************************************************************************** * * * 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-077.01 AO-13 BEGINNERS GUIDE AVAILABLE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 077.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 18, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT "AMSAT-NA AO-13 Beginners Guide" Is Now Available From AMSAT-NA AMSAT-NA is proud to announce the availability of a new publication which is titled "AMSAT-NA AO-13 Beginners Guide" and is authored by Keith Berglund, WD5ZDP. This Guide was specifically written with the "first time" AO-13 user in mind and is designed to answer the questions which every beginner on AO-13 is usually pondering. Compiled into one complete source are discussions about all aspects of putting a satellite station together and operating AO-13. Keith has designed the Guide to start from the "antennas down" by including discussions about currently available antennas, rotors, preamps, and coaxial cable. He presents a drawing of a "typical" layout for a useful satellite array for OSCAR operations. Also, Keith discusses some of the currently available equipment on the market today and what one should look for when thinking about purchasing equipment in order to become active on the different AO-13 operating Modes. For completeness, there is a frequency guide which is in a format that will enable novice AO-13 users to "find themselves" on the downlink passband. At the end of the Guide is a complete list of all the AMSAT-NA Regional and Area Coordinators, their home phone numbers, and addresses. Likewise there is a complete list containing the times and frequencies of all "known" AMSAT HF and VHF Nets. This was included so that the beginner will have additional sources of information if he has more questions, and if an AMSAT Area Coordinator is located near by, he can see what an assembled AO-13 station looks like. One of the primary jobs of the AMSAT Area Coordinators is to act as a "Elmer" to all OSCAR satellite novices located in their Area. With that thought in mind, AMSAT-NA is pleased to offer the "AMSAT-NA AO-13 Beginners Guide" to all new or renewing members. Current AMSAT-NA members who wish to obtain their own copy of this new publication can contact AMSAT-NA Headquarters at (301) 589-6062. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-077.02 ASR #187 IN THE MAIL HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 077.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 18, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT ASR #187 Mailed This Week By the end of this week, all AMSAT-NA members should have received their copy of the Amateur Satellite Report, ASR #187. This issue of ASR contains a copy of the recent revision of the Bylaws adopted by the AMSAT Board of Directors. These Bylaws are the "governing instrument" which AMSAT follows as a non-profit Corporation. Because of the importance of these Bylaws, all members are urged to take a few moments to read and become familar with the "operating rules" of the Amateur Radio Satellite Corporation. As mentioned in ASR #187, if 10% or more of AMSAT-NA membership has objections to these recently adapted amendments to the Bylaws, they need to submit in writing to the AMSAT Secretary their objections. Upon receiving the objections from 10% or more of the membership, the Secretary is obliged to schedule a vote. If the majority of AMSAT-NA members vote in favor, the Bylaws will become effective. If fewer than 10% of the membership objects to the revised Bylaws, the Bylaws become effective 30 days after publication in ASR. There are several other fine articles in ASR #187 which members should find interesting. In the Editorial, John Champa, K8OCL, explains the current status of the monthly publications from AMSAT-NA. Also in ASR #187, AMSAT-NA President Doug Loughmiller, KO5I, explains the Board of Directors stand on the Code Free UHF License issue. Not to be missed in this ASR is Andy MacAllister's article about "Getting On AMSAT- OSCAR-13, What It Takes." AMSAT-NA will have one more "double" issue of ASR in about two weeks and then starting in April, the AMSAT-NA Journal will make its debut! /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-077.03 AMSAT PLANNING TO BE AT DAYTON HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 077.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 18, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AMSAT-NA Plans To Be Well Represented At Dayton HAMVENTION AMSAT-NA will be well represented at this years Dayton Hamvention, April 28-30th. AMSAT will be occupying Booths No. 447 and 448. AMSAT will also be hosting two forums for OSCAR satellite enthusiasts. The first one will be on Friday at 1:00 P.M. and will last about one and half hours. The second AMSAT forum will begin on Saturday at 3:00 P.M. and will last two hours. The topics of the forums are being planned to cover all aspects of OSCAR satellite operations. But the most important goal of these forums is to help all amateurs obtain the information they need to get the most "operating enjoyment" out of the OSCAR satellites. There will be a large number of AMSAT-NA personnel present at the Dayton Hamvention who will be ready to help, advise, or answer questions relative to satellite operations. Also, this is your chance to see and meet the many dedicated members of AMSAT who work very hard to bring you OSCAR satellites. So make your plans now to attend this "world class" Dayton Hamvention. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-077.04 "SATFOXHUNT" CONCEPT STUDIED HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 077.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 18, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT WA5ZIB Initial Tests Of The "Satellite Fox Hunting" Concept Promising Courtney Ducncan, N5BF, has recently finished a successful series of tests dealing with "geo-locating" his stations's QTH by measuring, recording, and processing doppler shift data collected by monitoring UO-11's telemetry beacon. The results of this series of tests indicate that using standard, "off the shelf" ham radio equipment, e.g., ICOM-271, Courtney was able to compute his QTH latitude to within slightly over one degree and his longitude to slightly over 4 degrees. That works out to a radial error of about 4 km! The software used to process this information and produce the results was written by Joe Bijou, W5CCJ, and runs on IBM-PCs or on IBM clones. Perhaps many of you are wondering at this point why would Courtney Duncan be interested in pin-pointing his own QTH? [PLEASE NOTE: "No, Courtney has not lost his mind!"] This is the first step in laying the ground-work for a new type of contest being envisioned using the OSCAR satellites which will become know as "SATFOXHUNT." The purpose of this contest will be to pin-point or "geo-locate" a "hidden emitter" located somewhere within the contestant's "range circle" for a particular OSCAR satellite orbit. The software to perform the complex calculations on the doppler shift data being developed by W5CCJ will be available to all amateurs wishing to particpate in this future contest. The results of this first series of tests by N5BF indicates that this is a viable kind of contest and is in keeping with the spirit of the ZRO Test. For those amateurs who would like to familiarize themselves with what is needed for this contest and who would like to "sharpen" their operating skills for the "SATFOXHUNT" contest, you can do so by "geo-locating" your own QTH using the software written by W5CCJ. To find out how you can acquire this software, contact AMSAT-NA Headquarters at (301) 589-6062. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-077.05 Short Bursts HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 077.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MARCH 18, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Short Bursts All AMSAT-NA members will be receiving a letter shortly 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 that it is necessary for him to communicate to each and everyone of you at this time. WB6LLO, Dave, reports that the next scheduled FO-12 operating time will be on April 5th between 14:12 UTC until 22:24 UTC in Mode JA. Dave reported that although FO-12 was scheduled to be in Mode JD on March 17th, he did not hear it operating. All operating schedules for FO-12 obtained by AMSAT-NA have been difficult to come by. This difficulty is is due to the continuing operational problems faced by JARL caused by a "negative" battery power budget, i.e., the batteries can only support a very limited level of user operations for a short period of time. FO-12 users should not be suprised if they do not find FO-12 in the "advertised" mode. Every effort is taken by AMSAT-NA to try to keep FO-12 users informed of the current operating schedule. /EX