Tag Archives: Amateur Radio

Jun 16 2013

Fox-2 MPPT Team Selected In TI Design Contest

AMSAT FOXAMSAT sponsored a senior design project at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) this academic year.

The students included senior EE majors:
Bryce Salmi KB1LQC
Brent Salmi KB1LQD
Ian MacKenzie KB3OCF
Dan Corriero

The project was to develop a Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) circuit which is used to maximize the power obtained from a solar panel by forcing the cells to operate at their most efficient voltage regardless of the voltage required by the payload. One can also think of this as an impedance match. This optimum voltage changes slightly with variations in solar irradiance but changes greatly due to variations in solar panel temperature.

The MPPT utilizes a Texas Instruments MSP430 microcontroller to communicate telemetry data with the Fox satellite Internal Housekeeping Unit (IHU) designed by AMSAT for transmission to Earth via ham radio. The senior design group consisting of Brenton Salmi (KB1LQD), Bryce Salmi (KB1LQC), Ian MacKenzie (KB3OCF), and Daniel Corriero successfully implemented an analog MPPT designed for use in orbit over the five year mission intended for Fox-2 providing the amateur radio community with a 3U CubeSat carrying amateur radio communications equipment.

The students completed a working prototype which was on display in the AMSAT engineering booth at Dayton in May.

The project was entered into Texas Instruments’ 2013 Analog Design Contest for university students.
See: http://tinyurl.com/mf6nzhr

The AMSAT MPPT project was selected as one of the top 10 semi-finalists and the students were invited on an all-expenses paid trip to TI’s contest summit to be held July 21-23 in Dallas where the final winners will be announced.

Congratulations to the Fox-2 RIT MPPT team!

Main Documentation:
http://edge.rit.edu/edge/P13271/public/Home

Technical Document (8 pages of technical information HIGHLY recommended reading):
http://edge.rit.edu/edge/P13271/public/FinalDocuments/Build_Test_Document/P13271_AMSAT_MPPT_Technical_Report.pdf

Theory of Operations (In-depth technical documentation):
http://edge.rit.edu/edge/P13271/public/FinalDocuments/Detailed_Design/Theory_Operations

PCB Picture:
http://edge.rit.edu/edge/P13271/public/Photo%20Gallery/MPPT_SN2_Final/MPPT_SN2_PCB.png

MPPT Testing Operational Walk-through:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN7gRVWHZM4

Schematics:
http://edge.rit.edu/edge/P13271/public/FinalDocuments/Detailed_Design/AMSAT_7W_MPPT_Schematic.pdf

Thanks to Bryce Salmi KB1LQC, ANS and Tony AA2TX for the above information.

Jun 14 2013

AMSAT ARISS Program Status

International Space Station ISS with shuttle Endeavour 2011-05-23Frank Bauer, KA3HDO and AMSAT VP for Human Spaceflight Programs presents an update on the Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Program.

The presentation was given at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention. Frank takes a quick look at 30 years of amateur radio on the Space Shuttle and International Space Station, some changes at NASA that are affecting ARISS, and finishes with how you can become involved.

Watch AMSAT ARISS Program Status, by Frank KA3HDO – 2013 Dayton Hamvention

ARISS http://www.ariss.org/

Jun 14 2013

AMSAT Education and You

Dr Mark Hammond N8MH

Dr Mark Hammond N8MH

During the AMSAT Forum at the Dayton 2013 Hamvention, Mark Hammond, N8MH, AMSAT VP for Education Relations gave a quick overview of AMSAT’s recent educational activities, AMSAT’s partnership with the ARRL Education & Technology Program, and how you can become involved.

Watch AMSAT Education and You, by Mark N8MH – 2013 Dayton Hamvention

Jun 14 2013

Articles needed for OSCAR News magazine

AMSAT-UK_Bevelled_LogoThe editors of OSCAR News always welcome contributions – these can be full articles or simply news, views or gossip!

Please send them to g3wgm [at] amsat.org and/or g3vzv [at] amsat.org

As you will be aware we are presently producing four issues each year so please get in touch with us if you have any concerns about deadlines.

Please submit your articles in any of the following formats:– Text: txt, rtf, rtfd, doc, docx, odt,
Spreadsheets: Excel or OpenOffice,
Images: tiff, png, jpg
Schematics: pdf

(Ideally please send graphics/pics separately, ie not embedded in doc files, etc)
The editors are here to help you so please shout if you have any concerns.

Many thanks in advance for your contributions!
Jim & Graham

Jun 12 2013

Summer Issue of OSCAR News

OSCAR News 202 June 2013E-members of AMSAT-UK can now download the PDF of the Summer edition of the OSCAR News magazine here (as well as previous 2012 issues).

The paper edition should be posted to members soon.

In this issue
• GAMANET: Networking QB50
• Spectrum pressures continue
• Tim Peake to be first UK astronaut in space for over 20 years
• CubeSat launches 2013
• OFCOM Consultation
• IARU News
• AMSAT- FOX- launch date announced
• We love the amateur radio enthusiasts!
• D-STAR digital amateur communications in space with OUFTI-1 CubeSat
• FUNcube Report
• The ESEO Project – Spring Update
• Ham Video—a DATV transmitter on Columbus by Gaston Bertels ON4WF
• Raspberry Eye in The Sky
• Shorts and Notices

The AMSAT-UK Membership year lasts for 12 months starting on January 1 each year.

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 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

There are two rates for the paper edition to cover the extra postage costs:
UK
Rest of the World (Overseas)

PDF sample copy of “Oscar News” here.

Join AMSAT-UK using PayPal, Debit or Credit card at
http://shop.amsat.org.uk/shop/category_9/Join-Amsat-UK.html

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

Jun 11 2013

Consultation on amateur radio use of 2310 and 3400 MHz

AMSAT-UK_Bevelled_LogoOfcom has published a consultation relating to amateur use of the 2310-2450 MHz and 3400-3475 MHz spectrum bands.

These frequencies are within, and adjacent to, spectrum planned for release by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The MoD plans to release 40 MHz of spectrum between 2350 and 2390 MHz and a further 150 MHz from 3410 to 3600 MHz for new civil uses. The technical and regulatory aspects of this release will be the subject of a full consultation in due course. In advance of this, we are consulting on proposals to make changes to the Amateur Radio Licence for these bands.

Ofcom say: it is likely that the released MoD spectrum will be used for wireless broadband using 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) or LTE advanced technology.

Based on our technical analysis we believe that the impact and likelihood of harmful interference being caused by amateur uses to new uses in the release band [2350-2390 and 3410-3600 MHz] are sufficiently severe to preclude continued use following the release.

We are also consulting on proposals for the adjacent bands [2310-2350, 2390-2400 and 3400-3410 MHz]. Our current thinking is that amateurs should continue to be granted access to the adjacent bands although with additional terms in the licence which amend the current terms of access to these bands. Continued access would be on the basis that interference may not be caused to new and existing uses in the release and adjacent bands and that no protection from interference from those new uses can be expected.

The consultation closes on July 22, 2013.

The consultation and information on how to respond is available at
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/public-sector-spectrum-release/

Consultation PDF document
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/binaries/consultations/public-sector-spectrum-release/summary/PSSR-amateur.pdf

The Wireless Waffle site notes that radiomicrophone users were compensated when they there forced out of their spectrum. Read the Wireless Waffle story at http://www.wirelesswaffle.com/

It is worth noting that in some countries amateur radio access to the entire 2300-2400 MHz band has been completely lost to 4G LTE.

Sweden loses 2300 MHz band
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/september2012/sweden_loses_2_3_ghz_band.htm

Eire to sell 2300 MHz
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2010/ireland_to_sell_2_3ghz.htm

Australia – LTE in 2300-2400 MHz
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/february2013/australian_radio_amateurs_may_lose_the_2300_2302_mhz_band.htm

Ofcom 2400 MHz Consultation closes June 19
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/05/09/ofcom-2400-mhz-consultation/