Tag Archives: Ham Radio

Dec 24 2015

ESA – Year in Images

Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti IZ0UDF points at the Dargon spacecraft she just grappled on April 17, 2015 with the 16m-long ISS robotic arm

Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti IZ0UDF points at the Dargon spacecraft she just grappled on April 17, 2015 with the 16m-long ISS robotic arm

ESA has released a selection of favourite images from 2015, they include International Space Station astronauts Samantha Cristoforetti IZ0UDF and Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS.

The images can be downloaded in high resolution by clicking on the “Access the image” link at the bottom of each image page.

ESA Year in Images http://www.esa.int/Highlights/Year_in_images

Astronaut Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS giving the thumbs up shortly after his arrival on the ISS

Astronaut Tim Peake KG5BVI / GB1SS giving the thumbs up shortly after his arrival on the ISS

Dec 22 2015

Geosynchronous ham radio payload to aid disaster communications

Millennium Space Systems AQUILA M8 Series Satellite Structure

Millennium Space Systems AQUILA M8 Series Satellite Structure

Phys.org interviews Hume Center Director of Research Bob McGwier N4HY about a geosynchronous satellite amateur radio payload which will aid disaster communications.

Researchers at the Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology are preparing to send an amateur radio transponder into a geosynchronous orbit in 2017.

“Seven days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a new ham band will be available for the Americas,” said Robert McGwier, a research professor in the Bradley Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Hume Center’s director of research. “It will allow rapid deployment to disaster areas and support long-haul communications for first responders.”

This would be the first amateur or “ham” radio payload in a geosynchronous orbit, and would significantly enhance communications capabilities for amateur radio operators, in particular following natural disasters or other emergency situations. The Hume Center team met with Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate in September to discuss the project.

Read the full story at
http://phys.org/news/2015-12-amateur-radio-geosynchronous-orbit-aid.html

What is a Geosynchronous orbit ?
https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/na-gso-sat/

Video of Geosynchronous ham radio project presentation
https://amsat-uk.org/2015/11/08/geosynchronous-ham-radio-project-video/

Dec 21 2015

AO-73 in continuous transponder mode

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

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

The amateur radio satellite AO-73 will be operating in continuous transponder mode throughout the festive season until the evening of Sunday, January 3.

Why not take full advantage of this activation and get your 73 on 73 Award, details at https://amsat-uk.org/funcube/73-on-73-award/

AO-73 (FUNcube-1) website https://amsat-uk.org/funcube/funcube-website/

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

Dec 21 2015

EO-79 transponder activation

EO-79 and EO-80 - Image Credit ISIS

EO-79 and EO-80 – Image Credit ISIS

On December 21, 2015 at 1038 UT, the EO-79 transponder was turned on for a prolonged period.

The FUNcube transponder subsystem on QB50p1 (EO-79) had been provided by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL and is a similar subsystem as on FUNcube-1, but without the telemetry downlink circuitry.

The current software running on EO-79 does experience occasional reboots. When these reboots happen, the transponder is automatically turned off and will have to be turned back on by a command station. The FUNcube team has selected a few command stations to do so, but be advised the transponder may be off.

TLEs:
AMSAT keps name: EO-79
Celestrak keps Name: QB50P1
Celestrak file: cubesat.txt
NORAD #    40025
COSPAR designator    2014-033-R

Frequencies:
*Uplink:* 435.035-435.065 MHz LSB [See note below]
*Downlink:* 145.935-145.965 MHz USB

EO-79 has been set to only beacon the normal AX.25 beacon every 30 seconds instead of 10 seconds. The beacon frequency is 145.815 MHz and consists of AX.25 frames on BPSK. More details about the downlink can be found on the ISIS Ham Radio page at http://isispace.nl/HAM/qb50p.html

We kindly request you to share your experiences with the AMSAT Bulletin Board so everyone can benefit from operating tips and tricks, as well as being up-to-date on the status.

We would also welcome any observation related to the transponder behaviour when the AX.25 beacon comes on.

Just like FUNcube-1, the crystal oscillator circuits exhibit drift with temperature. This means manual tuning will probably work best.

Lastly, the commanding team will not be available over Christmas, so the current activations are planned from today until Thursday 24th and from Monday 28th until Thursday 31st

73 and have FUN
Happy Holidays

Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG
AMSAT-NL
AMSAT-UK

Mike Seguin N1JEZ notes:  I found my downlink after setting my uplink +12 kHz from published spec

SatPC32 tracking software Doppler SQF information used by Peter VK4NBL:
EO-79,145950,435063,USB,LSB,REV,0,0
EO-79,145814.8,435070,CW,TELEMETRY,0,0

Graham Shirville G3VZV says that due to platform sharing considerations the FUNcube transponder on EO-79 uses 1/4 wave monopole antennas rather than the full dipoles used on AO-73. The actual effects of this difference in practice may be interesting to observe.

AMSAT Bulletin Board (AMSAT-BB) http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

Satellite Tracking https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/satellite-tracking/

Dec 18 2015

Amateur radio in UK Spectrum Policy Forum report

AMSAT-UK_Bevelled_LogoThe UK Spectrum Policy Forum has released the UK Spectrum Usage & Demand report which covers amateur radio and other services.

The UK Spectrum Policy Forum was launched in September 2013 at the behest of Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy to act as the industry sounding board on long-term UK spectrum issues to Government and Ofcom. This report provides a snapshot of the current spectrum usage and expected long-term future needs of the major users of spectrum in the UK. It identifies the business and societal activities which depend on this spectrum and the associated drivers of value.

Regarding Amateur Radio the report notes:

“The RSGB believes current AR primary allocations are insufficient and there are no primary allocations between 400 MHz and 24 GHz, threatening confidence, investment and growth in AR. The problem is greatest for satellite transponders, EME and narrowband terrestrial systems.”

“Additional spectrum is needed to relieve digital voice congestion, enable new technology experimentation, introduce and extend digital TV, introduce new data modes and higher speed data technologies and to continue to enable the UK’s lead in small satellites“

Regarding the contribution of Amateur Radio to social and economic value the report says:

The AR community contributes to the UK’s technology skills base, providing knowledge and education (at no cost). AR activities lead to the development of radio technologies such as narrow split duplexing filters and in-depth understanding of propagation effects.

Radio amateurs also operate voluntary communications services which can bring relief in emergency and disaster situations: examples include the North Sea flood in 1953 and the Lockerbie air disaster in 1988. The ITU Handbook on Emergency Communications states: “In situations where a professional and helpful attitude is maintained, served agencies point with pride to Amateur Radio volunteer efforts and accomplishments. Although the name says “Amateurs,” its real reference is to the fact that they are not paid for their efforts”

Download the report UK Spectrum Usage & Demand – Main V3 and the Annex document from
http://www.techuk.org/insights/reports/item/6825-uk-spectrum-usage-demand-second-edition
Note: This page asks for name and an email address. The fields will accept anything, you do not need to be able to receive an email at the address you give in order to download the report.

The Wireless Waffle site was highlighted in the Annex
http://www.wirelesswaffle.com/

Dec 17 2015

ISS SSTV activity planned for mid January

ISS SSTV image 1 Murray Hely ZL3MH 20150131

ISS SSTV image 1 received by Murray Hely ZL3MH January 31, 2015

The ARISS Russia team is making plans to support a couple of Slow Scan TV (SSTV) events in the next few months on 145.800 MHz FM.

The first session is being targeted for mid January (subject to change) to celebrate 15 years of ARISS school contacts with the ISS crew.

The down link mode will be PD120 which should allow for the opportunity to receive more images in a single pass. Watch for updates and additional information as it becomes available.

The ISS puts out a strong signal on 145.800 MHz FM and a 2m handheld with a 1/4 wave antenna will be enough to receive it. The FM transmission uses 5 kHz deviation which is standard in much of the world. In IARU Region 1 (British Isles, Europe, Africa) FM equipment is usually set by default to the narrower 2.5 kHz deviation.

Many FM rigs can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters. For best results you should select the filter for wider deviation FM. Handhelds all seem to have a single wide filter fitted as standard.

ISS Slow Scan TV hints and links https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/

ISS SSTV Video and “ISS SSTV Reception Hints” by John Brier KG4AKV https://spacecomms.wordpress.com/iss-sstv-reception-hints/

John Brier KG4AKV has made available a test recording of a PD120 transmission to help you prepare for the ISS SSTV transmissions

ARISS SSTV Blog http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.co.uk/