home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
HAM Radio 3
/
hamradioversion3.0examsandprograms1992.iso
/
news
/
amsat084
/
amsat084.txt
Wrap
Text File
|
1989-04-10
|
16KB
|
358 lines
**************************************************************************
* *
* THIS IS THE WD0GML-AMSAT-ST.LOUIS BBS 24HR 7DAY AT (314)447-3003 *
* 300/1200/2400 BAUD *
* Mike Parisey WD0GML SYSOP *
* Norm Newman NZ0Z Co-SYSOP *
* *
**************************************************************************
SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-084.01
AMASAT-ITALY TO BUILD MICROSAT
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 25, 1989
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
AMSAT-IT & AMSAT-NA Sign "Memorandum-of-Understanding" On MICROSAT
AMSAT-ITALY and AMSAT-NA signed a "Memorandum-of-Understanding" (MOU)
agreement allowing for the co-construction of a MICROSAT/PACSAT
satellite. This agreement allows for the joint construction of a
MICROSAT satellite with AMSAT-NA sharing fully its technology and
assisting AMSAT-IT in this endeavor. This represents the first time
that AMSAT-IT has ever attempted to build an OSCAR satellite. By
teaming with AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-IT will get to study, observe, and learn
about on all aspects of building a OSCAR satellite from "bending metal"
to integrating it upon a launch vehicle. Signing this "historic"
agreement for AMSAT-IT was Dr. Alberto Zagni, I2KBD, who was also
representing the ARI (Italian National Radio Institude); signing for
AMSAT-NA was Jan King, W3GEY, Chairman of the Board. This MOU was
signed in Boulder, CO on March 19, 1989. The new AMSAT-IT MICROSAT
will be known as ITAMSAT-1 and is expected to be finished and launched
within two years. The center for this effort in Italy will be in Milan
with Dr. Zagni being designated as the the Program Manager for
ITAMSAT-1. AMSAT-NA welcomes this "teaming agreement" with AMSAT-IT
and looks forward to the successful launch of another OSCAR satellite.
/EX
SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-084.02
AMSAT-NA TO OFFER TAPR BOARDS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 25, 1989
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
AMSAT-NA To Offer TAPR PSK Demodulator Boards
OSCAR satellite enthusiasts will now be able to obtain TAPR PSK
Demodulator kits from AMSAT-NA Headquarters thanks to a recent
agreement reached with TAPR. This agreement was reached inorder to
encourage amateurs to start building these kits now so that they will
be ready for the PACSATs to be launched later this year. By becoming a
"second-source" for these kits, TAPR is hopping to avoid a "last minute
rush" by amateurs to become "operational" once the PACSATs are released
for general use. For those who would like to learn more about this
particular kit, see ASR #135 or the ARRL's QEX magazine, Sept. 1987.
To order your PSK Demodulator board, call AMSAT Headquarters, at (301)
589-6062.
/EX
SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-084.03
AMSAT-NA JOURNAL
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 25, 1989
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
Articles Needed For Future Issues Of AMSAT-NA Journal
AMSAT-NA Journal, the "flagship" publication of AMSAT-NA will make its
debut in early April. Editor, Joe Kasser, G3ZCZ, requests that
amateurs who have a particular area of interest in OSCAR satellite
operations should consider submitting an article for publication. Joe
is particularly interested in the following "kinds" of articles:
1) Construction Projects
2) Technical Discussions
3) Operating Techniques & Procedures
4) DX News
5) Introductory articles about building & assembling an OSCAR station
6) Useful software programs you have developed
If you have an entertaining story you would like to share about about a
particular satellite operating experience, please submit it; if you
have a photograph pertinent to your OSCAR station or some activity
involving the OSCAR satellites, please send it in with a short
description of what it is about. The AMSAT-NA Journal is designed to
be a source of information about the current "going-ons" in the OSCAR
satellite world. If you know about a special activity which is
happening, AMSAT-NA Journal is where it needs to announced. All first
time authors will be given special attention to help you get your
article published. This new magazine is intened to be for all OSCAR
satellite users so submit your articles today to AMSAT-NA Headquarters,
P.O. Box 27, Washington, D.C., 20044, atten: Joe Kasser, G3ZCZ.
/EX
SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-084.04
AMSAT-UK CATALOGUE AVAILABLE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 25, 1989
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
AMSAT-UK Catalogue Of Publications, Software, & Kits Is Available
AMSAT-UK has many fine publications, satellite tracking programs, and
kits available for OSCAR enthusiasts. If you would like to obtain your
copy of their catalogue in order to see what is available, please send
a s.a.s.e to:
AMSAT-UK
Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ
94 Herongate Road
Wanstead Park
London E12 5EQ England
If you would like to call Ron, he can be reached at 01-989-6741 in the
U.K. between the hours of 13:00 UTC and 18:00 UTC.
Just recently released is the SATSCAN-II computer program which
displays satellite positions through graphical maps. Also, you can
decode the telemetry of AO-13/UO-11/UO-9 by obtaining one of the G3RUH
telemetry demodulators being offered by AMSAT-UK. And certainly if you
want to be ready for the future PACSATs, there is the G3RUH PSK Demodu-
lator boards. So send away for your copy of this catalogue and find
out what the "folks across the pond" have to offer all OSCAR satellite
users.
/EX
SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-084.05
MICROSAT PROGRESS REPORT #2
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 25, 1989
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
MICROSAT Progress Report #2 By Jeff Zerr
Jeff Zerr, AMSAT-NA's Engineer-in-Charge of MICROSAT Mechanical
Assembly presents the following summary of progress to date on the
MICROSATs:
1) MICROSAT assembly and construction site has been sucessfully moved
to a new facility last week in order to allow for more room. The phone
number at the new facility is (303) 530-7233. The new facility is
located at 5305 Spine Road in Boulder, CO. Volunteers meet every
Wednesday night at 7:00 P.M. and Sunday mornings at 9:00 A.M. Jeff
reports that a "make-shift" clean room has been built and is in
operation.
2) The MICROSAT Critical Design Review (CDR) was held the weekend of
March 18-19th in Boulder, CO. The CDR is a process where by the
complete satellite design is gone over in "excruciatingly painful"
detail in order to uncover any hidden "gottcha's" which might pop-up
later. Jeff reports that the CDR went very well and except for a few
minor problems, they can be readily solved. [In a future AMSAT News
Service Bulletin, a detailed summary will be given of this very
important CDR activity.]
3) Prototype receivers designed by W3IWI and built by W4PUJ were
demonstrated and "fit checked." The Battery Charge Regulator (BCR),
designed by Jon Bloom, KE3D, was displayed and it too also was "fit
checked."
4) YT3MV continues making excellent progress on his S Band transmitter
which will now fly on one of the MICROSATs as an additional experiment.
The reported efficiency of this transmitter is approximently 50 per
cent.
5) Tom McIntire, KB0BGZ, continues to supply battery "cradle" modules.
These specially designed "battery holders" are designed for the nicad
batteries which will power the MICROSATs.
6) Hugh Pett, has finished writing the software for the "boot-loader"
for the on-board V-40 CPUs on each of the MICROSATs.
7) Larry Kayser and Stan Kasmeric have now delievered all the 6.7
Amp-hr, 1.5 volt, nicad batteries for all the MICROSATs. All have been
tested and "conditioned" for space flight operation.
8) Bob Strickland has finished all the final revisions to his
Addressable Asynchronus Receiver Transmitter (AART) boards and he will
deliver them at the end of this month.
9) Don Struthers has a working model of the DOVE (Digital Orbiting
Voice Encoder) voice synthesizer. He is now working putting his
efforts in the software programming aspects of it now. Don is using
the commercially available chip, called VORTRAX SC-02, as the center of
this design.
Jeff wants to remind everyone that the final integration and check out
of the MICROSATs is planned for May 15, 1989! Volunteers are very much
needed to help make this happen. You don't have to live in Boulder to
become a MICROSAT volunteer. Jeff points out that many volunteers who
are making major contributions to the construction effort live out-of-
state. If you would like to volunteer to build something, Jeff will be
happy to send you copies of the necessary drawings. Please volunteer
today -- call Jeff Zerr at (303) 530-7233.
/EX
SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-084.06
SHORT BURSTS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 084.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 25, 1989
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
Short Bursts
All AMSAT-NA members should have received a letter recently from AMSAT
President Doug Loughmiller, KO5I, seeking each members support during
this crucial time. At no other time in AMSAT-NA's history has there
been a period where AMSAT-NA has had four satellites under construction
at one time! All members are urged to consider this important message
which Doug has felt it is necessary for him to communicate to each and
everyone of you at this time.
The following is the operating schedule for FO-12 for April:
DATE MODE OPERATING PERIOD
04/05/89 JA 14:12 UTC until 22:24 UTC
04/08/89 JA 21:45 UTC until 12:38 on 04/09/89 UTC
04/11/89 JA 12:51 UTC until 21:04 UTC
04/13/89 JD 13:05 UTC until 21:17 UTC
04/15/89 JD 19:30 UTC until 12:24 on 04/16/89 UTC
Effective March 15, 1989 the Operating Schedule for AO-13 was changed
as follows:
Mode B From MA 100 to MA 160
Mode JL From MA 160 to MA 200
Mode B From MA 200 to MA 255
OFF From MA 0 to MA 100
The final Bahn Coordinates for AO-13 after the attitude change will be
as follows: Bahn Longitude=210 degrees, Bahn Latitude=+5 degrees.
Listen to the CW/PSK/RTTY telemetry beacons on AO-13 on a downlink
frequency of 145.812 MHz/435.651 MHz and to AMSAT Nets for the latest
information on any operating schedule changes. The above operating
schedule will remain in effect until May 3, 1989.
AMSAT members are reminded that there will be a switch to Daylight
Savings Time on the first weekend of April. This time change only
impacts the 75M Meter and local VHF Nets! It DOES NOT affect the Inter-
national Nets on 20M and 15M -- they stay on UTC time. Please keep
this in mind so you don't miss any of the many regularly scheduled
AMSAT Nets.
/EX
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
THE FOLLOWING ADDED BY WD0GML-AMSAT-ST.LOUIS (314) 447-3003 24hr 7day
300/1200/2400 baud. This section may have additions through the week!
OPS NET NEWS:
The AMSAT Operations Net of March 18,1989, was held as
scheduled at 1600 UTC on a downlink frequency of 435.970
MHz. With only 21 minutes of "JL" time available till
Mode "B", the net was continued on 145.950 MHz after the
switch. Conditions for the net were very good on both
"B" and "JL". While most stations used the two-meter
uplink of "JL", Keith, W5IU, checked in via the 23-cm
uplink of the "L" transponder.
Andy, WA5ZIB, was NCS. Check-ins included: VE7DOX, W6HDO,
W7ID, W5IU, WB6LLO, K6TSK, WA4UPD, VK4ZQ and K4ZQX.
The following topics came up during the net:
1. ZRO Test - The next ZRO runs will begin in May after the
satellite is back to NADIR pointing. Results from the
March 4th run have some European stations providing
Z7 reports. The March 5th test has produced level 8
reports from W7ID, and others "down-under" in Australia
and New Zealand. "JL" tests will start in May or June.
2. 73 Magazine - The special satellite issue was mentioned.
It will have 17 articles written by AMSAT supporters and
Satellite enthusiasts from West Germany, England, New
Zealand, South Africa and the U.S. "73" was overwhelmed
with submissions and will have plenty of material to
keep satellite articles of some type in every issue of
the magazine through the end of the year.
3. Satfoxhunt - Although no discussion ensued, WA5ZIB
mentioned the efforts of N5BF, WB5CCJ and W5SXD to
prove the possibility of a satellite-based fox hunt.
4. A-O-10 - VK4ZQ, Roy in Brisbane, mentioned the FM'ing
on the A-O-10 transponder. Users have been asked to
QRT when heard in the downlink. Keith, W5IU, said that
he had not heard anything from the satellite in the past
few days. Although the bird is not yet in eclipse
season, we must assume that the solar illumination has
reached a critical level. A-O-10 is once again in
hibernation.
5. Mystery beacons on "JL" - W6HDO asked if anyone had
information on the Russian beacons heard on 435.947 MHz.
They send CW and use the callsigns UZ9XXZ and UZ9VXZ.
Are they on two-meter uplinks being transponded via 23
cm? What are they for?
6. March 11th Net - Keith, W5IU and N8IWJ were active for
nearly 45 minutes for the period of the March 11th net.
Although spin modulation was very difficult due to bad
squint angle, they persisted.
7. Next Net - The next AMSAT Operations Net is scheduled for
March 26, 1989 at 0530 UTC. That's Saturday evening,
local time. Come by and join us! If Courtney is
available, he (N5BF) will act as NCS, otherwise WA5ZIB
will do the honors.
73 de Andy MacAllister, WA5ZIB
AMSAT NA VP User Operations
AO-13 PSK MESSAGE BLOCKS:
The following blocks were received at WB6GFJ while watching telemetry. One of
them will explain the current activities concerning spacecraft attitude.
L
de VK5AGR 04Mar89 1330utc Peter DB2OS - I hq6 looked at the
squint angles resulting from the proposed attitude change of
AO-13 to 210/+5 on 13Mar89 for stations located in the Northern
and Southern Hemispheres. Squint `ngles of less than 20 degrees
occur in the Northern Hemisphere between MA 160 and 230 and be-
tween MA 135 and 200 in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore, your
choice of MA 160 to 200 means that stations in both Hemispheres
will have at least 40 MA units of good Mode JL. 73s Graham
M
de DB2OS, 03Mar89: *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE ***
until March 15 until May 03
Mode-B : from MA 3 to MA 110 ! from MA 100 to MA 160
Mode-JL : from MA 110 to MA 145 ! from MA 160 to MA 200 (*)
Mode-B : from MA 145 to MA 240 ! from MA 200 to MA 255
OFF : from MA 240 to MA 3 ! from MA 0 to MA 100
Attitude: Mar 06 179.5 / -5.1 ! New attitude: 210 / +5
(ALON/ALAT) Mar 13 179.6 / -5.8 ! (*): May change!
N
de VK5AGE/G3RUH 89 Mar 26 1150utc. A third magnetorque for 2
perigees (Orbits #596/597 & #597/598) refined the attitude to
LON/LAT = 206/4 Another session will occur during the peri-
gees of Orbits #598/599 & Orbits #599/600. This will result
in an attitude close to the desired 210/+5 - We'll upload
the final attitude to the CW/RTTY/PSK bulletins on 89 Mar 27.
73 from Oz de James (VK5AGE/G3RUH) and Graham (VK5AGR)
There were collected into ASCII using a new utility program created for the
P3C.EXE program. Look for details to follow on this utility in a few weeks.
The program appears to work, but we need to look for the typical hidden bugs.
73, Ross (WB6GFJ)