Jun 1 2023

Summer 2023 OSCAR News now available

E-members of AMSAT-UK can now download the Summer 2023 edition of OSCAR News, issue 241, here.

The paper edition edition will be sent to postal members and should arrive in the next 2-3 weeks.

In this issue:
• From the Secretary’s Keyboard
• Satellite News
• “St Davids Rove” 28th Feb – 1st March 2023 by Nick MW1DDD/P
• G3VZV Operating via QO-100 on South Georgia as VP0GAA and on Tristan da Cuhna as ZD9VZV in March 2023
• Part of a great clear-out!
• ARISS International Meeting April 2023
• ITU News
• Receiving HAMTV from the ISS
• QO100 and a Family Road Trip Jim Ryan EI3DP
• QO-100 Portable Station by Dave M0GIW
• FUNcube-1 was centre-stage in the British Science Week

AMSAT-UK FUNcube Mission Patch

AMSAT-UK FUNcube Mission Patch

Membership of AMSAT-UK is open to anyone who has an interest in amateur radio satellites or space activities, including the International Space Station (ISS).

E-members of AMSAT-UK are able to download the quarterly publication OSCAR News as a convenient PDF that can be read on laptops, tablets or smartphones anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Join as an E-member at Electronic (PDF) E-membership

PDF sample copy of “Oscar News” here.

Join AMSAT-UK using PayPal, Debit or Credit card at
http://shop.amsat-uk.org/

E-members can download their copies of OSCAR News here.

May 16 2023

DX Adventure Team will activate 4U100QO on QO-100 from the United Nations – Vienna International Center.

DX-Adventure is proud to announce a partnership with the United Nations Amateur Radio Contest DX Club (ARCDXC).

During 18 | 19 | May 20th we have the scoop to make the very first QO-100 connections from the United Nations – Vienna International Center.

On the occasion of this activation, there is a special call sign 4U100QO.

As a token of appreciation, DX-Adventure is donating the equipment to make connections through QO-100 in the future.

This cooperation embodies the spirit of international collaboration and exchange that the United Nations aspires to.

DX-Adventure would therefore like to express its sincere thanks and appreciation to the sponsors.

Your contribution has enabled us to take our QO-100 station and partnership with the United Nations Amateur Radio Contest DX Club (ARCDXC) to new heights.

During this activation, we will also be active on HF with the call sign 4U1A.

73

DX Adventure team
www.dx-adventure.com

Apr 23 2023

WRC23: 23cm (1240-1300 MHz) Amateur/RNSS Coexistence

2023-04 WRC-23 AI9.1b Draft Recommendation ITU-RITU-R WRC-23 Agenda Item 9.1b: Measures to be applied in the frequency band 1240-1300 MHz to ensure the protection of the radionavigation-satellite service (RNSS) in accordance with Resolution-774.

This presentation on 23cm Amateur/RNSS Coexistence was given by the IARU Region 1 Spectrum Regulation and Liaison Committee (SRLC) Chair Barry Lewis G4SJH to the Martlesham Microwave Round Table on April 16, 2023.

Watch 23cm Amateur/RNSS Coexistence – Barry Lewis G4SJH

The French National Frequency Agency (ANFR) has posted the following on their website titled – Protection of Galileo against Amateur use.
“Some bands, in red in the figure, are the subject of heated debate because their use by amateur stations is likely to have a significant impact on Galileo”, see
https://www-anfr-fr.translate.goog/liste-actualites/actualite/saga-cmr-23-point-91b-la-protection-de-galileo-vis-a-vis-des-usages-amateur?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp

ANFR 23cm 1240-1300 MHz Band

ANFR 23cm 1240-1300 MHz Band

Mar 19 2023

Austria restricts 23cm band operation

Galileo LogoAustria has become the latest country to impose restrictions on Amateur Radio operation in the 23 cm band (1240-1300 MHz) to protect to protect ground-based receivers for the Galileo RNSS satellite constellation.

Austria’s national amateur radio society ÖVSV say:

Changes to the legal conditions in the AFU area from 03/13/2023:

Annex 2 of the Amateur Radio Ordinance is omitted and is now regulated in the Frequency Use Ordinance Annex 4.

This results in some changes in the frequency ranges and powers.

For the KW bands 80m, 40m, 20m, 17m, 15m, 12m and 10m, 1KW (High-Power) can now be approved for Class 1 FA after 1 year of trouble-free operation.

  • Thus, the power limitation of 7100-7200 kHz (previously only 200W) in the 40m band is eliminated and AFU has primary status.
  • 30m band still only max. 200W if power level B or C approved (no change)
  • 160m band from 1810-1850 kHz now max. 200W if power level B or C approved and AFU has primary status.
  • 160m band from 1850-2000 kHz only max. 100W (now instead of 1950 kHz up to 2000 kHz)

2023-03-13 Austrian Regulations

  • The 6m band has been extended from 52-54MHz. (Limited until 31.12.2030, for research WRAN)
    • from 50-52 MHz now max. 200W if power level B or C approved and AFU has primary status.
    • from 52-54MHz only max. 100W
  • On the 70cm band now also allowed as already on 2m high-power (up to 1KW), if power level B or C approved (but only EME and MS with Yagis from at least 15dBd gain)
  • The 23cm band was kept, but the performance was severely limited
    • only 10W allowed (previously max. 200W were allowed)
    • Repeaters with more than 16kHz bandwidth must cease operation by December 31, 2024.
  • On all higher FM bands (except 10 GHz, since only 40dbW EIRB) now also max. 200W (previously only 100W) allowed.
  • on 24GHz AFU has only secondary status

Please note the new conditions.

Kurt OE1KBC

Amateur Frequencies: https://ris.bka.gv.at/Dokumente/BgblAuth/BGBLA_2023_II_61/Anlagen_0004_CAC10589_910D_4FFE_9A8D_3839DC110654.pdfsig

ÖVSV post: https://www-oevsv-at.translate.goog/oevsv/aktuelles/Neue-Frequenznutzungs-Verordnung-in-Kraft/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=nui

Mar 10 2023

AMSAT-India at National Science Day event

Engineering Students were among the visitors to the stand

Engineering Students were among the visitors to the stand

To celebrate National Science Day of India on February 28 one of the biggest Science Carnival 2023 was organised by Gujarat state – India at prestigious Science City Ahmedabad during 28th February to 4th March 2023.

AMSAT-INDIA was specially invited to participate in this biggest scientific exhibition for mass awareness on Amateur Radio & Satellite Communication!

AMSAT-INDIA Regional Coordinator Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP & team member Sakshi Vagadia VU3EXP did huge efforts to mass promote AMSAT activities amongst all sort of visitors which includes young kids, school-college students, budding engineers, IT Programmers, general public, professionals from various industries, scientists from renowned organization like ISRO, PRL, IPR, VSSE, ISR, officers from BSF, Police, Fire dept and citizens from every walk of life! More than 100,000 visitors were reported and grabbed the opportunity to visit science carnival 2023 and our Science exhibition during 5 days.

AMSAT-INDIA stall was spacious & decent sized at 3m x 3m, it was a big attraction at the center of the Science Exhibition. With well prepared different informative Banners on AMSAT-INDIA, Various Satellite Activities, Amateur Radio Satellite chronology, ARISS Student outreach program, ARISS SSTV event, Question submission for our upcoming ARISS student outreach program etc was absolutely eye catching from a distance.

Kiran on the AMSAT-India stand

Kiran on the AMSAT-India stand

For the curious visitors we tried to highlight every aspect of our hobby and exhibited all sorts of Radio stuff, Documents, QSL Cards, Books, Ham Licence, Awards, Project articles, Tracking software, SSTV software, SDR Software, Cube Satellite models etc to give bit idea of our hobby.

Experiencing various amateur radio gears, satellite antenna & test instruments were highly appreciated by visiting budding engineers from a number of colleges at AMSAT-INDIA stall. Some of the stuff we displayed include; Dual band Arrow-II antenna, dual band Yagi, tape measure antenna, GP, Telescopic antenna for SDR, Radios includes Icom IC-705 with LiFePO4 battery pack, Kenwood VHF base, half dozen of VHF/UHF HTs, RTL-SDR setup, LDG ATU, NanoVNA, Morse Key, cw oscillator, Paddle, electronic keyer, SWR/Power meter, Cable, Connectors etc. It made our task easy to explain the use of each stuff according to the visitors’ query.

We came across various types of queries like how to be a Ham, Procedure to get license, Types of Amateur Radio satellites, operating modes, setting up ground station, how to receive ISS SSTV images, how to establish satellite contact etc. We made a humble attempt to answer & satisfy all of those queries. We enjoyed a very detailed discussion with students/groups who already know about Amateur Radio and always need to learn more on Satellite Communication.

We also highlighted contributions of worldwide AMSAT organizations, IARU, ARISS, RSGB, ARRL and our ARSI & GIAR. I also mark a note on an author and my teacher Mr. Nagendra Vijay of popular Gujarati Science magazine named ‘Scope’ who did tremendous efforts to introduce Ham Radio in Gujarat (India) 40 years back and still continue to create awareness via it’s leading Science magazine ‘Safari’, his stall was just after a row.

Our AMSAT-INDIA stall were visited by many well-wisher GIAR Ham friends including VU2CPV Pravinbhai, VU2JGI Jagdishbhai, VU2MJP Manojbhai, VU2SPF Bhatnagarji, VU3APY Asheshbhai, VU3VDC Vitthhalbhai, VU3GLY Priyesh, VU3WHO Snehal etc.

It was a great experience for us to spend the whole 5 days enjoying talking & explaining our favorite hobby Amateur Radio & Satellite Communication!

We were happy to present amateur radio as a scientific hobby & experimenting platform for diversified fields and not just emergency communication tools!

Lots of positive & appreciating feedback we received in the visitor feedback book.

We are thankful to Science Carnival 2023 Organiser Dr. Vrajesh Parikh, Pulkesh Prajapati, Dr. Narotam Sahoo & team for inviting us for this prestigious Science Carnival Exhibition. I also thank our AMSAT-INDIA Secretary Mr Nitin Muttin VU3TYG, Director Educational B. A. Subramani VU2WMY, President Ramesh Ramsubbu VU2RMS & committee for complete guidance and support extended to us.

I specially thank team member Sakshi Vagadia VU3EXP & my XYL Kiran Vagadia for supporting and assisting me all the time during the 5 day exhibition.

I am optimistic to see the next generation taking keen interest in Amateur Radio & Satellites from VU Land.

Thank you
73 Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP
Rajkot – Gujarat
Regional Coordinator West India Zone, AMSAT-INDIA

Many youngsters visited the stand

Many youngsters visited the stand

Feb 9 2023

Space Station contact with students in Malta

Josh Cassada KI5CRH

Josh Cassada KI5CRH

An ARISS contact between students at Stella Maris College, Gzira, Malta, callsign 9H1MRL and the International Space Station (ISS) is scheduled for 12:34 GMT on Wednesday, February 15.

Update March 26: Report on the contact in the Times of Malta newspaper https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/ariss-mt-direct-contact-iss-via-amateur-radio.1021213

The ISS crew member will be astronaut Josh Cassada KI5CRH who will be using the ISS callsign OR4ISS. The downlink frequency is 145.800 MHz and the signal should be receivable in the British Isles and Europe.

A little bit of information about the school follows. Stella Maris College is a Lasallian school. It takes its inspiration from its founder John Baptist de la Salle. In the Christian faith, John De La Salle is venerated as the Patron Saint of Teachers.

Basically, a Lasallian School has the following characteristics:
A) respect for each student as a unique person.
B) A strong spirit of Community.
C) A school of Quality.
D) A school that embraces everyone.
E) Shows special preference for persons who are considered poor financially, morally, physically, psychologically.

Mission statement:
Our school is a place where everyone strives to create and nurture a holistic, inclusive and well-ordered learning climate thereby ensuring a high-quality, values-based academic preparation.

The school has an astronomical observatory and electronics forms part of the school curriculum.

The contact is being conducted by five local radio amateurs and we call ourselves ARISS team Malta; Dominic 9H1M, Manuel 9H1GW, Andrew 9H2AV, Trevor 9H5TS and Anthony 9H2AS. We have set up a station at the school’s auditorium and a 10 element crossed Yagi and rotator on the roof.

The whole event will be streamed live on YouTube on the following URL:

73s Manuel 9H1GW