Tag Archives: Ham Radio

Jul 28 2013

RIT AMSAT Fox-2 Maximum Power Point Tracker Time-Lapse and Final Presentation

AMSAT FOXA time-lapse video of the first of two Maximum Power Point Tracker channels being populated by the Rochester Institute of Technology senior design ground P13271.

The prototype maximum power point tracker used to optimize the power output of the solar panels on the amateur radio Fox-2 satellite was developed in this senior design project.

This time-lapse only shows one side being brought up for the first time, including initial testing and represents 13,739 images taken every 5 seconds by a GoPro HD Hero resulting in a 2.5 minute video showing 19 hours of work by P13271 team-members.

Watch the Time-Lapse video

Rochester Institute of Technology Multidisciplinary Senior Design program team P13271 consisting of electrical engineering students Bryce Salmi (KB1LQC), Brenton Salmi (KB1LQD), Ian MacKenzie (KB3OCF), and Dan Corriero conduct the final project review at the conclusion of Spring Quarter 2013. P13271 designed and built a 7 Watt Maximum Power Point Tracker prototype intended for use on the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) Fox-2 satellite, a 3U CubeSat.

Watch P13271 AMSAT Fox-2 MPPT RIT Senior Design Final Presentation

Fox-2 MPPT Team Selected In TI Design Contest
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/06/16/fox-2-mppt-team-selected-in-ti-design-contest/

Jul 25 2013

Interns build a CubeSat

NASA Interns CubeSat

This video, released by NASA, shows a  group of interns who built a CubeSat.

Interns building a CubeSatInterns:
Anthony Yee, Christopher Erb, Jeffrey Sherwood, Tanzim Imam, Clayton Jacobs, Tiara Johnson, Liz Sauerbrunn, Alex Petrov, Marvin Cosare, Matthew Davis, Megan Robbett

Co-mentors:
Pat Kilroy, Joe Howard, Gary Crum, David Kim, Anisa Jamil, Eric Young, Pete Rossoni, Peter Ancosta, Victor Sank, Mark Steiner, Frank Kirchman, Jeff Didion, Franklin L. Robinson, Kenneth E. Li, Porfy Beltran, Dan Solomon, Leigh Janes, Gerardo Cruz-Ortiz

Watch NASA | Interns Build CubeSat

Interns Group Picture

Jul 24 2013

Free Ham Radio Satellite Tracking App for iOS

Satellite Explorer ProTom Doyle W9KE has released a free satellite tracking App called Satellite Explorer Pro for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

Watch ‘Satellite Explorer Pro’ for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch

Satellite Explorer Pro can be downloaded from the iTunes store at
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/satellite-explorer-pro/id669039200

Ham Radio Satellite Explorer App for Windows 8 devices
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/01/26/ham-radio-satellite-explorer-app/

SimpleSat Look Down PC satellite tracking software now available
https://amsat-uk.org/2012/06/12/simplesat-look-down-v1-0-now-available/

For those with Android devices there is a different Satellite Tracking App produced by G4DPZ – AmsatDroid Free
On Google at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.me.g4dpz.HamSatDroid
On Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/G4DPZ-AmsatDroid-Free/dp/B00DK7XXYK/

Jul 23 2013

UK STRaND-1 Amateur Radio Smartphone CubeSat is Back !

Dr Susan Jason working on STRaND-1 - Image credit Surrey Space Centre

Dr Susan Jason working on STRaND-1 – Image credit Surrey Space Centre

On July 23, 2013 at 1634 UT Mike Rupprecht DK3WN received signals from the UK STRaND-1 satellite after a near four month absence.

Built by volunteers from the Surrey Space Centre (SSC) and SSTL in Guildford STRaND-1 was launched on February 25, 2013 and was the World’s first Smartphone CubeSat to be put into orbit.

Dr Chris Bridges M6OBC and STRaND-1

Dr Chris Bridges M6OBC and STRaND-1

STRaND-1 unexpectedly stopped transmitting on March 30, 2013 and radio amateurs around the world have been listening for it ever since on a frequency of 437.568 MHz (+/- 10 kHz Doppler).

Radio amateurs are requested to email reports of reception of telemetry data from STRaND-1 to: strand.messages<at>gmail.com

See the report from Mike Rupprecht DK3WN at http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?p=35582

STRaND-1 information https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/strand-1/

How to decode the telemetry https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/strand-1/strand-1-telemetry/

Online real-time tracking of STRaND-1 http://www.n2yo.com/?s=39090&df=1

Watch the presentation on STRaND-1 given by Chris Bridges M6OBC to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium on July 21, 2013 at http://www.batc.tv/streams/amsat1315. Download the video by right-clicking on http://www.batc.tv/vod/strand.flv

AMSAT-UK publishes a quarterly colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, that is full of Amateur Satellite information. A sample issue of OSCAR News can be downloaded here.
Join AMSAT-UK online at http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK/

Jul 22 2013

Video of STRATODEAN High Altitude Balloon Presentation

Team STRATODEAN - Cassie Phelps and Mark Ireland

Team STRATODEAN – Cassie Phelps and Mark Ireland

The members of Team STRATODEAN, Cassie Phelps and Mark Ireland, gave a presentation on their High Altitude Balloon project to the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium on Saturday, July 20, 2013.

Image from STRATODEAN Two

Image from STRATODEAN Two

The STRATODEAN team have sent high altitude weather balloons complete with payload from the Forest of Dean up to the edge of space (approx. 34 km up into the Stratosphere).

Each balloon was equipped with a camera and video recorder as well as GPS and a 434 MHz telemetry transmitter running 50 bps, 350 Hz shift, ASCII. The transmitter enables the balloon to be tracked during its flight and then located once it has burst and returned to earth with the help of a parachute.

Their first balloon STRATODEAN One launched on April 21, 2013 followed by STRATODEAN Two on May 18, 2013 and they managed to capture some stunning pictures and video.

Watch the STRATODEAN presentation

STRATODEAN High Altitude Balloon Project http://www.stratodean.co.uk/

To get details of upcoming UK balloon launches subscribe to the UKHAS Mailing List by sending a blank email to this address: ukhas+subscribe@googlegroups.com

Videos of other presentations at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium can be seen via
https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/colloquium-2013/presentation-videos/

AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, that is full of Amateur Satellite information. A sample issue of OSCAR News can be downloaded here.
Join AMSAT-UK online at http://tinyurl.com/JoinAMSAT-UK/

Jul 22 2013

Ham Radio Satellite Operation from Guernsey

Peter Goodhall 2E0SQL operating portable through the satellites

Peter Goodhall 2E0SQL operating portable through the satellites

Peter Goodhall 2E0SQL/2U0SQL will be active on the amateur radio satellites from Guernsey during July 24-30, 2013

On the AMSAT Bulletin Board he writes:

I will be active sporadically on satellite passes from Guernsey (IN89RL) as 2U0SQL.

I shall be focusing on FO-29 [SSB] and SO-50 [FM] passes but no firm pass times, but hopefully will have internet access and will try posting on Twitter (@2E0SQL) when I’ll be on.

Due to this being camping I will be battery powered using a FT-817 and a Arrow antenna.

If anyone needs a QSL Card its direct to 2E0SQL or bureau.

73 Peter Goodhall, 2E0SQL/2U0SQL
Twitter @2E0SQL

Online satellite tracking:
• FO-29 http://n2yo.com/satellite/?s=24278
• SO-50 http://n2yo.com/satellite/?s=27607

Free satellite tracking software:
• SimpleSat Look Down http://www.tomdoyle.org/SimpleSatLookDown/
• Gpredict http://gpredict.oz9aec.net/
• Orbitron http://www.uk.amsat.org/?p=9051