AMSAT NEWS SERVICE ANS-046

The AMSAT News Service bulletins are a free, weekly news and infor- mation service of AMSAT North America, The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation ANS publishes news related to Amateur Radio in Space including 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

The news feed on http://www amsat org publishes news of Amateur Radio in Space as soon as our volunteers can post it

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

In this edition:

• Help Wanted: AMSAT Engineering Kicking Off Ground Station Development
• More ISS Slow Scan TV Activity
• Fox-1 Continues Preparation for Launch
• Navassa K1N Dxpedition Active on FO-29
• AMSAT Orlando Hamcation Report

SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-046 01 ANS-046 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins

AMSAT News Service Bulletin 046 01 From AMSAT HQ Kensington, MD February 15, 2015 To All RADIO AMATEURS BID: $ANS-046 01

Help Wanted: AMSAT Engineering Kicking Off Ground Station Development

AMSAT Engineering is looking for hams interested in developing ground station equipment for future satellites An inexpensive L-Band uplink converter is something that is of interest right now for LEO satellites as part of the recently approved technology funding

If you are interested in helping, please contact AMSAT Engineering by completing the form on the website to tell Jerry Buxton, N0JY, the Vice President of Engineering, how you can volunteer your time and skills to help AMSAT engineering build satellites and other required hardware/software

To volunteer please visit: http://ww2 amsat org/?page_id=1121

[ANS thanks AMSAT Vice President Engineering, Jerry Buxton, N0JY for the above information]

More ISS Slow Scan TV Activity

The Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos) has announced another round of amateur radio Slow Scan Television (SSTV) activity from the International Space Station (ISS) will take place later this month Continuous operation, using the call sign RS0ISS, is expected from 1000 UT on Saturday, February 21 until 2130 UT on Monday, February 23

Twelve different images depicting space pioneer Yuri Gagarin — the first human to orbit Earth — will be sent on 145 800 MHz FM using the SSTV mode PD180, with a 3-minute off time between transmissions

The equipment used will be the Kenwood D710 transceiver located in the Russian Service Module It is thought the equipment may be producing about 25 watts output which should provide a very strong signal

Plans are being discussed for transmitting new images from space enthusiasts around the world in the coming months Additional details will be released

The images received by amateurs world-wide during previous transmissions can be seen at http://www spaceflightsoftware com/ARISS_SSTV/ and you are invited to upload any pictures you receive during the upcoming transmissions

All you need to do to receive SSTV pictures direct from the space station is to connect the audio output of a scanner or amateur radio transceiver via a simple interface to the soundcard on a Windows PC or an Apple iOS device, and tune in to 145 800 MHz FM You can even receive pictures by holding an iPhone next to the radio loudspeaker

On Windows PC’s the free application MMSSTV can be used to decode the signal, on Apple iOS devices you can use the SSTV app for compatible modes

The ISS puts out a strong signal on 145 800 MHz FM and a 2m handheld with a 1/4 wave antenna will be enough to receive it The FM transmission uses the 5 kHz deviation which is standard in much of the world

Paul Turner G4IJE, co-developer of the SSTV PD modes, says regarding the MMSSTV PD180 mode: “Don’t forget to either enable “Always show RX viewer” or use the “Picture viewer” (magnifying glass icon) to show the picture at its real resolution of 640 x 496 If you just view as normal you will only see 320 x 248 resolution, which kind of defeats the object of using a high resolution mode ”

Many more tips and links for various receiving options are available at http://amsat-uk org/2015/02/11/more-iss-slow-scan-tv/

[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]

Fox-1 Continues Preparation for Launch

Following the successful conclusion of vibration and thermal/vacuum testing Fox-1 now is stored in a clean environment waiting for launch However, there is still work going on behind the scenes

AMSAT Vice-President Engineering, Jerry Buxton, N0JY says several required reports are being reviewed by the launch provider We continue to make necessary updates if they request further information in order to be sure that all of the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed The paperwork is an ongoing full workload in itself, both during the design and construction and even after Fox-1 was finished

For the remaining schedule, Fox-1 will have its Mission Readiness Review (MRR) at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo CA on February 24 by a review board of Cal Poly and NASA representatives Next, Fox-1 will be delivered and integrated into the P-POD at Cal Poly during the week of March 16 Then the countdown begins

[ANS thanks AMSAT Vice-President Engineering, Jerry Buxton, N0JY for the above information]

Navassa K1N Dxpedition Active on FO-29

Thanks to AMSAT, the Navassa Island K1N DXpedition was equipped to work stations via the FO-29 Amateur Radio satellite Vice President-Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, said that AMSAT had provided the DXpedition with a Yaesu FT-817 transceiver and associated equipment to support operation on FO-29’s linear passband AMSAT also gave the group pass predictions, an operational plan, and training Several reports of successful contacts have been reported via messages on amsat-bb

In a message relayed by Mark, K0MDJ, from Glenn, W0GJ, the primary voice on FO-29 from Navassa reported, ""We have it down now takes four people: one antenna guy, one radio guy, one microphone guy, one logger plus a couple photographers Glen also says they hope to be on every pass from now until they leave, so at least through Saturday "

The Navassa team logs their contacts using Clublog: http://www clublog org/charts/?c=K1N

If you can make a donation you can find the link on the DXpedition's web page: http://www navassadx com/

Mike, W4UOO, observed, "A tip of the Hat to Drew for delivering the gear and the How-To to some of the K1N team back in January and whatever else he did There's a big thanks in here! What Great Marketing for Satellite operations What great fun is being had all when it seems nearly impossible, suddenly you're talking to someone It's great to see K1N/Satellite spots going by also! Love it "

[ANS thanks the dozens of posts via amsat-bb for the above information]

AMSAT Orlando Hamcation Report

The 2015 Orlando Hamcation - Orlando, FL took place over the weekend of 13-15 Feb at the Central Florida Fairgrounds

AMSAT was represented all three days with a two booth are in the main commercial building At the booth the ARISSat-1 working demo satellite and Fox-1 Engineering model were on display The booth also provided a great location for people stop by and get information from VP of Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, and Dave Jordan, AA4KN

John Papay, K8YSE, was operating the sats via his remote and rover stations along with other satellite demos

An AMSAT forum was held on Saturday with Board of Directors member Lou McFadin, K5DID, providing an update on all the on-going AMSAT activities including upcoming ARISS activities and the Fox-1 series of cubesats A special treat for those attending the forum was a special prize drawing M2 donated one of their new 2m/70cm "Leo-Pack" antenna systems which made its debut at Hamcation

[ANS thanks Dave, AA4KN and the AMSAT Hamcation Team 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 addi- tional benefits Application forms are available from the AMSAT Office

Primary and secondary school students are eligible for membership at one-half the standard yearly rate Post-secondary school students enrolled in at least half time status shall be eligible for the stu- dent rate for a maximum of 6 post-secondary years in this status Contact Martha at the AMSAT Office for additional student membership information

73, This week's ANS Editor, Lee McLamb, KU4OS ku4os at amsat dot org

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