateur-satellite service. Then, they should >> determine if it is possible to comply with the requirements of the >> amateur-satellite service or if licensing and operation should be in >> some other radio service which is more consistent with the nature and >> requirements of the mission. >> >> A. The purposes of an amateur satellite should be: >> (1) To provide communication resources for the general amateur radio >> community and/or >> (2) To conduct technical investigations in all respects consistent with the >> Radio Regulations. [See RR S1.56 and RR S1.57.]" >> >> I have great doubts with many off those CubeSats, if they comply to number >> (1) >> The only communication resources they provide is for themselves by a cheap >> downlink system, by using hams to receive data for them. This is not for the >> general amateur radio community as mentioned in number (1)... >> >> The option they have is to go to "some other radio service which is more >> consistent with the nature and requirements of the mission." >> >> 73 de PE1RAH, William >> >> >> >> >>> Would recommend reading the info on AMSAT's website! http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html > >>> Stefan, VE4NSA >> ___ >> 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: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?
Thanks, Cubesats working within the amateur radio frequency spectrum are commanded by licensed ham radio operators with the same rights and requirements as all of us. Many of them use the frequencies to downlink vital satellite information as well as scientific experiment data. All of this is well within the amateur radio service rules and a very positive contribution by our community to science and education. Your question are valid and they need to be addressed in a constructive, supportive environment where the community works together. I would encourage you attend one or more of the many annual cubists conferences and engage these folks. You certainly have enough to offer! Now having said that, cubesats are a wonderful addition, not a threat and show the diversity of our community. I am always amazed by the ignorance displayed and self-proclaimed expert label used by some as an argument to deny parts of our community their right to use small satellites with amateur radio on board. Interestingly, none of the amateur radio operators working with cubesats have ever argued against HEOs or denied the rest of us that right by questioning how and why we use the spectrum! Fortunately, AMSAT NA and AMSAT UK and many others have recognized the potential and the inclusiveness of the community. Enough said, Stefan, VE4NSA On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 3:34 PM, William Leijenaar wrote: > Hi Stefan, > > So the answer on my question if my 433MHz toy car, when I put it into space, > can get an OSCAR number is YES! > According to the AMSAT website you mentioned of course... :-P > - My question was not specific if these satellites can or can't get an OSCAR > number. > My intention was more if they should be scheduled as a ham-sat (and with that > using ham frequencies). > > I would recommend you to read the following IARU website! > http://www.iaru.org/satellite/prospective.html > (especially section VI. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES) > It says the following: > > "Organisations building satellites should compare their mission plans to > the requirements of the amateur-satellite service. Then, they should > determine if it is possible to comply with the requirements of the > amateur-satellite service or if licensing and operation should be in > some other radio service which is more consistent with the nature and > requirements of the mission. > > A. The purposes of an amateur satellite should be: > (1) To provide communication resources for the general amateur radio > community and/or > (2) To conduct technical investigations in all respects consistent with the > Radio Regulations. [See RR S1.56 and RR S1.57.]" > > I have great doubts with many off those CubeSats, if they comply to number > (1) > The only communication resources they provide is for themselves by a cheap > downlink system, by using hams to receive data for them. This is not for the > general amateur radio community as mentioned in number (1)... > > The option they have is to go to "some other radio service which is more > consistent with the nature and requirements of the mission." > > 73 de PE1RAH, William > > > > >>Would recommend reading the info on AMSAT's website! >> >http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html > >>Stefan, VE4NSA > ___ > 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: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?
I would like to first say that yes, many of these Cubesats projects do a really poor job of providing information about themselves and they have a lot of room for improvement. Second that amateur bands are used not only for the fact that there are already established ground stations, but because getting licensed on some other piece of spectrum is a substantial investment of time and money, and many of the student projects simply don't have excessive reserves of either. Granted many of them would love to move off amateur bands, find a little open spectrum in the GHz range where they can blast data down at some incredible speed, in which case they could move more data in a few seconds then they could collect in a day, which makes things many design issues much easier. Alas when you tell a student to start filling out paperwork that may get a response before they graduate, and until then there isn't much they can do until they can lock down that parameter, chances are if they are smart they will run off to do something else like build a race car, or a robot and you loose someone else in the next generation of rocket scientist. Thirdly I have been reading the AMSAT-BB's for several months and I can see why there wouldn't be many people working on CubeSats hanging around. In order for anything productive to come of discussions like this, people from the CubeSat community need to be more involved but they aren't going to be inclined to do so when the conversations reads like dialog from "Grumpy Old Men". Nano and Pico Satellites aren't a simple evolution of existing technologies but a large paradigm shift, one which I don't think anyone even now fully understands. When you don't have thoughtful discussions between both sides issues don't get addressed, and everyone's feelings get hurt. I would suggest using cubesat.org as a starting point. Anthony Odenthal KE7OSN President Amateur Radio Club at OSU On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 13:34, William Leijenaar wrote: > Hi Stefan, > > So the answer on my question if my 433MHz toy car, when I put it into > space, can get an OSCAR number is YES! > According to the AMSAT website you mentioned of course... :-P > - My question was not specific if these satellites can or can't get an > OSCAR number. > My intention was more if they should be scheduled as a ham-sat (and with > that using ham frequencies). > > I would recommend you to read the following IARU website! > http://www.iaru.org/satellite/prospective.html > (especially section VI. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES) > It says the following: > > "Organisations building satellites should compare their mission plans to > the requirements of the amateur-satellite service. Then, they should > determine if it is possible to comply with the requirements of the > amateur-satellite service or if licensing and operation should be in > some other radio service which is more consistent with the nature and > requirements of the mission. > > A. The purposes of an amateur satellite should be: > (1) To provide communication resources for the general amateur radio > community and/or > (2) To conduct technical investigations in all respects consistent with > the Radio Regulations. [See RR S1.56 and RR S1.57.]" > > I have great doubts with many off those CubeSats, if they comply to number > (1) > The only communication resources they provide is for themselves by a cheap > downlink system, by using hams to receive data for them. This is not for > the general amateur radio community as mentioned in number (1)... > > The option they have is to go to "some other radio service which is more > consistent with the nature and requirements of the mission." > > 73 de PE1RAH, William > > > > > >Would recommend reading the info on AMSAT's website! > > >http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html > > >Stefan, VE4NSA > ___ > 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: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?
Hi Stefan, So the answer on my question if my 433MHz toy car, when I put it into space, can get an OSCAR number is YES! According to the AMSAT website you mentioned of course... :-P - My question was not specific if these satellites can or can't get an OSCAR number. My intention was more if they should be scheduled as a ham-sat (and with that using ham frequencies). I would recommend you to read the following IARU website! http://www.iaru.org/satellite/prospective.html (especially section VI. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES) It says the following: "Organisations building satellites should compare their mission plans to the requirements of the amateur-satellite service. Then, they should determine if it is possible to comply with the requirements of the amateur-satellite service or if licensing and operation should be in some other radio service which is more consistent with the nature and requirements of the mission. A. The purposes of an amateur satellite should be: (1) To provide communication resources for the general amateur radio community and/or (2) To conduct technical investigations in all respects consistent with the Radio Regulations. [See RR S1.56 and RR S1.57.]" I have great doubts with many off those CubeSats, if they comply to number (1) The only communication resources they provide is for themselves by a cheap downlink system, by using hams to receive data for them. This is not for the general amateur radio community as mentioned in number (1)... The option they have is to go to "some other radio service which is more consistent with the nature and requirements of the mission." 73 de PE1RAH, William >Would recommend reading the info on AMSAT's website! > >http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html > >Stefan, VE4NSA ___ 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: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?
Just my 2 cents worth, Whichever side of the debate you happen to be on, and I can see both sides, there is one thing to be said in favour of the so called "beep sats" They keep our frequencies warm whilst we wait for bigger and better satellites 73 John G7HIA From: i8cvs To: William Leijenaar ; Amsat - BBs Sent: Saturday, 12 November, 2011 19:55:25 Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ? - Original Message - From: "William Leijenaar" To: Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 12:32 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] OSCAR or not OSCAR ? On Saturday, November 12, 2011 12:32 PM, William Leijenaar wrote: Hello AMSATs, As we all know OSCAR is the abbreviatie of Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. To my opinion the function of OSCAR satellites is to facilitate communication between amateur radio stations using amateur radio frequencies and/or do experiments on those radio frequencies. Can someone tell me how it is possible that many of the newer small satellites get a license to use ham radio satellite frequencies for only broadcasting data ? Many of these satellite missions are even not ham related, and those satellites only have a broadcast (downlink) radio onboard. Is this nowadays seen as amateur radio communication ? The word "Education" I read in many of the university CubeSat projects. Doing experiments on ham radio frequencies is like education, and I fully support this even when it is only available as a downlink at a CubeSat. When it comes to the education of building a satellite, with no ham related experiments, and where the amateur frequencies and the amateur community is used to collect only none ham payload data, I don't see this as a ham satellite. Then a 433MHz remote control toy-car should also be named a ham radio. We just ask one of those ISS astronauts to throw this toy-car out of the space station and we have another amateur satellite :o) I just wonder where is the border between an OSCAR and a satellite that uses ham radio frequencies for downloading its (none ham) payload data ? 73 de PE1RAH, William Leijenaar Hi William, PE1RAH Yes, I agree with you, but you and I we are talking always to the same people and some of them probably with their own interest as they are closely connected to some CubeSat projects. Most of them have no "satellite ham spirit" since they did not make the experience we did with OSCAR-6-7-8 + the RS + the FO and than with OSCAR-10, OSCAR-13 and AO40 My experience is, that they even don't want our support and advise.. from experience here in Italy, they don't trust and know everything better anyway.. they even don't trust other Universities within the same country, they see it more as a competition rather than a cooperation.. Every time I write"to my opinion the function of OSCAR satellites is to facilitate two way communication between amateur radio stations using amateur radio frequencies and/or do experiments on those radio frequencies" I get insult from the above people because probably you and I we are considered as two of those old "RF dinosaurs" that like to experiment into space RF circuits building equipments and antennas from the VHF to Microwave. I believe that things will change only when a HEO satellite will be in orbit, hopefully P3E, because everyone will switch to it abandoning the actual non ham payloads and will stop to collect telemetry data for no ham related experiments. Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?
- Original Message - From: "William Leijenaar" To: Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 12:32 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] OSCAR or not OSCAR ? On Saturday, November 12, 2011 12:32 PM, William Leijenaar wrote: Hello AMSATs, As we all know OSCAR is the abbreviatie of Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. To my opinion the function of OSCAR satellites is to facilitate communication between amateur radio stations using amateur radio frequencies and/or do experiments on those radio frequencies. Can someone tell me how it is possible that many of the newer small satellites get a license to use ham radio satellite frequencies for only broadcasting data ? Many of these satellite missions are even not ham related, and those satellites only have a broadcast (downlink) radio onboard. Is this nowadays seen as amateur radio communication ? The word "Education" I read in many of the university CubeSat projects. Doing experiments on ham radio frequencies is like education, and I fully support this even when it is only available as a downlink at a CubeSat. When it comes to the education of building a satellite, with no ham related experiments, and where the amateur frequencies and the amateur community is used to collect only none ham payload data, I don't see this as a ham satellite. Then a 433MHz remote control toy-car should also be named a ham radio. We just ask one of those ISS astronauts to throw this toy-car out of the space station and we have another amateur satellite :o) I just wonder where is the border between an OSCAR and a satellite that uses ham radio frequencies for downloading its (none ham) payload data ? 73 de PE1RAH, William Leijenaar Hi William, PE1RAH Yes, I agree with you, but you and I we are talking always to the same people and some of them probably with their own interest as they are closely connected to some CubeSat projects. Most of them have no "satellite ham spirit" since they did not make the experience we did with OSCAR-6-7-8 + the RS + the FO and than with OSCAR-10, OSCAR-13 and AO40 My experience is, that they even don't want our support and advise.. from experience here in Italy, they don't trust and know everything better anyway.. they even don't trust other Universities within the same country, they see it more as a competition rather than a cooperation.. Every time I write"to my opinion the function of OSCAR satellites is to facilitate two way communication between amateur radio stations using amateur radio frequencies and/or do experiments on those radio frequencies" I get insult from the above people because probably you and I we are considered as two of those old "RF dinosaurs" that like to experiment into space RF circuits building equipments and antennas from the VHF to Microwave. I believe that things will change only when a HEO satellite will be in orbit, hopefully P3E, because everyone will switch to it abandoning the actual non ham payloads and will stop to collect telemetry data for no ham related experiments. Best 73" de i8CVS Domenico ___ 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: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?
Would recommend reading the info on AMSAT's website! http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html Stefan, VE4NSA On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 6:13 AM, DF2MZ wrote: > William, > > you have a good point there, that needs some discussion indeed. > > Actually I do support the participation of radio amateurs in this kind of > scientific effort. I find it very interesting and I am willing to spend some > time and even money on it. > > However, I am frequently quite frustrated because these projects are often > not well documented. So me and many others waste a lot of time just by > finding out the signal parameters, modulation, how to decode, etc. > It is often difficult to find TLEs and up-to-date information about the > project and the status of the satellite. > > I think some of the project teams should pay more attention to provide as > accurate as possible information and documentation to the amateur radio > community. They have endless opportunities for that on the internet. > > Cheers > Edgar > DF2MZ > > > > Am 12.11.2011 12:32, schrieb William Leijenaar: >> >> Hello AMSATs, >> >> >> As we all know OSCAR is the abbreviatie of Orbiting Satellite Carrying >> Amateur Radio. >> To my opinion the function of OSCAR satellites is to facilitate >> communication between amateur radio stations using amateur radio frequencies >> and/or do experiments on those radio frequencies. >> >> Can someone tell me how it is possible that many of the newer small >> satellites get a license to use ham radio satellite frequencies for only >> broadcasting data ? >> Many of these satellite >> missions are even not ham related, and those satellites only have a >> broadcast (downlink) radio onboard. >> Is this nowadays seen as amateur radio communication ? >> >> The word "Education" I read in many of the university CubeSat projects. >> Doing experiments on ham radio frequencies is like education, and I fully >> support this even when it is only available as a downlink at a CubeSat. >> When it comes to the education of building a satellite, with no ham >> related experiments, and where the amateur frequencies and the amateur >> community is used to collect only none ham payload data, I don't see this as >> a ham satellite. >> Then a 433MHz remote control toy-car should also be named a ham radio. We >> just ask one of those ISS astronauts to throw this toy-car out of the space >> station and we have another amateur satellite :o) >> >> I just wonder where is the border between an OSCAR and a satellite that >> uses ham radio frequencies for downloading its (none ham) >> payload data ? >> >> 73 de PE1RAH, William Leijenaar >> ___ >> 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: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?
William, you have a good point there, that needs some discussion indeed. Actually I do support the participation of radio amateurs in this kind of scientific effort. I find it very interesting and I am willing to spend some time and even money on it. However, I am frequently quite frustrated because these projects are often not well documented. So me and many others waste a lot of time just by finding out the signal parameters, modulation, how to decode, etc. It is often difficult to find TLEs and up-to-date information about the project and the status of the satellite. I think some of the project teams should pay more attention to provide as accurate as possible information and documentation to the amateur radio community. They have endless opportunities for that on the internet. Cheers Edgar DF2MZ Am 12.11.2011 12:32, schrieb William Leijenaar: Hello AMSATs, As we all know OSCAR is the abbreviatie of Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. To my opinion the function of OSCAR satellites is to facilitate communication between amateur radio stations using amateur radio frequencies and/or do experiments on those radio frequencies. Can someone tell me how it is possible that many of the newer small satellites get a license to use ham radio satellite frequencies for only broadcasting data ? Many of these satellite missions are even not ham related, and those satellites only have a broadcast (downlink) radio onboard. Is this nowadays seen as amateur radio communication ? The word "Education" I read in many of the university CubeSat projects. Doing experiments on ham radio frequencies is like education, and I fully support this even when it is only available as a downlink at a CubeSat. When it comes to the education of building a satellite, with no ham related experiments, and where the amateur frequencies and the amateur community is used to collect only none ham payload data, I don't see this as a ham satellite. Then a 433MHz remote control toy-car should also be named a ham radio. We just ask one of those ISS astronauts to throw this toy-car out of the space station and we have another amateur satellite :o) I just wonder where is the border between an OSCAR and a satellite that uses ham radio frequencies for downloading its (none ham) payload data ? 73 de PE1RAH, William Leijenaar ___ 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