SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-205.01 DOVE RECOVERY EFFORTS STARTED HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 205.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD JULY 24, 1993 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-205.01 DOVE-OSCAR-17 (DO-17) Recovery Efforts Started This Week! DOVE ground station control operator Jim White (WD0E) accomplished a major first step in the recovery of DOVE-OSCAR-17 (DO-17). With the assistance of Bill McCaa (K0RZ) thirty miles away, WD0E was able to send commands and listen to the results using an phone-patch between him and K0RZ. K0RZ's station, using a 4 ft diameter Mode-S dish and a NIR-10 DSP unit, was the S-Band "ears" for WD0E. Using K0RZ's excellent S-Band set up, WD0E was able to send commands and listen to DOVE's reponses quite clearly. The first command that WD0E sent was what he refers to as the "fire-code." This immediately reset DOVE's on-board computer to its most basic operating system software known as MBL. MBL is stored in DOVE's computer in Read Only Memory (ROM) chips. After having verified that the computer had re- set, WD0E then sent several commands to turn-on and then off the S-Band transmitter to be sure that the Telemetry and Command (T&C) system was functioning. After having confidence that DOVE was hearing the commands and reponding correctly, WD0E then commanded DOVE to send 30 frames of telemetry on its 2M downlink frequency of 145.825 MHz. While the 30 frames of telemetry was being sent, K0RZ was simultaneously recording and decoding it. WD0E points out that the major significance of this first step was that it assured him that DOVE's primary systems were still in good shape and that the receivers and transmitters were working normally along with the T&C system. From this point onward, Harold Price (NK6K) will proceed to reload the "house-keeping" software. If necessary, K0RZ has volunteered his station to assist in the DOVE "house-keeping" software reload oper- ation. With this sucessful first step, WD0E is very optimistic that DOVE can not only be restored to full operation, but it can be made to "speak" and perform its primary mission of education. Please stay tuned to the AMSAT News Service (ANS) bulletins for further updates on the status of the DOVE recovery effort. [The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank Jim White (WD0E) for providing the details of this bulletin item.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-205.02 CALL FOR PAPERS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 205.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD JULY 24, 1993 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-205.02 Call For Papers For the AMSAT-NA Space Symposium OCT 8-10 The 1993 AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium provides a unique oppor- tunity for you to share the valuable experiences you've had over the past year with the rest of the amateur satellite community. The AMSAT enthusi- asts of North Texas are working hard to make the 1993 meeting a "smashing success." But it can only be successful with your help. This is a call for papers to be presented and published in association with the Symposium this year. If you would like to submit a paper, simply compose a short abstract de- scribing the purpose and scope of the paper. Abstracts are due by July 30, 1993. The final draft of the papers are then due by August 27, 1993. Please mail all submissions to the address below. Presentations and technical papers are the meat of the AMSAT Annual Meeting and Space Symposium. Even if you will not be able to attend, please con- sider writing a paper for publication in the proceedings. Help us make this year's Symposium one to remember. Doug Howard - KG5OA 2517 Coldstream Drive Fort Worth, TX 76123 CServe Address 70233,3517 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ IF YOU RESPOND BEFORE 26 JULY, YOU MAY DIRECT THE ABSTRACT TO: Keith Pugh - W5IU P. O. Box 121576 Fort Worth, TX 76121 CServe Address: 76177,3306 INTERNET: w5iu@amsat.org /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-205.03 EME CONTACT FOR OSCAR USERS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 205.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD JULY 24, 1993 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-205.03 VE3ONT Provides EME Contacts For OSCAR Satellite Users The Toronto VHF Society, using the callsign VE3ONT, will use the 46M (150 ft) diameter radio telescope at Algonquin Provincial Park (grid FN05xw) during this year's ARRL International EME Competition. VE3ONT will be active the full weekend of each contest period, October 9-10 and November 6-7. Below is the schedule of operations: Date VE3ONT TX Freq. Listening range Approx. times (UTC) Oct 9 432.050 432.050 - 432.060 0445-1830 Oct 10 144.029 144.025 - 144.030 0550-1900 Nov 6 432.050 432.050 - 432.060 0340 1700 Nov 7 1296.050 1296.050 - 1296.060 0450-1730 VE3ONT will operate "split" and we ask that stations avoid calling us on our transmit frequency. VE3ONT will transmit and receive with left-hand circular-polarization (LHCP) off the dish on all bands. This means that after reflection from the Moon, signals will be right-hand circular polarized (RHCP). This will permit us to work stations with vertical, horizontal, or RHCP polarization. VE3ONT will transmit at the legal power limit on 144 and 432 MHz and 100 watts on 1296. Power amplifiers and receiving preamps are located at the dish feed. As users of a non-amateur antenna, we will not be in competition with other stations. Our intention is to provide an initial EME contact for as many stations as possible. Consequently, we strongly discourage duplicate or "insurance" contacts. Operation will be primarily on CW, although SSB might be employed depending on signal strength and number of stations calling. All operation will be "random" format, meaning that VE3ONT will accept no skeds. If conditions are poor, we will use a 30-second sequence in which VE3ONT transmits the first 30 seconds and listens during the second 30 seconds of each minute. Note that this is NOT the usual sequence for EME skeds. VE3ONT will maintain HF liaison on 14.345 MHz during daylight hours and on 3.818 MHz at night. We anticipate being able to work OSCAR-class stations with 100 watts of output power on 144 and 432 MHz; 25 watts should be sufficient on 1296 MHz. Photographs and technical information concerning the dish and VE3ONT's operation will be presented by W9IP and VE3ASO at the Central States VHF Conference and the Eastern VHF/UHF Conference. For clarification, contact Dennis Mungham (VE3ASO) (613) 998-7330/989-2339 or Michael Owen W9IP (315) 379-0161/379-5975. QSL to VE3ONT (Callbook address). /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-205.04 AMSAT OPS NET SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 205.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD JULY 24, 1993 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-205.04 AMSAT Operations Net Schedule AMSAT Operations Nets are planned for the following times. Mode-B Nets are conducted on AO-13 on a downlink frequency of 145.950 MHz. If, at the start of the Ops Net, the frequency of 145.950 MHz is being used for a QSO, Ops Net enthusiasts are asked to move to a frequency of 145.955 MHz Date UTC Mode Phs NCS Alt NCS 24-Jul-93 1930 B 70 N7NQM W5IU 31-Jul-93 1300 B 98 WB6LLO WA5ZIB 07-Aug-93 1530 B 72 WA5ZIB WJ9F 14-Aug-93 2000 B 90 W9ODI N7NQM Any stations with information on current events would be most welcomed. Also, those interested in discussing technical issues or who have questions about any particular aspect of OSCAR statellite operations are encouraged to join the OPS Nets. In the unlikely event that either the Net Control Station (NCS) or the alternate do not call on frequency, any participant is invited to act as the NCS. ************************************** Slow Scan Television on AO-13 SSTV sessions will be held on immediately after the OPS Nets a downlink on a Mode-B downlink frequency 145.960 MHz. /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-205.05 WEEKLY OSCAR STATUS REPORTS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 205.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD JULY 24, 1993 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT BID: $ANS-205.05 Weekly OSCAR Status Reports: 24-JUL-93 AO-13: Current Transponder Operating Schedule: L QST *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE *** 1993 Jul 24-Aug 09 Mode-B : MA 0 to MA 30 ! Mode-S : MA 30 to MA 55 !<- S transponder; B trsp. is OFF Mode-S : MA 55 to MA 60 !<- S beacon only Mode-BS : MA 60 to MA 105 ! Blon/Blat 150/0 Mode-B : MA 105 to MA 256 ! Omnis : MA 170 to MA 15 ! Move to attitude 180/0 09-Aug-1993 Please do not uplink to Mode-B between MA 25 through 40 as this will QRM the Mode-S users. Don't rely on gossip and rumor! Continuous up-to-date information about AO-13 operations is always available on the beacons on 145.812 MHz and 2400.646 MHz in CW, RTTY and 400 bps PSK. Also, these bulletins are also posted to INTERNET, ANS bulletins, Packet, PACSATs, etc., and can also be found in many international newsletters. [G3RUH/DB2OS/VK5AGR] MIR: RD3VR, QSL Manager for the MIR space station, reports that he often receives many letters with QSL cards for MIR contacts. He wants to assure everyone who is kind enough to include write a letter that they are read. RD3VR asks that all who send QSL cards to please enclose your QSLs in a sealed envelope. Also, please send him QSL cards for contacts made only made after 01-JAN-93. And one final request from the QSL Manager of MIR, he asks that you also include a self-addressed-stamped-envelope (SASE) with your QSL card. If you have additional questions about QSL cards and the MIR space staion, you can direct your questions to him at the following packet radio addresses: RV3DR@R2MIR-1 or RV3DR@RK3KP.MSK.RUS.EU. Please send your QSL cards to either of the following addresses: RV3DR-Serge Samburov, Space QSL Manager P.O. BOX 141070, BOX 73, Kaliningrad-10 city, Moscow Area, RUSSIA. or direct: P.O.141070,Kaliningrad city, Moscow Area, prospekt Cosmonavtov, dom 36, kw 96, RUSSIA The South American QSL Manager for MIR is LW2DTZ. His address is: Gustavo Carpignano M.Rosas 2044 1828 - Banfield Buenos Aires - Argentina For Australia, use VK3CFI's Call Book address. [Chief of Cosmonaut Amateur Radio Department NPO "Energia" RV3DR] FO-20: N0NBH reports that FO-20 is performing superbly in both its Mode-JA (analog) mode and its Mode-JD (digital) mode this week with out any prob- lems. [N0NBH] The AMSAT NEWS Service (ANS) is looking for volunteers to contribute weekly OSCAR status reports. If you have a favorite OSCAR which you work on a regular basis and would like to contribute to this bulletin, please send your observations to WD0HHU at his CompuServe address of 70524,2272, on INTERNET at wd0hhu@amsat.org, or to his local packet BBS in the Denver, CO area, WD0HHU @ W0LJF.#NECO.CO.USA.NOAM. Also, if you find that the current set of orbital elements are not generating the correct AOS/LOS times at your QTH, PLEASE INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL. The information you provide will be of value to all OSCAR enthusiasts. /EX