QRZ! Ham Radio 4/QRZ Ham Radio Callsign Database - Volume 4.iso/digests/space/940132.txt

Internet Message Format | 1994-11-13 | 18KB

Date: Mon, 23 May 94 04:30:39 PDT
From: Ham-Space Mailing List and Newsgroup <[e-mail]>
Errors-To: [e-mail]
Reply-To: [e-mail]
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Subject: Ham-Space Digest V94 #132
To: Ham-Space


Ham-Space Digest            Mon, 23 May 94       Volume 94 : Issue  132

Today's Topics:
                          ANS-140 BULLETINS
                            DO-17 software
              Element set accuracy / antenna's (2 msgs)
                          Slipping Sat Ants
       WANTED: E-mail address for info from amsat.org (2 msgs)

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Archives of past issues of the Ham-Space Digest are available
(by FTP only) from UCSD.Edu in directory "mailarchives/ham-space".

We trust that readers are intelligent enough to realize that all text
herein consists of personal comments and does not represent the official
policies or positions of any party.  Your mileage may vary.  So there.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Sun, 22 May 1994 10:52:18 MDT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!library.ucla.edu!psgrain!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!alberta!ve6mgs![e-mail]
Subject: ANS-140 BULLETINS
To: [e-mail]

SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-140.01
AMSAT-NA COMMENTS TO NTIA

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 140.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 21, 1994
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-140.01

AMSAT-NA Sends Comments To the National Telecomunications & Information
Administration (NTIA)

The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation has responded to proposals con-
tained in a notice from the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA).  That notice, entitled Preliminary Spectrum Realloc-
ation Report, was released in February and was prepared pursuant to Title VI
of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993.  In that Act, Congress
mandated that the U.S. Government re-allocate to the private sector 200 MHz
of spectrum below 5 GHz, 100 MHz of it below 3 GHz.  Since Amateur Radio's
use of the microwave bands is on a secondary basis to Government applica-
tions, mostly military, this proceeding could have a significant impact on
our future access to these frequencies.

In its comments filed May 11 by AMSAT-NA VP for Government Liaison Perry
Klein (W3PK), AMSAT-NA asked the NTIA for wider amateur and amateur-satell-
ite service bands at 13cm than proposed in its Preliminary Report.  It pro-
posed that 2300 to 2310, 2390 to 2400 and 2402 to 2417 MHz be turned over
to FCC for allocation to commercial users.  In omitting 2400 to 2402 MHz
from this re-allocation, NTIA noted amateur satellite use of this band.
This would presumably leave 2400 to 2402 and 2417 to 245 MHz available to
amateurs.  The present 13cm amateur band consists of 2300-2310 and 2390-
2450 MHz.

AMSAT-NA proposed a primary amateur/amateur satellite allocation of
2400-2410 MHz plus access to as much of the 2410 to 2450 MHz band as
possible on a shared basis.  In support of this request, AMSAT-NA cited the
likelihood of greatly increased demand for amateur satellite operations in
the 13 cm band in coming years, far more than can be accommodated within
2400-2402 MHz; the unsuitability of 2417-2450 MHz for amateur satellite
downlinks because of interference from such devices as microwave ovens; and
the need to coordinate amateur-satellite allocations internationally so
that they are available on a global basis.  In addition, AMSAT-NA proposed
that a narrow band of 1-2 MHz, somewhere between 2300 and 2400 MHz, be
allocated to the amateur service on a primary basis to accommodate the
experimental weak-signal tropo and EME work now carried out around 2304
MHz.

AMSAT-NA comments were prepared by a group consisting of Perry Klein
(W3PK), Ray Soifer (W2RS), Jan King (W3GEY) and Bill Tynan (W3XO).

[The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank this group for the
 material used in this bulletin.]

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-140.02
LO-19 & IO-26 OBC'S CRASH

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 140.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 21, 1994
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-140.02

LO-19's & IO-26's On-board Computers Crash After A Single Event Upset (SEU)

It has been reported this week that LUSAT-OSCAR-19's On-Board Computer
(OBC) had "crashed" after having experienced what is known in the aerospace
industry as a Single Event Upset (SEU).  This phenomenon is caused by high
energy particles in space "effecting" changes in the "state" inside of
memory chips and/or other electronic components.  In simple terms, an SEU
will change a bit from a "1" to a "0" or visa-versa in Random Access Memory
(RAM) chips.  All MICROSATs have software specifically desgined to handle
this problem.  However, this software is not "bullet-proof."  The software
can only correct one "state" change at a time.  If two "state" changes
occur simultaneously, there is a good possibility that they will occur in
RAM memory locations that will eventually lead to an OBC "crash."

The problem with LO-19 was first noticed on 16-MAY-94 over Argentina when
LU1JBR was working it then he noticed suddenly that the satellite simply
"disappeared."  On the evening of 17-MAY-94, LO-19's ground command
station, operated by Norberto Pennini (LU8DYF) was able to successfully
reset the OBC.  AMSAT-LU ground station LU8DYF requests that all users of
LO-19 to PLEASE REFRAIN FROM USING IT FOR SEVERAL WEEKS!  The reloading
of the software will take several weeks along with extensive tests to be
performed to insure all is working properly.  AMSAT-LU requests that if
anyone was collecting telemetry between 17-MAY-94 at 02:00 UTC until
18-MAY-94 around 02:00 UTC that they please forward it to the following
addresses: via packet radio to LU8DYF @ LU8DYF.BA.ARG.SOAM and/or LU8DYF @
ON ANY ACTIVE SATELLITE, or via Internet to: [e-mail].  This
will certainly assist in the recovery efforts by helping the AMSAT-LU group
understand this crash.  All users are asked to please be patient as the
AMSAT-LU ground command team reloads the operating system software for
LO-19.

Alberto Zagni (I2KBD) also reports that the the same high energy eruption
that caused the LO-19's OBC to "crash" has also cause IO-26's OBC to "crash."
I2KBD reports that the problem occured about the same time period and
feels that this was due to the fact the Sun was spewing out alot of highly
charged particles.  I2KBD says that it will take several days to get the
"kernal" and Integrated Housekeeping Tasks (IHT) software reloaded.  He
too asks that all IO-26 users to please be patient as they bring IO-26 back
"on-line."

Please stay tunned to the AMSAT News Service (ANS) bulletins for further
status on the reloading and recovery of LO-19 and IO-26.

[The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank LU2DTZ, LU8DYF, and
  I2KBD for the information which went into this bulletin item.]

/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-140.03
WEEKLY OSCAR STATUS REPORTS

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 140.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 21, 1994
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-140.03

Weekly OSCAR Status Reports: 21-MAY-94

AO-13: Current Transponder Operating Schedule:
L QST *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE ***  1994 May 07-Jul 11
Mode-B  : MA   0 to MA 170 |
Mode-BS : MA 170 to MA 218 |
Mode-S  : MA 218 to MA 220 |<- S beacon only
Mode-S  : MA 220 to MA 230 |<- S transponder; B trsp. is OFF
Mode-BS : MA 230 to MA 250 |        Alon/Alat 230/-5
Mode-B  : MA 250 to MA 256 |
Omnis   : MA 250 to MA 120 |  Move to attitude 180/0, Jul 11
[G3RUH/DB2OS/VK5AGR]

FO-20: The analog mode will be continued indefinitely.
       [Kazu Sakamoto (JJ1WTK) [e-mail]]

KO-25: Please note that the KO-25 uplink was switched back to 145.980 MHz
       on about 10-May-94.  [K6OYY]

AO-16: Working well.  [WH6I]

LO-19: DON'T USE LO-19 UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE!  [LW2DTZ]

IO-26: IO-26 has sustained a SEU and users are asked to refrain from trying
       to use it.  [I2KBD]

KO-23: Operating Normally. [WH6I]

IO-26: Operating normally.  [WH6I]

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 [e-mail], 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

------------------------------

Date: 22 May 94 14:54:15 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Subject: DO-17 software
To: [e-mail]

Hi all,

    I am just curious if anyone has the program to decode telemetry
from DO-17.  If so, where can I get it from?

Thanks in advance,
Jon



**********************************************************************
*          Jon Duffin                   University of Utah          *
*       [e-mail]          Dept. of Electrical Engineering  *
*            KB7TJJ                                                  *
**********************************************************************

------------------------------

Date: 22 May 1994 21:24:40 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!usenet.ufl.edu!alpha.ee.ufl.edu![e-mail]
Subject: Element set accuracy / antenna's
To: [e-mail]

Hi all:
    I have a couple of quick questions, if someone can point me to a FAQ
which covers them, or perhaps just drop an e-mail message.  I have been
trying to work the MIR space station and two things have come up.  First
I am running STSPLUS and have obtained several sets of satellite element
sets, I have noticed that the different element sets give different! orbit
projections!!!!  What's up?, are the element sets only valid for a finite
amount of time?  How often should one get updated lists?  Secondly, I'm using
a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna with about 25 W from an IC-27A,  I can hear
MIR on occasion is there anyway to verify that MIR could hear me?  It seems to
always be busy, when(if) I get the opportunity to connect I'd like to be
sure that MIR can hear me.  Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
Mike

------------------------------

Date: 23 May 1994 07:57:43 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!agate!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!cleveland.Freenet.Edu![e-mail]
Subject: Element set accuracy / antenna's
To: [e-mail]

Mir is big, has lots of drag and is in a low orbit.  It would
have re-entered and burned up years ago if it didn't fire its
rockets ever month or three to reboost itself back up into its
proper orbit.  The reboosting seems to be done with a series of
burns spread over days or even weeks.  Of course, every time the
rockets are fired, the orbit changes, thus invalidating your
orbital elements!

Best bet for Mir - get elements weekly from packet or internet.

By the way, according to Jonathan's Space Report, Mir reboosted
last week.

Dave, N9LTD

P.S. For a real thrill, run the keps for the various PARTS of
Mir - Crystal, Kvant, etc.  Notice how, according to the Keps,
these objects are up to several minutes apart, despite the fact
that they are all bolted together!
##

------------------------------

Date: Sun, 22 May 1994 14:19:44 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!lll-winken.llnl.gov!noc.near.net!usenet.elf.com!rpi!psinntp!arrl.org![e-mail]
Subject: Slipping Sat Ants
To: [e-mail]

[e-mail] KB1SG ([e-mail]) wrote:
: I am sick and tired of climbing my satellite mast to fix my
: satellite antennas that have slipped on my fiberglass boom.
: I have the KLM long crossed yagis (very long booms).
: I have tightened the hell out of the bolts and am always
: concerned about cracking the #*$%^^@ fiberglass.
: I am somewhat new to satellite stuff ...  have I missed
: some obvious trick (or is everyone swinging around up there
: swearing at their antennas?)

Well, what NC1I/K1FO (ever wonder how they keep all those EME
yagi pointing in the same direction?) did was to use custom
clamps machined to match the boom/tubing diameter.  The idea
is to maximize the effective surface area.

I've found this works pretty well even with clamps made out of
sheet aluminum or square aluminum tubing.  I use a hole punch
to make holes in sheet metal.   For the latter I ended up using
a file....

This approach doesn't weaken the boom with holes.

--
Zack Lau  KH6CP/1           2 way QRP WAS
                           8 States on 10 GHz
Internet: [e-mail]   10 grids on 2304 MHz

------------------------------

Date: 22 May 1994 20:04:25 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!emory!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!umd5.umd.edu!w3eax.umd.edu![e-mail]
Subject: WANTED: E-mail address for info from amsat.org
To: [e-mail]

In article <[e-mail]>,
Scott Ehrlich <[e-mail]> wrote:
>I am looking for the contact address to obtain info from amsat.org.
>
>I've tried [e-mail] and [e-mail], but both messages bounced.
>
>Thanks.
>
>Scott
>

As the maintainer of the "Elmers list" for this newsgroup (among others),
I too would be interested in this information.   I know several people
who have AMSAT E-mail addresses, one or two being on the Elmers list
(such as Bob Carpenter, W3OTC), but don't have any official customer
service contacts for membership information, files, or mailing lists.

If you wish to submit information about AMSAT, or find out more about
the Elmers list and how to obtain a current copy of it, please finger
[e-mail] or send E-mail to [e-mail].

On a related subject, something that the moderator of rec.radio.info
(Mark Salyzyn, VE6MGS) and I are very interested in is who is relaying the
AMSAT-related bulletins like the Orbital Elements and Space News to the
[e-mail] gateway.  What is currently happening is that their
respective maintainers are submitting them to Mark who cross-posts them
to rec.radio.amateur.space and rec.radio.info (which causes them to be
relayed to the Ham-Space and Radio-Info mailing lists), then they appear
on Info-Hams (rec.radio.amateur.misc).   E-mail to the maintainers
reveals that they are not the ones doing the duplicate posting, a person
or persons unknown within AMSAT is.

It's certainly not our place to dictate how bulletins should be posted,
or even who should post them, but if they are going to posted to several
newsgroups, a simultaneous cross-post is most desirable (propagating a
single article within news that will appear in most modern newsreaders
only once, although it will be duplicated on the mailing lists).  Also,
if there will be multiple submitters to news of bulletins with packet-radio
BID's, they should use the Message-ID encapsulation convention like the
following:

SB BID$NNN @ DISTRIBUTION

becomes:

Message-ID: <bid$[e-mail]>

In this way any one news site will have only one copy of the bulletin,
regardless of how many submitters post it.

Mark is perfectly willing to help anyone manage the complexity in
properly formatting their bulletins.  This could be as simple as mailing
it to a different E-mail address ([e-mail]
instead of [e-mail]).

While rec.radio.amateur.space (and Ham-Space) is really the most
appropriate target for these bulletins (based on their charters agreed
to by a vote of the readership at the last newsgroup reorganization), in
the interest of cooperation, we would be amenable to simultaneously
cross-posting the AMSAT-related bulletins to rec.radio.info, r.r.a.space,
*and* r.r.a.misc (as it's still only one article being propagated) if
there is still a strong desire to relay these bulletins to their
"traditional" mailing list (we realize that some of the conventions and
procedures for relaying radio bulletins predate the rec.radio.info newsgroup
and not everyone is going to adopt our recommended techniques overnight,
if at all).

Mark and I would very much like to hear from individuals within AMSAT
who are interested in using the net to publicize their organization and
distribute their bulletins in the most invisible and bandwidth-efficient
ways possible.  An excellent forum for discussing some of these issues
with Mark, myself, and about a dozen other experienced radio information
maintainers on the Internet is the rec.radio.amateur Working Group mailing
list (rra-wg).  To subscribe, send E-mail to [e-mail].

73, Paul W. Schleck, KD3FU

[e-mail]

Maintainer, Amateur Radio Elmers Resource Directory

------------------------------

Date: 22 May 1994 20:23:31 GMT
From: ihnp4.ucsd.edu!swrinde!gatech!europa.eng.gtefsd.com!news.umbc.edu!haven.umd.edu!umd5.umd.edu!w3eax.umd.edu![e-mail]
Subject: WANTED: E-mail address for info from amsat.org
To: [e-mail]

In article <2rods9$[e-mail]>,
Paul W Schleck KD3FU <[e-mail], [e-mail]> wrote:

[...]

>
>Mark and I would very much like to hear from individuals within AMSAT
>who are interested in using the net to publicize their organization and
>distribute their bulletins in the most invisible and bandwidth-efficient
                                        ^^
>ways possible.  An excellent forum for discussing some of these issues

[...]

Whoops!  Freudian slip...

Of course I meant to say "most *visible*" :-)

73, Paul W. Schleck, KD3FU

[e-mail]

------------------------------

End of Ham-Space Digest V94 #132
******************************