AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-114

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:

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In this edition: * ARISSat-1 Update * AO-51 PL Reminder * AMSAT India April 2011 Newsletter Available * Ukrainian Hams Lose Allocations Including Some Satellite Bands * FCC Decision in Favor of ReconRobotics Affects Satellite Frequencies * Satellite Shorts From All Over * ARISS Status - 18 April 2011

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-114 01 ARISSat-1 Update

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 114 01 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 24, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-114 01

Lou McFadin, W5DID, ARISS US Hardware Manager, reports that a telecon was recently held the ARISSat team in Russia Here is the situation as described by them The Russian suit battery that was intended to be used on ARISSat was used during testing both on the ground and onboard ISS when it first arrived When it was tested prior to the planned April 12 operation, it was discovered that the battery was low on charge The suit battery's are specified for only five cycles of charge It was decided to not recharge the battery at this time in order to keep the number of cycles as low as possible and thus saving the battery for the actual mission That deployment is currently scheduled for July 26 We are still trying to get more information on the storage status and the battery health from the Russian team We will keep you informed as we prepare for the eventual deployment of ARISSat

[ANS thanks Lou, W5DID, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-114 02 AO-51 PL Reminder

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 114 02 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 24, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-114 02

Mark Hammond, N8MH, provided the following reminder about current AO-51 operations

As you have noticed, AO-51 has recently experienced a few shutdowns due to a low battery voltage trip This is because of increasing eclipses (now at 20 minuets per orbit and increasing), poor sun angles (still getting worse), and a "weak" battery

AO-51 is now using the 67 Hz PL tone required mode in order to turn the transmitter(s) OFF when not in use The transmitter power is down to about 550 mW The Command Team will continue adjusting various parameters, including transmitter power, trigger voltages, etc in order to keep the battery temperatures reasonable Keep in mind that the power management feature keeps the transmitter(s) OFF during eclipses, so you can't bring it up even with a PL tone while the satellite is in eclipse

Here is our current schedule, which will continue until further notice:

AO-51 Schedule

Mode V/U FM Voice Repeater (67 Hz PL tone required) Uplink: 145 880 MHz FM (Temporarily from 145 920) Downlink 435 300 MHz FM

The AO-51 Command Team can use your help!

1-Please make activity reports to: http://oscar dcarr org/ This is very useful to all users Until everyone knows that the 67 Hz tone is required, we might see some conflicting reports

2-Please help spread the word about needing the 67 Hz tone!

[ANS thanks Mark, N8MH, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-114 03 AMSAT India April 2011 Newsletter Available

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 114 03 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 24, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-114 03

The April 2011 issue of the AMSAT-INDIA newsletter is now available for free download

Topics in this month's edition include:

• Update on the Technical talk held on April 17th
• Update on the CubeSat Communication system project by AMSAT INDIA
• News from AMSAT organizations around the world

Download the newsletter from http://amsatindia org/Newsletter/AMSATINDIA-News-April2011 pdf

Previous issues are available at: http://www amsatindia org/Newsletter/

Regards

Nitin [VU3TYG] Secretary, AMSAT India vu3tyg@amsatindia org www amsatindia org

[ANS thanks Nitin, VU3TYG, for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-114 04 Ukrainian Hams Lose Allocations Including Some Satellite Bands

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 114 04 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 24, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-114 04

Some restructuring news out of the Ukrane that’s bad news for ham radio operators in that nation This, as the Ukrainian government has affirmed new rules for amateur radio operations that have resulted in spectrum losses on the High Frequency, UHF and microwave bands

According to an e-mail from Alexander Doshchich, UY0LL, the spectrum withdrawn from access by Ukranian hams includes 10 100 to 10 150 and 14 250 to 14 350 MHz on the HF bands On UHF an above the losses include 1240 to 1300 MHz, 2300 to 2450 MHz, 5670 to 5850 MHz and numerous other spectrum slots right on up to 248 to 250 GHz

[ANS thanks Newsline for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-114 05 FCC Decision in Favor of ReconRobotics Affects Satellite Frequencies

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 114 05 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 24, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-114 05

A robot used to covertly transmit live video during military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan was approved by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for use by local and state fire- fighters and police, ending a legal battle between amateur radio operators and law enforcement over the device

Called the Recon Scout Throwbot, the robot transmits over the 430-448 MHz portion of the 420-450 MHz frequency band, which is primarily used by the federal radiolocation service The spectrum is also utilized by amateur radio enthusiasts The latter group, spearheaded by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), opposed a waiver request filed with the FCC by Recon Scout maker ReconRobotics, Inc to use the band

The ARRL argued that ReconRobotics’ claims that the device would be useful in public safety and anti-terrorism operations didn't prove that a waiver to use the frequency bands was in the public interest The FCC admitted, in its order approving the waiver, that while some interference in the frequency bands may occur, it isn't a reason to prohibit the use of the Recon Scout

The FCC approval does come with some limitations, however The robot can only be used by state and local police and firefighters on the specific band Operators must also first use the Recon Scout on 436-442 MHz bands If those frequencies are inaccessible, then the 430-436 MHz and 442-448 MHz bands — where interference is more likely — can be accessed

In a subsequent Order on Reconsideration released April 15, the FCC granted the ARRL’s request for changes in the labeling and instruction manual requirements to ensure that users of the Recon Scout are aware of the interference limitations

Use of the device is also limited to emergencies involving threats to the safety of life and training purposes In addition, the Recon Scout is restricted from use near various radar installations and Air Force bases, and the amount of units that can be sold is limited to 2,000 the first year and 8,000 the second year After that period of time, future sales will be re-evaluated, according to the FCC

Read more on the Government Technology website at: http://tinyurl com/3gbdru6

[ANS thanks Govtech com and Southgate ARC News site for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-114 06 Satellite Shorts From All Over

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 114 06 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 24, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-114 06

• Members of the Camb-Hams will be activating the Isle of Arran between May 1-8th They will be operating as GS3PYE/P and GS6PYE/P Activity will be on all bands 160-2 meters, and 70cm via satellites For VHF, the island lies in IO75 More information is available at: http://dx camb-hams com/dx-peditions/arran-dxpedition-11/ On Twitter at: http://twitter com/g3pye On Facebook at: http://facebook com/ArranDX

• A group of enthusiastic Mexican ham radio operators, IsmaelXE1AY, Gustavo XE1KKK, Francisco Javier XE1P, Ricardo XE1RZL, Ricardo Raymundo XE1SOV, Fernando XE1VGC, Jose XE1UYU, Martin XE1UZH, Modesto XE1UZU, Juan Manuel XE2IA, Jose XE2IVG and Ricardo XE3NMC will be active from Isla de Lobos (IOTA NA-221, WW Loc EL11JK), Veracruz State, between 29th April and 1st May 2011 They will also activate the Lobos Island lighthouse QRV on all HF bands, plus 6 metres and AO27, AO51 and SO50 Satellites Modes: CW, SSB and RTTY QSL via XE1AY Website: xf2p puebladx org/XF2P/Bienvenida html

• Transatlantic Balloon Launch now planned for April 27-29 depending on weather conditions Hams in the USA and worldwide are needed to listen on 7 1023 and 10 1466 MHz and to send readings of the balloon's progress to PBH15 data@gmail com More information about the program, including the latest projected flight path, can be found at http://www projectbluehorizon com/ and https://twitter com/PBH5 It also has an APRS GPS tracker on 144 39 with the callsign KC2ZJH and will launch from Oswego, NY

• Iran plans to launch a monkey into space in mid-September according to a press release by the ISNA news agency The monkey will be sent into orbit in a capsule carried by the Kavoshgar-4 rocket Full story available on-line at: http://tinyurl com/3wlehmt (Space-Travel com)

• The next Hudson Valley Satcom net will be Thursday, April 28 at 8PM EDT (UTC-4) You can join the net via the N2EYH-L EchoLink Node or on the 146 970 MHz repeater -600; PL 100 if you are within range More info at http://www hvsatcom org or or e-Mail: wa2aqh@amsat org (Stu, WA2BSS)

[ANS thanks everyone for the above information]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-114 07 ARISS Status - 18 April 2011

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 114 07 From AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD April 24, 2011 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-114 07

1. Upcoming School Contacts

Primary School “Dante Alighieri” De Neuquen, located in Neuquen – Patagonia, Argentina, has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Monday, April 18 at 12:25 UTC The contact will be performed with support from CETRA (Science Education and Technology united by Ham Radio), a delegation of AMSAT-Argentina which promotes space activities and amateur radio in schools, using station LU8YY This activity has been integrated into science and technology lessons and plans have been made for students to visit the local observatory to research the history of space exploration and space shuttles

Istituto Comprensivo Dedalo 2000 – Scuola secondaria di Cingia de’ Botti in Solarolo Rainerio, Italy has been scheduled for an Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) contact on Saturday, April 23 at 09:13 UTC via telebridge station W6SRJ in California Students participating in this ARISS activity have been learning about astronomy, physics of radio waves, the history of space flights and the history of radio communications

1. Recent ARISS Contacts

Students from John XXIII College, Perth, Western Australia experienced an ARISS contact on Monday, April 11 Telebridge station W6SRJ in California provided the radio connection On-orbit astronaut Cady Coleman, KC5ZTH fielded 13 questions from the students who were interested in how missions on the ISS benefit life on Earth as well as future missions to Mars

On Wednesday, April 13, Hopewell Ave Public School, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada took part in an ARISS contact via telebridge station WH6PN in Hawaii Six hundred students gathered in the gym for the event and listened to astronaut Paolo Nespoli answer 16 questions posed by the youth ARISS mentors took large screens to the school and showed the students videos of space and the ISS construction along with some special effect videos The school and community were thrilled with the ARISS contact and the opportunity for their young students to take part in this event Talk Radio CFRA ran a story about the contact: http://www cfra com/?cat=1&nid=78953

An ARISS contact was held between middle school students attending Istituto Sociale, a Catholic school in Turin, Italy and ISS astronaut Paolo Nespoli, IZØJPA on Thursday, April 14 The radio connection was made possible via telebridge station K6DUE in Maryland Students asked 19 questions concerning things such as mission training and the daily routine and tasks performed on the ISS Over 200 students, teachers and guests turned out for the event The ARISS contact was highly appreciated, since many modules of the ISS have been built in Turin by Thales Alenia Space Regional and local media covered the event

1. Astronaut Training Status

Astronaut Luca Parmitano, KF5KDP (Expedition 36) is scheduled for an ARISS basic operations session on Monday, April 25

Dan Burbank, KC5ZSX is scheduled for a preflight session in early May He is slated to fly with Expedition 29 in September 2011

[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, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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