Tag Archives: satellites

Dec 29 2023

December 2023 OSCAR News now available

December 2023 2023-12 OSCAR News front pageE-members of AMSAT-UK can now download the December 2023 edition of OSCAR News, issue 243, here.

The paper edition edition will be sent to postal members and should arrive in the next 2-3 weeks.

In this issue:
• From the Secretary’s Keyboard
• Letters to the Editor
• Satellite News
• Beyond the Bent Pipe by Martin Ling M0LNG
• St Peter-in-Thanet Junior School ARISS Contact by John Hislop, G7OHO
• Greencube Antennas by Dave Fisher KG0D
• Packet Decode Analysis from GreenCube Terminal’s debug.log by Justin Sours, N9ZTS

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 the quarterly publication 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

PDF sample copy of “Oscar News” here.

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

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

Aug 16 2023

AT5KLH on satellites from Kachchhigadh Lighthouse

AT5KLH ILLW August 18-21Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP will be active on the FM satellites from Kachchhigadh Light House during August 18-21.

This will be second Light House of Gujarat state which will be activated after Veraval Light House (AT3VLH) was activated by Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP & Sakshi Vagadia VU3EXP (father & daughter) in 2022.

Our Motive for AT5KLH Lighthouse Activation is to;

  • Spread awareness of Khachhigadh Lighthouse amongst students & public
  • Highlight the World class Shivrajpur Beach which is only Blue Flag awarded beach from Gujarat State
  • Aware about Lighthouse functioning
  • Highlight its importance in Maritime traffic
  • Understand it’s Heritage value
  • Show our gratitude to the Lighthouse keepers & administration
  • To give exposure of Amateur Radio to young generation
  • Enjoy Ham Radio Activity at the coast of Light House!

Operation Dates: 18th to 21st August, 2023

Grid Locator: ML42LH

HF Operating Bands: 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m

VHF Band: 145.500 MHz simplex

Modes: FM, SSB, Digital & Satellite

Radio: Icom IC-718, Icom IC-705, Kenwood TM-281A, Pair of HTs

Antenna: Fan Dipole for 40m, 20m, 15m

EFHW Antenna 40m – 10m

Satellite antenna: Arrow-II, Dual Band Yagi, IOio Antenna

More details will be published soon at www.qrz.com/db/at5klh
Look for AT5KLH

Thank you 73

Rajesh P. Vagadia – VU2EXP
Rajkot – Gujarat – India

Sep 28 2022

University students learn about Amateur Radio Satellites

Celebrating Engineering Day Workshop with Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXPIn India on 15 Sep 2022, on the occasion of National Engineering Day, an excellent Workshop titled “Fascinating World of Ham Radio & Amateur Radio Satellites” was conducted by AMSAT-INDIA’s Regional Coordinator Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP at reputed Marwadi University Rajkot (Gujarat) INDIA.

It was half day (10:00 AM to 02:00 PM IST) interactive workshop full of presentations, Audio Visual Documentary, Practical Demos, Q & A sessions and Radio stuff Exhibition with live operation.

There were 80 B.Tech students participated from ICT Dept + MU’s Student Satellite Project team. Yes Marwadi University has announced to build a Student Satellite and to be launched by ISRO!

Our ham team includes YL Sakshi Vagadia VU3EXP & YL Shyama Vagadia VU3WHG, both member extended great support to setup VHF station, organise & display Radio Stuff and assisting in practical demos including SSTV, Digital & VHF FM Demo with groups! Btw Shyama VU3WHG also remains one of the student coordinator of this event as well as Team member of Student Satellite Project.

All participants gained knowledge on broad spectrum of topics from CW to Cube Satellites! In first session Radio Fundamentals, operating protocols, radio jargons, licensing procedure etc were covered. In second session participants were briefed with various Ham radio events like FD, Hilltop, Light House activation, POTA, IOTA, EME, Satellite tracking, SatCom, High Altitude Balloon tracking, ARISS SSTV & Student outreach program which gives exposure to gain knowledge & develop skills from outside radio Shack activities also!

Lots of fruitful discussion happens during workshop and students were satisfied with all of their queries.

In workshop we had gracious presence of Shri Naresh Jadeja (Registrar), Dr. R. Sridaran (Dean), Dr. Jaypalsinh (MCA Dept), and Dr. Shobhit Patel (Researcher). We also get positive response from Marwadi University authorities to be engaged with AMSAT-INDIA to conduct more programs & projects in upcoming period for benefit of student community.

We also thank to Shri C. D. Parmar Sir (HOD ICT) and Program Coordinator Prof Mitesh Solanki for all the great support provided to make this workshop successful.

I am glad to notice this Ham workshop created a Ham buzz in the Marwadi University campus. For me too it was great honor to present & share my best knowledge amongst budding engineers on the occasion of Engineering Day!

Thank you
73
Rajesh Vagadia VU2EXP
Regional Coordinator West India Zone AMSAT-INDIA

University staff and the audience

Oct 11 2021

AMSAT-UK Online Colloquium Sunday Oct 24

AMSAT-UK FUNcube Mission Patch Rev4 20100609The AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium will be held as an online Zoom Webinar on Sunday the 24th October 2021. You don’t have to be a member of AMSAT-UK to attend, and the event is free.

The Colloquium will run from 10.45 BST to approximately 16.00 BST (0945-1500 GMT). A full programme of the event is available at programme-for-amsatuk-20211014

This year’s Colloquium will be in the form of a Zoom Webinar. It’s easy to use, simply register at the address below, and follow the instructions which will arrive by email.

Please register before the 24th , or join live at
https://tinyurl.com/AMSATUK2021Colloquium

The 2021 colloquium will also be streamed via YouTube.
Our channel is at https://www.youtube.com/user/AMSATUK

The event will be hosted by members of AMSAT-UK and formally opened by our Chairman, Martin Sweeting, G3YJO.

Each presentation will be followed by a 5 minute Q+A session, which will allow those viewing via Zoom, to pose questions to the speakers.

The 2021 colloquium will be followed by the AMSAT-UK AGM and after a short break there will be an informal evening discussion session on ‘All things satellite.’

Programme (all times BST, UTC+1)

10.30 Webinar web site opens

10.45 – 11.00 Official opening by Martin Sweeting, G3YJO.
11.00 – 11.30 IARU Amateur Satellite co-ordination Hans Blondeel Timmerman PB2T
11.30 – 12.00 AMSAT-DL Peter Guelzow DB2OS

12.00 – 13.00 Lunch break

13.00 – 13.30 Robert Bankston KE4AL President AMSAT North America
13.30 – 14.00 STAR-XL: AMSAT-UK Payload – An updated OBDH for Nanosats
Phil Bladen, Sam Lane, Chris Bridges

14.15– 14.30 STAR-XL: X-Band Upconverter & Dual Band L/X Patch Antenna for Space
Patrick Hope, Marcel Friesch, Chris Bridges

14.30 – 14:45 Coffee Break

14.45 – 15.00 Iain Young G7III – QO-100 using a SkyQ Dish
15.00 – 15.30 David Johnson B2Space Presentation
15.30 – 16.00 Satellite Operating from 57 Degrees North. Peter Goodhall 2M0SQL
16.00 – 16.05 Announcement of G3AAJ Trophy – G3YJO.
16.05 End of Colloquium
16.05 – 16.35 AMSAT-UK AGM

17.30 Onwards. Informal session. Q/A and audience participation

We are very grateful to our speakers for contributing to our Colloquium

Aug 15 2021

Guide to using FT4 on satellites

Setup for FT4 on the RS-44 satelliteAMSAT-SM have published a guide to using the popular digital mode FT4 via the amateur radio satellites using SDR-Console software, a SDR receiver and the Icom IC-705 as the transmitter.  We have also had information from Jef ON8NT of the setup that he and Thierry ON2ACO used.

The AMSAT-SM guide covers:

• Step 1 – Setup SDR-Console and IC-705 with correct frequency

• Step 2 – Config WSJT-X

• Step 3 – Start Satellite External Radio in SDR-Console

• Step 4 – Select correct RX frequency in SDR-Console

• Step 5 – Find yourself on the satellite transponder

• Step 6 – Start calling CQ

• How to use a 2nd instance of WSJT-X for RX of your own FT4 signal

Read the guide at https://www.amsat.se/2021/08/15/ft4-via-satellite-with-sdr-console-and-ic-705/

This is a short video of FT-4 communication via satellite AO-73 with SDR-Console V3.1 and Icom IC-705. It is a part of a guide that will be published later on AMSAT-SM web https://www.amsat.se/

In the first part you will see the first screen with SDR-Console with Airspy Mini as receiver, audio is piped to WSJT-X. You will also see SDR-Console handle the TX Doppler correction for the IC-705 via “External radio”.

In the second part you will see the second screen with WSJT-X connected to IC-705. The output was only one (1) to two (2) watts! You can see that WSJT-X is reading the Doppler corrected frequency. You will also see SDR-Console satellite tracking and PstRotator controlling the SPID RAS rotor.

Watch FT4 via AO-73 with SDR-Console and Icom IC-705

Thierry ON2ACO and Jef ON8NT use the ICOM IC-9700 for FT4 on the satellites.

They used the video from NU1U on YouTube which gives a good step by step ‘how-to’.

Watch IC-9700 using SatPC32 and WSJT-X

Instead of SatPC32 they used the S.A.T. controller from http://csntechnologies.net/sat

For configuring the RX instance from WSJT-X, also the article from GM4FVM on using multiple instance was very helpful in setting up the soundcard properly in WSJT-X !
See https://gm4fvm.blogspot.com/2021/02/multiple-instances-of-wsjt-x-using-more.html

Jun 13 2020

Indian radio amateur starts petition for licence change

Department of Telecommunications India LogoRohit Bokade VU3OIR has started a petition requesting a change to the Amateur Radio licence in India to permit all grades of licence to use the amateur radio satellites.

In India holders of the Restricted grade of licence (VU3 prefix) are not permitted to use amateur radio satellites or communicate with the International Space Station. The exam requirements for a Restricted licence are of a similar level to the UK Intermediate.

Rohit says:

“Last decade has seen a rapid increase in Amateur Satellites, especially the ones made by educational institutes. As we are slowly moving towards an era when Space will be democratized, more and more students are becoming interested in joining the Amateur radio community.”

“By keeping the amateur radio service bound to General grade license, we are preventing a vast majority of restricted grade operators consisting of a major portion of students yet to get general grade license, from operating these satellites even if it is possible to operate them within the power bounds of restricted grade. We request you through this petition to allow restricted grade operators to operate amateur satellite service within their emission power bounds.”

Read the full petition text at
https://www.change.org/p/wireless-planning-and-coordination-wpc-wing-change-in-amateur-radio-rules-in-india-to-facilitate-rising-amateur-and-student-satellites

Rohit Bokade (VU3OIR) https://twitter.com/rnbokade/status/1271706670943502336

The two grades of licence in India are General (400w HF, 25w VHF/UHF) and Restricted (50w HF, 10w VHF/UHF). The exam syllabus and licence regulations can be downloaded from
http://www.niar.org/training-material.html

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, released the 2018/19 Amateur Radio statistics in their Annual Report. See page 60 (PDF page 62) at
http://dot.gov.in/sites/default/files/Annual%20Report-2018-19(English).pdf

Previous Annual Reports http://dot.gov.in/reports-statistic/2471