The 2016 edition of the book Getting Started with Amateur Satellites is now available from the AMSAT-UK shop.

This excellent book is written by G. Gould Smith, WA4SXM and Friends. This year’s edition has been thoroughly updated and the book is now 176 pages long, covering all a beginner (and an experienced operator) needs to know about getting set up, listening to, and operating through the amateur satellites.

With information on, AO-73, UKube-1, the upcoming Fox-1A, Fox-1B, Fox-1C, Fox-1D, and Fox-1E, it also includes information on several satellites of interest to radio amateurs expected to be launched in the coming year.

As last year, AMSAT-NA and the authors have very kindly allowed AMSAT-UK to print copies in the UK, and make them available from the AMSAT-UK shop at http://shop.amsat-uk.org/Getting_Started_with_Amateur_Satellites_-_2016/p3815740_16038670.aspx

Steve Hedgecock M0SHQ with Elk 145/435 MHz Log Periodic Antenna

Steve Hedgecock M0SHQ explained how to operate via the amateur radio satellites at Skills Night hosted by the Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society on Monday, June 20, 2016.

He showed how to use the Elk dual-band 145/435 MHz Log Periodic Antenna to track the satellites and make contacts over thousands of kilometres using just 5 watts from a handheld transceiver.

Steve described how he recently managed to use the AO-85 satellite to contact the Isle of Arran DXpedition station GS3PYE using 5 watts and just the handheld’s quarter wave whip antenna. It should be noted though that a small handheld Yagi is recommended for AO-85.

As part of his display Steve had the popular book Getting Started with Amateur Satellites which is an excellent introduction for newcomers.

Sam Jewell G4DDK with one of his popular Microwave antennas

Also attending the Skills Night was long-time supporter of AMSAT-UK Sam Jewell G4DDK. He brought along his stall of UHF/Microwave antennas, pre-amps and other useful accessories.

Dave Powis G4HUP had his extensive selection of his kits, plus tools for working with SMD (Surface Mount Devices). During the evening he provided advice to attendees on a range of RF and construction related topics.

Both Dave and Sam have been regular attendees at the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium in Guildford which this year takes place July 30-31, further information at https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/

hupRF kits http://www.huprf.com/

G4DDK kits and accessories http://www.g4ddk.com/

Further information on the monthly Skills Night meetings can be found at http://g0mwt.org.uk/skills

Dave Powis G4HUP with his RF kits

Drew Glasbrenner M/KO4MA working FO-29 at the AMSAT-UK Colloquium 2015

Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UT Saturday and running through 2059 UTC Sunday. Field Day 2016 is June 25-26.

In an effort to encourage more kids and their families to get involved in the hobby, the kids at Ham Radio (dot) World are working to put an all-kids Special Event ARRL Field Day station on the air in 2016. This station will have the special event call sign of K1D and it will be set-up, operated, and put away by kids who are ham radio operators.

Kids of all ages and their parents (both licensed hams and non-hams alike) are encouraged to come out and participate in this exciting event.  New hams and even non-hams can experience the excitement of talking to people around the world with the Get On the Air (GOTA) station, which will have the callsign K4G. Both stations will operate from grid EL99IA in Deland, Florida, USA.

The kids will be on the HF bands and on the Amateur Radio satellites.

K1D will be joined by AMSAT’s Vice-President Operations, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, who will be a kid-for-a-day to help get the kids on the linear satellites.  Look for them and give them a shout!

Field Day http://www.arrl.org/field-day

Ham Radio World http://hamradio.world/

Source ANS http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=443