Tag Archives: Ham Radio

Apr 6 2014

UKSA 2013 CubeSat Workshop Recommendations Available

UKSA - UK Space Agency LogoOrganised by the UK Space Agency (UKSA) and held at the Open University, the 2013 workshop sessions included topics from over 100 contributors attending.

Key areas included:
• Fostering a stronger and wider UK CubeSat Community
• Overcoming Obstacles
• Developing Education/Outreach Benefits for the UK with the UKube X Program
• Accelerating Disruptive Technologies

The Recommendations & Notes from that workshop are now available at
http://www.cubesatforum.org.uk/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/UKSA-CubeSat-Workshop-Recommendations-Notes-Jan-2013.pdf

Make sure you attend the free 2014 UK CubeSat Workshop at Harwell on May 13, see
https://amsat-uk.org/2014/02/28/free-uk-cubesat-workshop/

Register for this premier event on the Satellite Applications Catapult page
http://www.cubesatforum.org.uk/wordpress/2014-uk-cubesat-workshop/

Apr 6 2014

FCC proposes giving more 5 GHz Spectrum to unlicensed devices

FCC 5 GHz Proposal ET Docket No. 13-49

FCC 5 GHz Proposal ET Docket No. 13-49

In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ET Docket 13-49 the FCC proposes making 195 MHz of spectrum at 5 GHz available for Part 15 unlicensed National Information Infrastructure (U-NII) devices to provide high data rate mobile and fixed communications for individuals, businesses, and institutions.

The Amateur Satellite Service has an uplink allocation at 5650-5670 MHz and a downlink allocation at 5830-5850 MHz.

Read the FCC Notice of Proposed Rulemaking ET Docket No. 13-49
http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view?id=7022123531

Read the ARRL story
http://www.arrl.org/news/more-peanut-butter-and-jelly-fcc-drops-the-first-shoe-in-5-ghz-u-nii-devices-proceeding

Apr 4 2014

Transponder Test: Jim Heck G3WGM talks to TX Factor

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

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

The FUNcube-1 (AO-73) satellite team plan to activate the transponder once again during the daytime over the weekend of April 5-6.

Project Manager Jim Heck G3WGM has given an exclusive audio interview to the TX Factor‘s Bob McCreadie G0FGX which explains what the tests are all about and the potential problems.

Will these tests lead to more time being made available to amateurs wanting to communicate via the satellite?

TX Factor htttp://www.txfactor.co.uk/

Apr 4 2014

Spring Issue of OSCAR News

AMSAT-UK OSCAR News March 2014E-members of AMSAT-UK can now download the PDF of the Spring edition of the OSCAR News magazine here (as well as previous issues).

The paper edition should be posted to members in 2-3 weeks.

In this issue
• FUNcube-1 Status
• Other FUNcubes
• Academy’s radio club enters the space race
• The Pragmatic Guide for Using the FUNcube Materials Science Experiment in the Classroom
• KiwiSAT report
• ZAcube/TshepisoSat pictures South Africa on a clear day
• OFCOM announces new VHF Consultation
• Active Satellite Status
• KickSat Ground Station
• HamTV on the ISS – Progress Report
• Es’Hail-2 Geostationary transponder payload
• Amateur radio satellite operation from Isle of Lewis
• Colloquium 2014
• OSCAR-11 Report
• Shorts

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.

Apr 3 2014

MO-76 $50sat is Rev-Ed project of the month

Yaesu handheld and $50SAT 1.5U PocketQube

Yaesu handheld and $50SAT 1.5U PocketQube

The MO-76 $50sat amateur radio satellite team is pleased to announce that the PICAXE based $50sat was chosen as Project of the Month by Bath based Revolution Education who supply PICAXE microcontroller development systems.

$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 was 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.

PICAXE $50sat http://www.picaxe.com/Project-Gallery/50SAT/

Bath based Revolution Education http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/

$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/

Apr 3 2014

ARTSAT1:INVADER designated OSCAR 77

ARTSAT INVADER Team Members

ARTSAT INVADER Team Members

The OSCAR number CO-77 was issued to the ARTSAT1:INVADER CubeSat (call sign JQ1ZKK, NORAD ID 39577U) on April 2, 2014.

ARTSAT1:INVADER

ARTSAT1:INVADER

The ARTSAT Project Leader Akihiro Kubota said “We would like to express best thanks to AMSAT-NA and all of you”.

INVADER is an amateur radio “Art Satellite” developed by students at the Tama Art University as a part of the “ARTSAT: Art and Satellite Project” which aims at a practical use of a satellite for art and design.

The 1U CubeSat was launched from the Yoshinobu Launch Complex at the Tanegashima Space Center on Thursday, February 27 at 1837 UT. It carries a CW (A1A) beacon on 437.325 MHz (+/- 10 kHz Doppler shift), a 1200 bps FM AX.25 Packet Radio and FM Digitalker on 437.200 MHz and a low-resolution camera.

Reports of ARTSAT1:INVADER reception can be submitted online at http://api.artsat.jp/report/

Watch ARTSAT1:INVADER Promotional Video

Web http://artsat.jp/

Facebook http://www.facebook.com/artsat

Twitter http://twitter.com/INVADER_ARTSAT

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

ARTSAT students at the Tama Art University

ARTSAT students at the Tama Art University