Tag Archives: Amateur Radio

Nov 8 2013

Mass Amateur Radio Satellite Launch November 21

Satellites on Dnepr launch November 21, 2013 - Image credit Nader Omer ST2NH

Satellites on Dnepr launch November 21, 2013 – Image credit Nader Omer ST2NH

The largest ever launch of satellites carrying amateur radio payloads should take place on November 21, 2013 at 07:10:11 UT on a Dnepr from Dombarovsky near Yasny.

One of the satellites UniSat-5 will itself deploy a number of additional satellites. Among them should be the CubeSats PUCP-SAT-1, HumSat-D, Icube-1 and the PocketQubes Wren, Eagle-1 (BeakerSat), Eagle-2 ($50Sat), QB-Scout1. PUCP-SAT-1 intends to subsequently release a further satellite Pocket-PUCP.

Nader Omer ST2NH has produced the graphic above which shows satellites to be deployed. It is thought UNiSat-5 may not deploy its satellites until January.

As well as UniSat-5 and its associated CubeSats and PocketQubes these amateur radio satellites are also believed to be on the Yasny Dnepr launch:
HinCube
FUNcube-1
ZAcube-1
First-MOVE
UWE-3
Velox-PII
CubeBug-2
Triton-1
Delfi-n3Xt
GOMX-1

A list of the IARU coordinated amateur radio frequencies for the Yasny Dnepr satellites is available here.

BRITE-PL1 (20 x 20 x 20 cm) is also on the launch, frequency information on the web indicates it may have a 4 kbps transceiver on 437.365 MHz and a beacon on 145.890 MHz in addition to the primary downlink on 2234.4 MHz.

The Ecuadorian 1U CubeSat NEE-02 Krysaor has fold-out solar panels.  It carries a 0.9 watt HD TV transmitter that operates in the 980 MHz band and it is believed a beacon will send a Morse Code ID, a Slow Scan TV (SSTV) image and Ecuadors national anthem.

Further information about the satellites on this launch can be found at
http://www.zarya.info/blog/?p=1745
http://www.pe0sat.vgnet.nl/2013/upcoming-dnepr-launch/

Read the satellite blog of Nader Omer ST2NH at http://st2nh-blogger.blogspot.co.uk/

Nov 7 2013

1st edition of FUNcube Handbook now available

FUNcube-1 Handbook Front PageThanks to the very good work of Richard Limebear G3RWL the first edition of the “FUNcube Handbook” is now available.

The handbook provides an initial introduction to the project overall and the FUNcube-1 spacecraft in particular. An updated edition may be available sometime after the launch which is currently planned for November 21, 2013.

The primary mission of the FUNcube-1 CubeSat is to provide a telemetry beacon that can be easily received by schools and colleges for educational outreach purposes. When not in educational mode the spacecraft switches on a communications transponder for use by radio amateurs.

It is presently being translated into French, Dutch and Italian and AMSAT-UK would be delighted to receive offers of translation into other languages. Contact AMSAT-UK here.

The handbook and other FUNcube documents can be downloaded from http://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/

Direct link to the FUNcube Handbook v1.3 PDF

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

Nov 6 2013

SA AMSAT Turns to Innovation for its Cubesat

Southern Africa AMSAT LogoHans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV gave a presentation “SA AMSAT Turns to Innovation for its Cubesat” at the 2013 AMSAT Space Symposium in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, November 2, 2013.

The mission aim of the KLETSkous Cubesat is to give Radio Amateurs in Southern Africa easy access to a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite on as many of the available passes as possible. KLETSkous will carry a 435 to 145 MHz linear transponder and will carry a scientific experiment for school projects.

Hans also described another transponder opportunity with the Africa Resource Management Constellation of Satellites.

It is hoped that DynaCube, constructed by Interns at the Denel Dynamics Engineering Academy, will launch in 2014. The CubeSat will have downlinks on 145.980 MHz and 145.840 MHz and aims to explore the South Atlantic Anomaly during orbits over the area.

ZACube-1 is due to launch on November 21, 2013 with FUNcube-1 (they share the same launch pod). This CubeSat will carry beacons on 14.999 MHz and 437.345 MHz.

Watch ZS6AKV: SA AMSAT Turns to Innovation for its Cubesat (presentation at 2013 AMSAT Symposium)

KLETSkous https://amsat-uk.org/2013/01/12/sa-amsat-accelerating-the-kletskous-cubesat-project/

DynaCube https://amsat-uk.org/2013/03/30/dynacube-to-explore-the-south-atlantic-anomaly/

ZACube-1 https://amsat-uk.org/2012/08/25/14099-khz-cput-cubesat-to-launch-end-of-november/

Nov 5 2013

Optical marking for UK ham radio exams

UK Amateur Radio Exams - Optical MarkingUK amateur radio exams have now moved over to optical marking, this video describes the new system.

Paul Whatton G4DCV has re-edited an earlier video to produce this presentation about the Optical Marking System by Alan Betts G0HIQ Chief Examiner for the Radio Communications Foundation (RCF).

The presentation was given during the Training Forum held at the RSGB Convention in October, 2013.

Watch The Optical Marking System

The July and October issues of the free RCF Instructors’ Newsletter have articles on Optical Marking, see http://rsgb.org/main/clubs-training/tutor-resources-2/newsletters/

The RSGB Training & Education Chair manages a Yahoo Group to allow for regular updates, news and sharing of ideas between trainers, see
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RSGBtutors/

G4DCV Vimeo page http://vimeo.com/user8087493

Nov 5 2013

March launch for UKube-1 and TechDemoSat-1

UKube-1 on display at UK Space Conference in Glasgow

UKube-1 on display at UK Space Conference in Glasgow

Dmitry Pashkov UB4UAD reports that the Soyuz-2-1B/Fregat-M is now expected to launch from Baikonur in Kazakhstan on March 27, 2014.

The launcher will carry the satellites Meteor-M number 2, MCA-PN2 (Relek), M3MSat, UKube-1, SkySat-2, TechDemoSat-1, AISSat-2 and DX -1.

TechDemoSat-1 was built by SSTL in Guildford, UK and UKube-1 is the UK Space Agency’s first CubeSat built by Clyde Space which carries a set of AMSAT-UK FUNcube boards to provide a linear transponder and educational beacon.

UKube-1 communications subsystem:
• Telemetry downlink 145.840 MHz
• FUNcube subsystem beacon 145.915 MHz
• 400 mW inverting linear transponder for SSB and CW
– 435.080 -435.060 MHz Uplink
– 145.930 -145.950 MHz Downlink
• 2401.0 MHz S Band Downlink
• 437.425-437.525 MHz UKSEDS myPocketQub Downlink

UB4UAD report in Google English

Nov 5 2013

KN-SAT Prototype-2

University of Khartoum KN-SAT Prototype-2

University of Khartoum KN-SAT Prototype-2

The KN-SAT Cubesat team at the University of Khartoum (UofK), Sudan, have successfully completed the design and development of the Prototype-2. This has been a result of hard work and dedication throughout the last year.

KN-SAT-1 Picture 2Dr. Sharief F Babikir writes: “I must convey my deep respect and admiration to the Technical Manager of the team, Dr. Nader Omer ST2NH whose leadership, unparalleled knowledge and professionalism has been behind the success of Prototype-2 as it has undeniably been behind Prototype-1.”

KN-Sat1 http://cubesat.uofk.edu/

Khartoum Amateur Radio Satellite Ground Station
https://amsat-uk.org/2012/02/03/khartoum-amateur-radio-satellite-ground-station/

Khartoum Students Receive CubeSats
https://amsat-uk.org/2012/02/17/khartoum-students-receive-cubesats/

TEDxKhartoum Presentation on KN-SAT1 CubeSat
https://amsat-uk.org/2012/05/24/tedxkhartoum-presentation-on-kn-sat1-cubesat/

KN-SAT1 Prototype Subsystems Design and Testing
https://amsat-uk.org/2012/11/20/kn-sat1-prototype-subsystems-design-and-testing/

KN-SAT-1 Picture 1