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1989-08-22
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**************************************************************************
* *
* THIS IS THE AMSAT-NA CBBS at ST. LOUIS MO, 24HR 7DAY AT (314)447-3003 *
* 300/1200/2400 BAUD *
* Mike Parisey WD0GML SYSOP *
* Norm Newman NZ0Z Co-SYSOP *
* *
**************************************************************************
SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-224.01
AO-13 MODE S BEACON FIXED
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 224.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD AUGUST 12, 1989
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
AO-13 Mode S Beacon Can Now Be Commanded Off During Normal Mode S Operations
AMSAT ground-command station operator Peter Guelzow (DB2OS) reported this week
that with the help of DF5DP and ON6UG he was able to make a major break
through in improving the performance of the Mode S transponder aboard AO-13.
One of the original problems which plagued Mode S users was the fact that the
Mode S beacon would not shut off as it was designed to do so during normal
transponder operations. Consequently, it was necessary to use exorbitant
amounts of power on 70cm to put a bring a copyable signal down in the 2400 MHz
passband. In short, Mode S users had to "compete" with the beacon for RF
output power. Among the many "eyeball" QSOs that Peter had at DATASPACE '89
at the University of Surrey two weeks ago, G2BFO and ON6UG make it known to
Peter the curious behaviour they had noticed recently everytime the Mode S
transponder was automatically switched on. They observed that there seemed to
be a slight delay sometimes when the transponder came on -- sometimes the
transponder would switch on, then the beacon would turn off, and then the
beacon would come back on a moment later and visa-versa. So after returning
from DATASPACE '89, Peter decided to investigate this report further. With
the help of DF5DP and ON6UG providing him with instantaneous feedback using
terrestrial packet links, Peter then sent several combinations of commands to
AO-13 and was able to "manually" command the Mode S beacon off during normal
Mode S transponder operation. This was the first time this had ever happened
and with the beacon turned off, signal reports were excellent. Moreover,
Peter says that he can now change the software to make this process happen
automatically. At this time it is not possible to say with any certainty how
much power it will take on 70cm to get into Mode S transponder with the beacon
off; but the "best" guess is that it will require less power. After next
week's busy transponder schedule change and attitude re-adjustment on AO-13,
Peter will begin work on changing the ground-command software. Peter adds
that he feels that something must have "changed" in the hardware since he
first did tests a year ago on the Mode S transponder. Look for further
updates on this important bulletin next week from the AMSAT News Service
(ANS).
/EX
SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-224.02
AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHED CHANGE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 224.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD AUGUST 12, 1989
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
AO-13 Transponder Schedule Change Planned For August 16, 1989
According to VK5AGR, AMSAT ground-command station, there will be a AO-13
transponder schedule change effective August 16, 1989. This change in
schedule marks the end of "full-time" transponder operation. AO-13 will now
start to encounter solar eclipse periods lasting from 3 minutes to 27 minutes
between MA 247 through perigee to MA 001. This means that the all transponder
operations will have to cease during this perigee time. Also, AO-13 will be
making an attitude re-adjustment from the current Bahn coordinates of
BLONG=180/BLAT=0 to BLONG=210/BLAT=0. The actual start of the this attitude
maneuver will be on August 14th. All users should take note that
magnetorquing will occur during the perigee passes of Orbits 893/894/895/896
from MA 224 to MA 31. Further magnetorquing may be required to "fine-tune"
the attitude and if this is necessary, it will be done during August 16-20th.
AO-13 users who have the G3RUH PSK 400 baud demodulator are encouraged to
observe the telemetry on AO-13 during these eclipse periods. Particularly
interesting are spacecraft temperatures during eclipse. Telemetry "watchers"
will be suprised at how rapidly the temperatures drop. The following is the
schedule for AO-13 until November 16th:
AO-13 Transponder Schedule
16Aug89 until 16Nov89
BLON/BLAT 210/0
Mode B: MA 003 to MA 160
Mode JL: MA 160 to MA 200
Mode B: MA 200 to MA 240
Off: MA 240 to MA 003
Mode S: MA 210 to MA 222
/EX
SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-224.03
AMSAT SHORT BURSTS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 224.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD AUGUST 12, 1989
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
AMSAT Short Bursts
Through the efforts of Sumio Nakane (JH3BJN), AMSAT-NA has received the
following operating schedule for FUJI-OSCAR-12 for the next few months:
DATE MODE OPERATING PERIOD
08/16/89 JA 02:40 UTC until 10:52 UTC
08/19/89 JA 02:00 UTC until 10:12 UTC
08/25/89 JD 00:39 UTC until 08:51 UTC
08/27/89 JD 00:53 UTC until 09:04 UTC
09/02/89 JA 22:37 UTC until 06:49 UTC on 09/03/89
09/05/89 JA 21:57 UTC until 06:00 UTC on 09/06/89
09/08/89 JD 19:15 UTC until 03:27 UTC on 09/09/89
09/13/89 JA 18:48 UTC until 03:00 UTC on 09/14/89
PLEASE NOTE: NO FO-12 OPERATION FROM SEPT. 15TH
TO SEPT. 25TH DUE TO SOLAR ECLIPSES!
09/26/89 JA 15:12 UTC until 23:24 UTC
09/30/89 JD 21:50 UTC until 12:44 UTC on 10/01/89
10/06/89 JD 20:29 UTC until 11:23 UTC on 10/07/89
10/10/89 JA 10:42 UTC until 18:54 UTC
There is a AMSAT 17M Net which is convened every Sunday evening beginning at
23:00 UTC on a frequency of 18.155 MHz. Acting as Net Control Stations (NCS)
are KO5I and N4QQ. This net provides another opportunity for those who cannot
listen to the AMSAT nets on Sunday afternoon to still find out what is happen-
ing in the world of amateur radio satellites. So join KO5I and N4QQ on Sunday
evenings for this new AMSAT HF net.
de DB2OS 01May89: *** AO-10 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE ***
14Jul89 to 01Sep89
Mode-B : from MA 000 to MA 255
AMSAT-NA is soliciting papers for presentation at and/or publication in the
proceedings of its 1989 Space Symposium. Areas of interest include research,
development, engineering, funding, construction, management and operation of
OSCAR (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio) communications and
scientific spacecraft and associated communications networks. Submissions or
questions should be forwarded to: Ralph Wallio, W0RPK, CITS Chairman-AMSAT'89,
1250 Highway G24, Indianola, IA 50125. Or you can reach Ralph at the
following "land-line" numbers: Home:(515) 961-6406 or Office: (515) 224-8034.
On packet-radio you can send him messages via packet BBS W0AK. Also, if you
would like to receive a "information" packet about the AMSAT-NA Space
Symposium to be held on November 3-6th of this year in Des Moines, IA, please
send Ralph a s.a.s.e. with one unit of postage.
WB6LLO suggest that those wishing to experiment with packet on AO-13 should
look for him using PSK on the following frequencies:
Mode B-145.870 down, approx. 435.530 up
Mode J-435.950 down, approx. 144.460 up
WB6LLO mentions that if you are having difficulty "connecting" with him that
you can meet him up 10 KHz for a voice contact, that is, on Mode B at 145.880
MHz or on Mode J at 435.960 MHz
/EX
FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH!
THE FOLLOWING ADDED BY AMSAT-NA CBBS at St. Louis (314) 447-3003 24hr 7day
300/1200/2400 baud. This section may have additions through the week!
STS 28-4 Elements:
Satellite STS 28-4
NORAD Number 09284
Int Des 1989 928D
Epoch 89 222.47191480 8/10/89 at 1119:33 UTC
Drag 0.00080814 Rev/Day^2
Element Set 4
Inclination 56.9997 Deg
RAAN 37.4554 Deg
Eccentricity 0.00081920
Argument of Perigee 311.1796 Deg
Mean Anomaly 48.8572 Deg
Mean Motion 15.90164428 Rev/Day
Epoch Revolution 30
Semimajor Axis 6679.9 Km
Period 90.56 Min
Apogee 307.23 Km
Perigee 296.28 Km
PRESS RELEASE:
From: THE WESTLINK REPORT
28221 Stanley Court
Canyon Country Ca.
91351
To: All Editors/Publishers
Sub: 1989 Young Ham of the Year
For Further Information Contact: Burt Hicks (805) 251-4488
August 9, 1989 - Los Angeles California. The Westlink Report
amateur Radio Newsletter and Yaesu U.S.A. are proud to announce
that 18 year old Erin Mc Ginnis, KA0WTE, of Topeka Kansas has
been named as the Westlink Report Young Ham of the Year.
Erin was chosen to receive this high honor for her ongoing
dedication to amateur radio public service activities, disaster
preparedness work and publicizing amateur radio. She was
nominated by the Kaw Valley Amateur Radio Club of Topeka with
which Erin has been a regular participant in numerous civic
events. Theses include stints as net control for the Washburn
University President's Rowing Regatta, Annual Railroad Days
Commemorative and the Exxodusters Parade. Other events in which
KA0WTE has participated include the KSNT Go Forth Celebration.
In the area of disaster preparedness work, Erin has displayed
amateur radio at emergency preparedness exhibits, is a regular
member of the local A.R.E.S. operation and participates in the
annual Field Day exercise. During the latter, the club stations
were taken out of the drill and turned to a NWS Emergency Call-
Out.
To help publicize and expand amateur radio in her community, Erin
has organized press releases and on-site television interviews
for the local and national electronic press, assisted in the
development and preparation of a city resolution declaring Field
Day week to be "Kaw Valley Amateur Radio Club Week" in Topeka and
both organized and teaches the club's fall Novice training class.
In addition to all of these amateur radio related activities,
Erin who holds a Technician class license is a recent Honor Roll
graduate of Topeka High School where she maintained a straight A
average during her Senior year. While in Topeka High School her
interests included dramatics, drill team, debate squad, various
social functions and amateur radio. She also held a part-time
job.
Erin Mc Ginnis comes from an all-ham family. Her father Steve is
N0HGX, mother Linda is N0HGY and her bother Matt holds the
callsign KA0WTF. All were licenses in 1985. Her primary interest
in on-air amateur radio operation, when time permits, is chatting
with stations from the British Isles. She also hopes to use
amateur radio to keep in contact with her family when she starts
Emporia State College this fall.
Erin Mc Ginnis KA0WTE will receive her award at the ARRL
Southwestern Division Convention Grand Banquet the evening of
August 26 in Los Angeles California. Making the presentation will
be its creator Bill Pasternak WA6ITF of the Amateur Radio
Newsline, Westlink Report Editor/Publisher Sanford "Burt" Hicks,
and C.H. "Chip" Margelli K7JA - Vice President of Yaesu U.S.A.
Yaesu U.S.A is the corporate underwriter of the Westlink Report
Young Ham of the Year award program. The company provides
transportation and lodging for the winner along with a major
prize in the form of amateur radio equipment.
Providing additional prizes are Falcon Communications of Newport
Beach Ca. which is donating a 150 watt / 2 meter mobile amplifier to
the club that nominated Erin and Gordon West Radio School which
will supply Erin's former High School with amateur training
materials.
-30-
Mode-S status update by K0RZ, August 12, 1989
MODE-S IS WORKING !!!
Thanks to the efforts of DJ4ZC, DB2OS, ON6UG, G2BFO, and DF5DP a
new command software configuration was worked out for the AO-13
Mode-S transponder. As a result, as reported by DB2OS, the transponder
PASSBAND can now be commanded ON and the BEACON OFF. Using uplink
powers the same as required for Mode-B, results in downlink signals
on 2400 MHz. that are 10 to 15 dB above the noise using a 4 ft dish
with a 1 dB preamp noise figure.
An additional surprise is that in addition to the normal Mode-S uplink
a portion of the Mode-B uplink passband also appears in the Mode-S
downlink. The required uplink powers appear to be the same whether
on Mode-B uplink or Mode-S uplink frequencies. Listed below are the
preliminary operating frequencies with The Mode-S PASSBAND ON:
Mode-S uplink: 435.601 to 435.637
Mode-B uplink: 435.471 to 435.507
Mode-S downlink: 2400.711 to 2400.747
The corresponding Mode B downlink frequencies for the Mode-B uplink
listed above is: 145.927 to 145.891 MHz.
Using Mode-S uplink frequencies produce no signals in the Mode-B
downlink. However, using Mode-B uplink frequencies produces signals
in both the Mode-B and Mode-S downlinks. Simultaneous cross mode QSO's
have been made by using the Mode-B uplink frequencies. No explanation
of the presence of the Mode-B uplink signals in the Mode-S downlink
has as yet been developed.
DF5DP suggests using the USB in the Mode-S uplink to help Mode-S
downlink users distinguish between Mode-B and Mode-S uplink stations.
Since the Mode-S transponder is non inverting, Mode-B uplink signals
will be on LSB and Mode-S uplink signals will be on USB.
I also understand from DF5DP that today DB2OS, Peter has loaded
the new software to the IHU and has set the schedule as follows:
Mode-S Beacon ON and Passband OFF: MA 146 through MA 149
Mode-S Beacon OFF and Passband ON: MA 150 through MA 159
Mode-S Beacon OFF and Passband OFF: All other MA values
Past History with the Mode-S transponder
----------------------------------------
THE Mode-S transponder was designed so that either the BEACON or
the PASSBAND could be enabled but NOT BOTH at the same time. The
PASSBAND is enabled by a CMOS logic line that comes from the IHU
(On Board Computer) and causes the Beacon oscillator to be turned
off and the an IF transistor switch at 10.7 MHz. to be turned on.
For whatever reason, the IHU was not able to switch the Mode-S
Transponder to Passband.
In the past, QSO's were made by forcing signals through the last
IF Transistor switch that was biased off. When the Mode-S unit
was still on the bench, K0RZ was able to force a signal through
the Passband with the BEACON ON and the PASSBAND OFF by increasing
the input signal level about 20 dB to equal the Beacon level.
The initial design level assumed 2.5 KW erp to produce a downlink
signal equal to the beacon. Not being able to turn the PASSBAND
ON, meant it took 20 dB more uplink signal or about 250KW erp to
equal the beacon level. 60KW+ erp produced a downlink within 6 dB
of the Beacon level. Now with the PASSBAND ON and the BEACON OFF
uplink signal powers are the same as required in Mode-B.
SEE YOU ON MODE-S, 73's
Bill, K0RZ
Problems with DOWN EAST MICROWAVE:
I wish to report a recurring problem with Down East Microwave. Last year
at Dayton 1988, I purchased 4 loop Yagi's from Bill. Two months after, I
called and asked where my antenna's were and they partially showed up, that is
the loops show up without the boom's. One and a half months after that,
I called and yelled a little and my boom's showed up about a month later.
Always one to be a damn sucker, I paid for one of Bill's new brick amps for
1296 this year at Dayton. It was based on the new bricks that have made
working on Microwave transmit equipment so much easier and had all the
right stuff, decent looking hybrid combiners for multiple bricks and boasted
70 watts out at a price significantly reduced from the alternative of a tube
amp purchased from somewhere near Cape Canaveral ;-). It is now 4 months
and a couple of inquiries later and I still don't have my DAMN AMP. I do not
recommend Down East Microwave to anyone. The equipment seems to be good but
the performance on getting the goods out the door to the customer seems to
be poor. Bill knows who I am and if he would do this to a director of AMSAT,
a V.P., a chief exploitee of AMSAT engineering (I do all the dishwashing
and bottle cleaning), then I shudder to think what he does to those people
with no public exposure. I WANT MY BIG MODE L SIGNAL and I will now have
to go get my money out of Bill and find an alternative. I suggest that you
don't try to take a cheaper way out either.
Bob McGwier, N4HY