Date: May 6th 2007

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-126

ANS is a free, weekly, news and information service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation ANS reports on the activities of a worldwide group of Amateur Radio operators who share an active interest in designing, building, launching and communicating through analog and digital Amateur Radio satellites

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor@amsat org

In this edition:

Eagle Prototype UHF Receiver Powered Up, Testing Commences
AO-51 Schedule Change to Accomodate New Software Testing
Reminder of the Dayton AMSAT/TAPR Banquet at Dayton
FO-29 Telemetry Data Needed
Space Shorts From All Over
AMSAT Awards
ARISS Status Report for the Week of April 30, 2007

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126 01 Eagle Prototype UHF Receiver Powered Up, Testing Commences

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 126 01

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD May 6, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126 01

Jim Sanford, WB4GCS, Eagle Project Manager, has good news this week
Jim reported the completion of construction of the first prototype of the Eagle 70cm Uplink Receiver The receiver has been powered up with testing and evaluation starting on May 5

The receiver was designed by John Stephensen, KD6OZH Juan Rivera, WA6HTP and the Project Oscar Team implemented the design and produced the first prototype Juan and John have provided extensive documentation on the receiver design and construction which is available on AMSAT's EaglePedia See: http://www amsat org/amsat-new/eagle/EaglePedia/index php/U-Band_Receiver

Support for the CAN-Do! command bus interface was provided by Stephen, KC0FTQ For more information check out EaglePedia: http://www amsat org/amsat-new/eagle/EaglePedia/index php/Category:CanDo

John described his receiver design, "This is a key component of the Mode B linear transponder and provides higher dynamic range than Phase 3 satellite receivers Our 70 cm band is shared and this mini- mizes interference from the military radiolocation service and provides improved performance for users in the amateur radio service"

Juan wrote, "Look for more details on my blogs on EaglePedia over the weekend My special thanks to everyone who made this possible It was a team effort from beginning to end "

Jim concluded, "I wish to express my thanks and gratitude to the entire team for reaching this significant Eagle milestone!"

[ANS thanks Jim, WB4GCS for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126 02 AO-51 Schedule Change to Accomodate New Software Testing

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 126 02

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD May 6, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126 02

AMSAT Vice President of Operations, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, previously announced the on-going software upgrade and ensuing testing efforts for AO-51

During the last round of testing and upgrades on AO-51,Ã‚Â the Command Team discovered a problem with the BBS receiver interfering with the command system with either UHF transmitter above a certain power level This problem had gone unsolved since launch until the relationship to the receiver was found The good news is the problem goes away when that receiver is shut off

The bad news is that particular receiver is the only user receiver the operating system allows to access the BBS A rewrite of the core opera- ting software is required to work around this issue, and there is exactly one person who can do this For the mean time AO-51 will pri- marily be an analog mode satellite, until the fix is coded and tested thoroughly on the ground

Testing aboard the satellite has started Gould, WA4SXM, AO-51 Operations Group and Command station has updated the May 2007 AO-51 (AMSAT Echo) Schedule Gould wrote, "We will be testing automatic mode switching on AO-51 for 2 days each week on Wed & Thur this month, except for Dayton week The rest of the time AO-51 will be in 'normal' mode "

The first mode switch already occured on an early US east coast pass on 2 May 2007 The AO-51 schedule for May on the AMSAT web site has been updated: http://www amsat org/amsat-new/echo/ControlTeam php

Enjoy these modes and send comments and requests to the AO-51 Operations Group at ao51-modes@amsat org

AO-51 May 2007 AO-51 (AMSAT Echo) Schedule May 1 until May 31, subject to modification

Normal mode except for 2 days testing on Wed - Fri
Testing of the automatic scheduler

2 - 4 May 2007, 9 - 11 May & 23 -25 May, no change during Dayton week, to be defined mode change the last week of the month

2 May - 4 May Mode 7 Testing

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145 920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlink: 435 300 MHz FM

QRP FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145 880 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlink: 435 150 MHz FM

9 May - 11 May Mode 4 Testing (Field Day configuration)

FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145 920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlink: 435 300 MHz FM

FM Repeater, L/U Uplink: 1268 700 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlink: 435 150 MHz FM

23 May - 25 May Mode 2 Testing

FM Repeater, V/S Uplink: 145 880 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlink: 2401 200 MHz FM

Normal Mode FM Repeater, V/U Uplink: 145 920 MHz FM, NO PL Tone Downlink: 435 300 MHz FM 9k6 Digital, V/U, Telemetry Only Downlink: 435 150 Mhz FM, 9k6 Telemetry

[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126 03 Reminder of the Dayton AMSAT/TAPR Banquet at Dayton

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 126 03

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD May 6, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126 03

AMSAT will have a large presence at the Dayton Hamvention this year, so come to Dayton and involve yourself in the many AMSAT activities

Plan on attending the Thursday night Pizza and Suds party at Marion's

The AMSAT Forum Friday 11-2 has an outstanding list of speakers and topics of interest to all AMSAT members

Visit the outdoor satellite demonstration area to observe and make satellite contacts

We will have a large number of new items at the AMSAT booth, as well as information and a chance to meet and talk with AMSAT Officers and BOD members

Just a reminder that there are only two weeks left to purchase your tickets to the Dayton AMSAT/TAPR Banquet Friday, May 18,2007

The "Under the Wings" Banquet will be held in the Air Force Museum
Ticket reservations can be made online at the AMSAT Store, follow the link from the front page of the amsat org web site

Reserved tickets will be available for pickup at the AMSAT booth (#444-448) all day Friday, and at the Museum Reserved tickets can only be purchased until end of business Monday, May 14, 2007 (two weeks from today) We must give the museum a final count on Tuesday morning

There will be no ticket sales at either the AMSAT or TAPR booth Friday, this is different than past years

Get online and make your reservations now for a great meal, great ambiance and great kinship

Don't be left out of THE Friday night event See the AMSAT web site for additional information

See you at Dayton May 18-20, 2007

[ANS thanks Gould, WA4SXM for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126 04 FO-29 Telemetry Data Needed

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 126 04

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD May 6, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126 04

The Fuji-Oscar 29 (FO-29) satellite has not been heard for several days Below is a translation of the JARL FO-29 note from their webpage at: http://www jarl or jp

"The analog repeater of amateur satellite 'Fuji 3' ceased operation We request your help in gathering information during the investigation of the cause and restoration of the satellite if possible "

The amateur satellite 'Fuji of JARL 3' (FO-29 and 8J1JCS), used the regular analog system continuously, but it was verified that the analog repeater has stopped after April 21

Presently, the control bureau is directing an investigation of the cause, collecting information of what happened before the repeater stops If you collected and/or analyze telemetry, it can help with the future restoration and planning of the command station We ask you to help us by providing the following information regarding FO-29 to the JARL technical section

1
 After April 20th: CW telemetry data
2
 After April 20th: Repeater operational details/observations 
   (CW telemetry for the repeater including those times when it was 
   operational or not operational)
3
 If there are phenomenon which you believe relevant, such as 
   signal strength and reception circumstance please send

On May 3, the JARL command station could command the analog transponder off and on On May 4 when the analog transponder was turned on the power balance during eclipse was severely negative An attempt at recondition- ing the batteries may be successful if the power budget is carefully man- aged JARL reported that FO-29 needs to be turned off for a while

Although it is possible for the command station to temporarily turn on the satellite over Japan, users are requested to refrain from attempting to access the analog transponder Any telemetry data received is wel- comed

[ANS thanks JARL and Mineo, JE9PEL for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126 05 Space Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 126 05

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD May 6, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126 05

John, KD6PAG will be on Santa Catalina Island (IOTA NA-066, near Los Angeles) from Friday afternoon 4 May through Tuesday mid-morning 8 May Plans include working J-FM satellites as time (and horizons) permit Monday is the best time to try if you can only fit in one or two passes John also said he plans to activate CM86 (Santa Cruz) again on the first Sat- urday in June and he is still considering CM79, probably on June 23 or 24
Mineo, JE9PEL posted information provided by DK3WN on "How to decode CP4 telemetry" on-line at: http://www ne jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/cp4deco0 htm
NASA announced pioneering astronaut Walter "Wally" Schirra, the only man who flew in all three of America's first human space projects - Mercury, Gemini and Apollo - died Wednesday night He was 84 Schirra's family reported he died of natural causes
Nate, WY0X sent the word that Ted Cross, N0IAK, passed away early in the week of April 16th due to complications arising from a seizure Ted was 46 years old Ted was from England and was dual-licensed His other Amateur callsign was G0HHY Ted was involved in AMSAT projects over the years
Greg, WA7IRW will be operating at the British Virgin Islands as VP2V/WA7IRW starting 5 May and ending 18 May He expects to try AO-51 ops typically in the afternoon / evening hours passes as they will be sailing in the morning hours He will be using a FT857 and an aArrow antenna from the sail boat QSL to WA7IRW
Rolf, DK2ZF will be on the Azores as CU2/DK2ZF over the weekend of May 25th to May 29th from Sao Miguel HM77UC Station will constist of FT-847 with 5 element uplink and 9 element downlink antennas
Pop, VU2POP, Secretary of AMSAT India reminds radio amateurs world- wide to wish HAMSAT a very Happy 2nd birthday and a very long life

[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126 06 AMSAT Awards

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 126 06

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD May 6, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126 06

Bruce, KK5DO, AMSAT Director Contests and Awards says the awards this week are:

We would like to welcome the following to the satellite community They have made their first satellite contact and are now members of the AMSAT Satellite Communicators Club: Joaquim das Virgens Neto, PS7JN

AMSAT Communication Achievement Award Joe Prokop, KC8RAN, #449 Joaquim das Virgens Neto, PS7JN, #450 Steve Raas, N2JDQ, #451

South Africa AMSAT Communication Achievement Award Joe Prokop, KC8RAN, #US108

To see all the awards visit http://www amsat org

[ANS thanks Bruce, KK5DO for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-126 07 ARISS Status Report for the Week of April 30, 2007

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 126 07

From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD May 6, 2007 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-126 07

ARISS Ã‚Â– Scuola Europea Varese Contact Successful

Scuola Europea Varese in Varese, Lombardia, Italy experienced an ARISS contact on Monday, April 23 via the telebridge station VK4KHZ in Australia Sixteen students posed one question each to astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, in front of an audience of 300 Three newspapers, Corriere Della Sera, Varese News and Prealpina, and two television stations, Rete 55 and Tele 7 Laghi, covered the event

Kingston School Contact Successful

On Monday, April 23, students attending Kingston Elementary School in Virginia Beach, Virginia spoke with Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, via the ARISS program Thirteen children asked 16 questions of the astronaut Media coverage included a newspaper and television station The Virginia Pilot article may be viewed on: http://content hamptonroads com/story cfm?story=123431&ran=116848

Illinois School Contact, a Success

An ARISS contact took place between Christian Life Elementary School in Rockford, Illinois and Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, on Wednesday, April 25 Williams answered eleven questions posed to her by 11 children as 1200 students, teachers and parents observed from the audience One radio station provided streaming audio Three television stations and one newspaper reported the event One of the teachers who witnessed the event remarked, Ã‚Â“What an awesome event! What an unforgettable experience! It will be something that will enrich our childrenÃ‚Â’s lives for years to come Ã‚Â”

WIFR, Channel 23, ran an article with video of the contact
See: http://www wifr com/news/headlines/7192966 html

WREX-TV, Channel 13, ran this story: http://www wrex com/News/index php?ID=17472

Germany Contacts Successful

On Saturday, April 28, students attending the Samuel-von-Pufendorf Gymnasium in Floeha, Germany participated in an ARISS contact Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, answered 18 questions posed to her by five students, who were all licensed amateur radio operators Fifty people were in attendance One television station (MDR), three radio stations and five newspapers covered the event

Erweiterte Realschule Weiskirchen in Weiskirchen, Saarland, Germany had an ARISS contact on Saturday, May 5 The school is one of eleven pilot schools participating in the Ã‚Â“Innovative all-day schoolÃ‚Â” project A radio club was formed at the school Students participating in the contact are responsible for all aspects of the event: obtaining and working with sponsors, catering, press, documentation and technology

Italian Contact Successful

Liceo Scientifico Statale Ã‚Â“Lorenzo RespighiÃ‚Â” in Piacenza, Italy had an ARISS contact on Saturday, May 5 The school plans to incorporate this contact in their curriculum through studies including the law of gravitation, experiments in the absence of gravity, the International Space Station, and English Italian Astronaut Roberto Vittori has also been invited to visit the school in conjunction with these lessons Students were required to work on interview skills, write reports and design posters Media coverage included television, radio, newspapers and website postings

Upcoming School Contacts

Sunset Mesa School, a private school with an enrollment of 400 students, located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Wednesday, May 9 at 14:39 UTC The contact will be integrated into the following areas of the schoolÃ‚Â’s curriculum: science, social studies, technology, and language arts Fifth grade students will study the earthÃ‚Â’s atmosphere, radio waves, history of the ISS and the cultures of the countries supporting it They will use the internet for their research and will practice interviewing skills to prepare for the event The fifth graders will share what they have learned with the rest of the school

Escola SecundÃƒÂ¡ria de Estarreja in Portugal has been scheduled for an ARISS contact on Wednesday, May 9 at 14:58 UTC The school has an enrollment of 2000 students with its own amateur radio station, CT6ESE Each year the Technology Department offers a week of amateur radio activities including lectures, practical applications, and lessons for those interested in taking their ham radio license exam The Portuguese television networks as well as the local media have been invited to cover the event The contact has the support of the local government and is being organized by REP (The National Ham-Radio Association) and the Central Portugal Ministry of Education branch

ARISS at Dayton Hamvention

The Dayton Hamvention will be held at the Hara Arena Complex in Dayton, Ohio on May 18 - 20 The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) and the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) will both support exhibit booths at the event ARISS will be well represented over this weekend

ARISS Chairman Frank Bauer plans to give a presentation on Ã‚Â“ARISS and Future SuitSat MissionsÃ‚Â” at the AMSAT forum
Dr Barry Cohen, K2JV, will speak at the TeachersÃ‚Â’ Workshop on Ã‚Â“Events Leading up to the ARISS QSO (Contact) at School Ã‚Â”
NASA Astronaut Bill McArthur, KC5ACR will offer a presentation on his ARISS contacts during Expedition 12
ARISS Hardware Manager Lou McFadin will speak on SSTV, Ã‚Â“SuitSat 2, Not the Same Suit Ã‚Â”
ARISS Delegate Rosalie White plans to speak on SuitSat-2 and related lesson plans

The Dayton Hamvention is an internationally attended amateur radio convention that draws crowds of 25,000 annually

University School Contact Update

Students from University School in Shaker Heights, Ohio took part in an ARISS contact with astronaut Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, on March 16 The school has posted photos, audio and video of the event on its website
See: http://www shaker us edu/ariss/

ARRL Article on ARISS Status

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran a web story on the ARISS hardware status See: http://www arrl org/news/stories/2007/04/25/101/?nc=1

ARRL Article on ISS Crew Change

The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) ran an article on the upcoming crew change Flight Engineer Sunita Williams, KD5PLB, will be replaced by Clay Anderson, KD5PLA Anderson will fly on STS-117, slated to launch on June 8 See: http://www arrl org/?artid=7412

[ANS thanks Carol, KB3LKI for the above information]

/EX

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT offers membership in the President's Club Members of the President's Club, as sustaining donors to AMSAT Project Funds, will be eligible to receive additional benefits Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office

73, This week's ANS Editor, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM K9JKM at amsat dot org

Via the ANS mailing list courtesy of AMSAT-NA http://amsat org/mailman/listinfo/ans

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