Tag Archives: Amateur Radio

Mar 18 2014

$50SAT designated Morehead-OSCAR-76

Yaesu handheld and $50SAT 1.5U PocketQube

Yaesu handheld and $50SAT 1.5U PocketQube

The $50SAT team have applied for and been designated an OSCAR number for their PocketQube satellite – Morehead-OSCAR-76, or MO-76.

$50SAT is one of the smallest amateur radio satellites ever launched at 5x5x7.5 cm and weighs only 210 grams. Transmitter power is just 100 mW on 437.505 MHz (+/-9 kHz Doppler shift) FM CW/RTTY. It uses the low cost Hope RFM22B single chip radio and PICaxe 40X2 processor.

$50SAT has been a collaborative education project between Professor Bob Twiggs, KE6QMD, Morehead State University and three other radio amateurs, Howie DeFelice, AB2S, Michael Kirkhart, KD8QBA, and Stuart Robinson, GW7HPW.

$50SAT PocketQube Amateur Radio Challenge
https://amsat-uk.org/2014/02/21/50sat-amateur-radio-challenge/

Further information in the $50SAT Dropbox https://www.dropbox.com/sh/l3919wtfiywk2gf/-HxyXNsIr8

$50SAT – Eagle2 – Communications – Release Version V1_1.pdf
http://tinyurl.com/50DollarSatCommunicationsV1-1

Hope RFM22B single chip radio http://www.hoperf.com/rf/fsk_module/RFM22B.htm

There is a discussion group for $50SAT http://groups.yahoo.com/groups/50dollarsat/

50DollarSat http://www.50dollarsat.info/

Information on obtaining an OSCAR number for your satellite can be found on the OSCAR Numbers Policy page at http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=2478

Mar 18 2014

Cambridge CubeSat company wins Virgin Media Tech award

A CubeSat in SpaceThe Cambridge company 3D Cube Sat was one of the winners of the Virgin Media ‘Three New Things’ Technology Award.

The three winning businesses will each receive a package of mentoring and support, including the chance to meet with Virgin founder Richard Branson to discuss their business plans, networking opportunities and up to £25,000 worth of free business telecoms.

3D Cube Sat says it is “changing the economics of space”. CubeSat structures are the casings for tiny satellites. They currently sell for $2,500, but 3D Cube Sat has created a new space-resistant material that reduces the cost by 75%.

Virgin Media –  ‘Three New Things’ Award
http://startups.co.uk/virgin-media-announces-three-new-things-to-shape-face-of-technology/

Mar 18 2014

FUNcube-1 Continuous Transponder Test

Final gluing of FUNcube-1 bolt by Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG – Image credit Gerard Aalbers

Final gluing of FUNcube-1 bolt by Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG – Image credit Gerard Aalbers

On March 22, the FUNcube-1 (AO-73) CubeSat will be commanded into continuous transponder mode for one or two orbits so we can assess the effect of lower power being radiated by the sat on the battery temperature. We expect the satellite to be put into full time transponder mode (aka amateur mode) during the first morning pass on Saturday, March 22 over the UK, at approximately 0930 UT.

We are aware that the on/off timings for the transponder are not now ideal, due to seasonal changes. In the coming months the situation will get worse such that in June the transponder will only be available for very short periods in the Northern Hemisphere.

FUNcube-1 Launch Monitoring Station at the NRC Bletchley Park

FUNcube-1 Launch Monitoring Station at the NRC Bletchley Park

We are therefore planning to alter the schedule such that the transponder is on continuously at weekends after approx 1900 UT on Fridays, to Sunday evening. This will give radio amateurs a greater opportunity to use the transponder. Unfortunately there is no way of automating this schedule, so its maintenance will rely on the availability of command stations.

Before implementing this schedule, it is necessary that we characterise the effect of maintaining transponder mode for long periods of time. We expect that the space craft will be slightly colder than when transmitting at full power, as the heat generated inside the spacecraft by the PA will be less.

FUNcube-1 (AO-73) - Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

FUNcube-1 (AO-73) – Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

We are concerned that this lowering of the temperature may bring the battery temp lower than is advisable. Its specification is that it should not be charged if its temperature is below -5 degrees, or some damage might be done to the battery. Currently the minimum temperature we see that the battery reaches is approximately -2 degrees.

If you notice that the transponder is open on March 22, please feel free to use it.

Please note that we have learnt from experience that commanding the sat is not an exact science, and that not all commands sent are received by the satellite, probably due to interference. We will announce on AMSAT-BB and on the FUNcube web site the progress of our tests. We would be very grateful if as many listening stations as possible receive the telemetry (TLM) using the Dashboard software and forward it to the Data Warehouse on Saturday, March 22. Thank you.

73 Jim, G3WGM

FUNcube website http://www.funcube.org.uk/

FUNcube Yahoo Group https://amsat-uk.org/funcube/yahoo-group/

FUNcube Forum http://forum.funcube.org.uk/

Mar 17 2014

WRAPS Antenna Rotor System Introduction

WRAPS Portable Satellite Antenna Rotator System - Copyright ARRL

WRAPS Portable Satellite Antenna Rotator System – Copyright ARRL

In the first of four videos, Mark Spencer, WA8SME, explains the operation of the amateur radio WRAPS antenna rotor system.

The WRAPS system points a lightweight antenna towards a passing amateur radio satellite (or weather or other satellite), facilitating the capture of telemetry or participation in conversations via satellite.

The remaining three WRAPS videos demonstrate the operation of WRAPS to capture telemetry from the FUNcube satellite using the SatPC32 software and the FUNcube Dashboard.

Watch WRAPS Antenna Rotor System Introduction Video 1

Watch WRAPS Setup for a Pass Video 2

WRAPS FUNCube Pass Video 3

WRAPS FUNCube Telemetry Overview Video 4

Thanks to the ARRL and WA8SME a PDF of the QST article on the WRAPS antenna rotor system can be downloaded from
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/12/12/wraps-a-portable-satellite-antenna-rotator-system/

Other satellite videos are available on the AMSAT-NA YouTube channel at
http://www.youtube.com/user/AMSATNA/videos

Mar 17 2014

HamTV received on 2395 MHz

Tetsurou Satou JA0CAW reports receiving the blank test Digital TV transmission from the HamTV equipment on the International Space Station (ISS) on its new frequency of 2395 MHz. He was using a 65cm dish antenna with a low noise amplifier (LNA) and down-convertor.

Watch a short video of reception at an elevation of 76 degrees on March 17, 2014 at 0139 UT

Read the HamTV overview by Gaston Bertels ON4WF http://tinyurl.com/HamTVoverview

Front panel of the HamTV transmitter

Front panel of the HamTV transmitter

Join the ISS HamTV Yahoo Group http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HamTV

Webstream of the TV transmissions http://batc.tv/ch_live.php?ch=4

ARISS-EU HamTV Bulletins http://www.ariss-eu.org/

HamTV on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Hamtvproject

Mar 16 2014

FCC Invites Public Comment on 10-10.5 GHz Petition

FCC SealThe ARRL report the FCC has invited public comment on a Petition for Rule Making (RM-11715) that would make a significant portion of the 10.0 to 10.5 GHz band available for wireless broadband services.

The Petition by Mimosa Networks Inc proposes a band plan for 10.0 to 10.5 GHz that, it says, would protect frequencies most often used by radio amateurs. The petition hinges on FCC adoption of rule changes that would put the 10 GHz band under Subpart Z of the Commission’s Part 90 rules. Subpart Z currently sets out regulations governing wireless licensing, technical standards, and operational standards in the 3650 to 3700 MHz band.

“The application of the coordination procedures and requirements provided in Subpart Z will ensure that Amateur Radio operations in the band will not be disrupted,” Mimosa told the FCC. “In addition, as a further safeguard, Mimosa proposes a band plan for the 10.0-10.5 GHz band that would protect frequencies in the band that are most often used by Amateur Radio operators.” The proposed band plan would specify 10.350 to 10.370 GHz as an “Amateur Calling Band,” and 10.450 to 10.500 GHz for Amateur-Satellite operations in the midst of 21 wireless broadband channels and a small guard band.

ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ, is quoted as saying “Mimosa’s proposed power limit of 55 dBW EIRP is very high, particularly for point-to-multipoint operations, and no mechanism has been proposed for ensuring that harmful interference to amateur operations does not occur.”

Read the full ARRL story at
http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-invites-public-comment-on-petition-affecting-10-10-5-ghz-band

Petition for Rule Making RM-11715
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7022310834

Interested parties may comment on RM-11715 using the FCC’s Electronic Comment Filing System (ECFS).
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/hotdocket/list