************************************************************************** * * * 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-126.01 AMSAT & DAYTON A GREAT SUCCESS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 6, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT The Dayton Hamvention '89 Was The "Finest" In AMSAT-NA History AMSAT-NA President, Doug Loughmiller (KO5I), is proud to announce that "this was the finest Dayton Hamvention that AMSAT-NA has ever partici- pated in." The list of volunteers supporting Doug at the AMSAT booth reads like a "Who's Who in AMSAT" with the following volunteers: John Champa (K8OCL), Tom Clark (W3IWI), Sue Crabtree (N0GUT), Jack Crabtree (AA0P), Ron Curry (WA4GSS), Courtney Duncan (N5BF), Rich Ensign (N8IWJ), Dave Filmer (WB9QBP), John Henry (VE2VQ), Jan King (W3GEY), Larry Koziel (K8MU), K.O. Lerner (K9PVW), Bob McGwier (N4HY), Keith Pugh (W5IU), Bob Rogers (W8JLE), Roy Welch (W0SL), and Jim White (WD0E). So intense was the attention given to the AMSAT booth by the attendees of the Hamvention, it was evident that there was always a major "traffic jam" in front of the AMSAT booth. Many a passerby was unable to resist the urge to come by to gaze at the MICROSAT model and also to stare intently at the computer monitors "showing off" QUIKTRAK 4.0 (QT 4.0) and ORBITS IV satellite tracking programs. The MICROSAT model used at Dayton was the vibration "test" prototype which had real solar cells and real antennas. Only the "innards" were fake. Many an amateur who had previously been uninter- ested in OSCAR satellites found themselves leaving the AMSAT booth not only a member but also with a copy of QT 4.0 in hand. Over 140 new members were signed up. In addition to satellite tracking software being a "big hit" at the AMSAT booth, so was the "A Beginners Guide to AO-13" authored by Keith Bergland, WB5ZDP. During the Hamvention AMSAT sponsored several well attended forums dealing with everything from "getting beginners started on AO-13" to MICROSATs to the Phase IV Geostationary satellite concept; the speakers were: K8OCL, W3IWI, N5BF, W5IU, W3GEY, KO5I, and N4HY with AA0P acting as "Master-of-Ceremonies" for each of the forums. In general, the enthusiasm shown for AMSAT at Dayton left little doubt that the amateur radio community supports AMSAT in all its major endeavors from MICROSATs to Phase IV. Doug Loughmiller would like to thank all those who came by the AMSAT booth to say hello and helped to make this the best Dayton Hamvention AMSAT-NA has ever had. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-126.02 MICROSAT BANDPLAN EXPLANATION HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 6, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT MICROSAT/LUSAT/PACSAT Frequency Selection Done With Great Care It has been brought to the attention of AMSAT-NA officials that there is a small but vocal minority of radio amateurs who have been questioning the MICROSAT/LUSAT/PACSAT frequency bandplan. As has been announced in articles in AMSAT-NA Journal and "73 Magazine," the uplink frequencies for LUSAT will be the following: 145.840 MHz, 145.860 MHz, 145.880 MHz, and 145.900 MHz; for PACSAT the uplink frequencies will be 145.900 MHz, 145.920 MHz, 145.940 MHz, and 145.960 MHz. The downlink frequencies for LUSAT and PACSAT will be 437.150 MHz and 437.050 MHz, respectively. AMSAT-NA officials wish to briefly explain the logic for choosing these frequencies for these "store-and-forward" OSCAR satellites. LUSAT/PACSAT uplink frequencies are all located within the portion of the 2M spectrum designated for the "Amateur Satellite Service" which on 2M includes 145.800-146.000 MHz and on 70cm it includes 435.000-438.000 MHz. Currently the following OSCAR satellites use these frequencies: AO-10, AO-13, FO-12, UO-9, UO-11, and to a limited degree, RS 10/11. However, in many parts of the world, the portion of the spectrum from 145.800-146.000 MHz is heavily populated and virtually unprotected. For example, many amateurs point to the "chaotic" conditions which exist on 2M in Japan. When JARL and JAMSAT were designing FO-12, such heavy QRM problems where considered very carefully. When the designers of the PACSATs also looked at the QRM problem, they too came to the conclusion that Mode JD was the way to go. From an equipment standpoint, using Mode JD will allow many OSCAR satellite users to use the same equipment they have available for MODE B operations. It should be noted that on the uplink, packets can be sent with a just a few watts from a 2m FM tranceiver. Since most amateurs generally own a 2M FM tranceiver and a HF rig, obtaining a 70cm converter is an easy way to build a "basic" PACSAT station. Thus the designers of the PACSATs felt that Mode JD was a relatively "cheap" way to go for those who wanted to get started on PACSAT operations. As far as the actual choice of the frequencies for the uplinks to LUSAT and PACSAT, you will notice that they are located on "opposite ends of the spectrum." The decision by the designers to do this was based mostly on considerations of "orbital dynamics." Because all of the MICROSATs will be "dropped off" from the ARIANE rocket at the same time, it will take many months before they "spread out" to the point that they don't all appear in the sky at the same time over a ground station. In order to avoid having users of LUSAT and PACSAT interfering each other during these first several months, the frequencies for the uplinks had to be widely spaced. As far as PACSAT users interfering with AO-10, AO-13, and the rest of OSCAR satellites, the best possible passes for the MICROSATs will be less than 17 minutes for an "over-head" pass. This means that there will be a potential of 45 minutes worth of QRM. But as everyone who works packet radio knows, packets are by nature very short bursts. Anyone who has listened to FO-12 will also be aware that 90% of the transmissions are very short. Another important consideration is that the PACSATs will NOT allow digipeating. They will only take messages for storage and allow users to read "mail" directed to them or "unconnected" telemetry packets. This provision for not allowing digipeating will help reduce any possibility of QRM caused by unattended beacons. The final concern is that once radio amateurs hear packets being sent on the satellite "sub-band" of 2M, that terrestrial "packeteers" will also start sending their packets within the 145.800-146.000 MHz spectrum. To the best knowledge of AMSAT-NA officials, this has not happened with current set of OSCAR satellite frequencies and it is not expected to occur when the new PACSATs are launched. Because the equipment to send PSK packets to the PACSATs is quite different from the AFSK packets sent terrestrially, it would appears unlikely that such an "encroachment" would occur on the satellite "sub-band." In general, amateurs hold very strongly to "gentleman" agreements concerning bandplans. It is hoped that this short discussion here about MICROSAT bandplan can put to "rest" any lingering questions about this issue. In up coming issues of QEX magazine and ASR, Bob McGwier will be discussing this important topic in great detail. In between time, if you have further concerns or comments, please send them to: Bob McGwier, N4HY 15 Cherrybrook Lane East Windsor, NJ 08520 /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-126.03 AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHED CHANGE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 6, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AO-13 Transponder Schedule Change Occurred On May 3, 1989 On May 3, 1989 AO-13's operating schedule was changed by AMSAT ground command station VK5AGR due to the fact that the solar eclipes in which AO-13 had been experiencing have ended for the time being. On June 14, 1989 an attitude change will commence in order to adjust AO-13's attitude to the following Bahn Coordinates: BLONG=180 deg, BLAT=0 deg. This attitude change on June 14th will be performed in order to keep the high-gain antennas "pointing at the earth's center" at apogee. This will also improve "squint" angles for the larger part of each orbit. But until June 14, 1989, please be advised that the transponder operating schedule for AO-13 is the following: de VK5AGR 15Apr89: *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE *** 03May89 to 14Jun89 Mode-B : from MA 003 to MA 160 Mode-JL : from MA 160 to MA 200 Mode-B : from MA 200 to MA 240 OFF : from MA 240 to MA 003 Mode S Beacon 2400.661MHz is ON from MA 210 to MA 222 every orbit. 29Apr89: BLON/BLAT 211.8/+3.3 with a drift rate of 0.016/-0.061 deg/day. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-126.04 AO-10 RETURNS TO SERVICE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 6, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AO-10 Is Back "On-Line" For OSCAR Satellite Users Until September AMSAT Ground Command Stations, VK5AGR and DB2OS, want to inform OSCAR satellite users that AO-10 is now back "on-line" for Mode B operation as of May 1, 1989. AO-10 users are asked, however, NOT to use AO-10 during MA 226 to MA 024 because it is in total darkness and thus no power is being generated by its solar cells. In order to save battery power and help extend the life of the batteries, operations during this "solar eclipse" period is NOT allowed. After July 13, 1989, AO-10 will be will "full-sun" conditions until September and can be used for the entire orbit. So until further notice or until you hear "FM-ing" on AO-10 please adhere to the following operating schedule for AO-10: de DB2OS 01May89: *** AO-10 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE *** 01May89 to 13Jul89 Mode-B : from MA 025 to MA 225 OFF : from MA 226 to MA 024 de DB2OS 01May89: *** AO-10 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE *** 14Jul89 to 01Sep89 Mode-B : from MA 000 to MA 225 OFF : % /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-126.05 AMSAT SHORT BURSTS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 126.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD MAY 6, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AMSAT SHORT BURSTS AO-13 Operations Net Schedule For May Many AO-13 users are unaware that there is an AMSAT Operations Net which is conducted on AO-13 several times each month to help answer questions about OSCAR satellites and to provide information about the many exciting things going on in AMSAT. The following is a list of the times for the Ops Net. Please place this list in a convenient place in your OSCAR station so that you won't miss out on this interesting net which is offered as a service to all AMSAT members. Here is the Ops Net schedule through June: Date UTC orb-phs NCS 07 May 0300 687-116 N5BF (06 May local time, U.S.) 14 May 0400 702-056 N5BF (13 May local time, U.S.) 21 May 0200 716-188 (20 May local) 28 May 0200 731-105 (27 May local) FO-12 Operating Schedule For May The following is the operating schedule for FO-12 for the entire month of May: DATE MODE OPERATING PERIOD 05/03/89 JA 07:15 UTC until 15:26 UTC 05/06/89 JA 14:46 UTC until 05:40 UTC on 05/07/89 05/09/89 JA 05:53 UTC until 14:05 UTC 05/21/89 JD 03:11 UTC until 11:23 UTC 05/24/89 JD 08:41 UTC until 01:37 UTC on 05/25/89 05/28/89 JD 00:56 UTC until 09:08 UTC Roy Welch, W0SL, has just recently finished putting the "finishing touches" on his ORBITS II, ORBITS III, and ORBITS IV satellite tracking programs. One of the most notable aspects of the ORBITS IV program is that it will support VGA graphics monitors. If you would like to find out more about these fine tracking programs and the features which they possess, send a s.a.s.e. to: Roy Welch, W0SL 908 Dutch Mill Dr. Manchester, MO 63011 Because the Cosmonauts had to leave the Mir Space Station last week due to electrical power subsystem problems, perhaps now is a good time for all radio amateurs who have made contacts with U1MIR, U2MIR,...,U5MIR to send in their QSL cards for confirmation of the contact. The following is the address where they should be sent: Boris Stepanov, UW3AX P.O. Box 679 Moscow, 107207 USSR /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! PAKISTANI AMATEUR SATELLITE?: IFRB weekly circular 1860/24.01.89, Special Section No AR 11/A/47 contains an advance publication by Pakistan regarding a planned satellite named BADAR-1. To wit: "The satellite named BADAR-1, would carry a Digital Communications Experiment (CDE) primary payload to be used for experimentation in digital store-and-forward communications among synchronous, with an uplink frequency of 435.480 - 435.520 MHz, and a downlink 145.090 - 145.110 MHz. Does anyone have further info about this? The concern seems to be 1) whether or not it is amateur, and 2) the choice of frequency. 73, Jon Bloom, KE3Z AMSAT-UK COLLOQUIUM: I have a limited number of registration forms for the AMSAT-UK Colloquium at the University of Surrey in July. This includes the registration forms, lodging details and mailing label to return your completed form. If you plan on attending the Colloquium and would like a copy of the forms, please send an SASE to: Ross W. Forbes, WB6GFJ P.O. Box 1 Los Altos, CA 94023-0001 This offer is only for those in NORTH AMERICA. People outside of North America who plan on attending the Colloquium should contact the University of Surrey, or AMSAT-UK directly. 73, Ross AMSAT OPERATIONS NET REPORT 4/29: The AMSAT Operations net was held on the A-O-13 Mode "B" downlink frequency of 145.950 MHz, beginning at 1700 UTC. Net control was WA5ZIB. Conditions were excellent for the duration of the net which concluded by 1725 UTC. Check-ins included W0RPK, VE3TAY, WD0GML, WA9PZL and W6HDO. WA5ZIB discussed information from the previous net on April 22nd, especially items from N8IWJ concerning "DOVE" activities. W0RPK reported on response from VK3DTO concerning the Command Station Development Program (CSDP). Andy, VK3DTO, may be the first international command station in the Microsat ground- control network. W6HDO cited the W5IU article in the May issue of "73" as an excellent source of information about the many satellite tracking programs available from the AMSAT Software Exchange. WD0GML reported that the AMSAT BBS is doing well. Mike also passed along the concerns of many about the choice of frequencies for the uplinks for the Microsat Pacsats. A quick look at the frequency chart in N5BF's article in the May issue of "73" shows that the uplinks fall squarely across the downlink frequency spectrum of A-O-10 and A-O-13. The next AMSAT Operations Net is scheduled for May 7 at 0300 UTC. NCS will be N5BF with updates from Dayton. All for now and 73, Andy SB ALL @ AMSAT $ORBS-126.O Orbital Elements 126.STS30 HR AMSAT ORBITAL ELEMENTS FOR STS-30 SPACE SHUTTLE WA3NAN GREENBELT, MD MAY 6, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Satellite: STS-30 Catalog number: STS30 Epoch time: 89127.03955529 Element set: 293 Inclination: 28.9032 deg RA of node: 324.2458 deg Eccentricity: 0.0011080 Arg of perigee: 208.5467 deg Mean anomaly: 174.0920 deg Mean motion: 15.85732133 rev/day Decay rate: 5.7000e-04 rev/day^2 Epoch rev: 37 /EX