************************************************************************** * * * THIS IS THE AMSAT-NA CBBS at ST. LOUIS MO, 24HR 7DAY AT (314)447-3003 * * 300/1200/2400 BAUD * * Mike Parisey WD0GML SYSOP * * Norm Newman NZ0Z Co-SYSOP * * * ************************************************************************** SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-154.01 AMSAT-UK/RSGB DATASPACE '89 HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 154.01 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD JUNE 3, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AMSAT-UK And RSGB Join Together To Sponsor "DATASPACE '89" AMSAT-UK and the Radio Society of Great Britian (RSGB) will combine their efforts this year to sponsor a joint symposium dealing with OSCAR satellites, digital communications, and educational uses of amateur radio satellites. Because of the combined theme of "data communications" and amateur satellites, the name of this year's AMSAT-UK/RSGB Data Symposiums will be appropriately known as "DATASPACE '89." With the launch of the MICROSATs and UOSAT D & E later this year, OSCAR enthusiasts should find this combination particularly interesting. As in years past, the University of Surrey will be the meeting place for this combined colloquia. The following is the "line-up" of programs planned for the week of July 27-31: Thursday, July 27th: International Space Assembly Friday, July 28th: RSGB Data Symposium Saturday July 29th: Combined Dataspace Tryst Sunday July 30th: AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium Monday July 31st: Satellites-in-Education Colloquium If you are interested in finding out more details concerning accommodations and the programs to be presented, contact: Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ 94 Herongate Road Wanstead Park London E12 5EQ England Tel: 01-989-6741 /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-154.02 PHASE IV MODEL "ROLLED-OUT" HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 154.02 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD JUNE 3, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Full-Scale Model Of AMSAT-NA Phase IV Geostationary Satellite Completed On May 24,1989 a "full-scale" model of the AMSAT-NA Geostationary satellite concept was rolled-out for presentation and a photo session at Weber State College (WSC) in Ogden, Utah. Many AMSAT-NA members will remember that the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors voted to accept a "statement-of-work" presented by WSC last November to build this "mock-up" of the Phase IV satellite as part of a "senior" engineering project for students enrolled in the WSC Center for Aerospace Technology (CAST). Present for the "roll-out" was AMSAT-NA's Chief Engineer, Dick Jansson (WD4FAB). Upon seeing the completed model for the first time, Dick pointed out that the size of this Phase IV spacecraft is "awesome." He mentioned that this twelve-sided, 30 inch high, 8 foot diameter model is so large, he saw one student crawl inside and disappear; Dick added: "This has to be the largest satellite AMSAT has ever designed." After the photo session, the Phase IV model was put into a special crate and will be trucked to Dallas for the HAMCOM/ARRL National Convention in Arlington, TX. It will be displayed in the main lobby of the HAMCOM convention center in keeping with the ARRL's slogan, "FROM SPARK ...1914-1989...TO SPACE." After HAMCOM, the Phase IV model will be returned to WSC where it will be used as a "test-bed" for future design work on the Phase IV concept. WD4FAB commented that the work put forth by the "highly dedicated" CAST students on this "high fidelity" model was "superb." It is estimated that over 10,000 hours of donated student labor went into building this model. AMSAT-NA was would like to express its appreciation to Bill Clapp, Director of the CAST, and, to the students of WSC for this excellent "prototype" model. /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-154.03 ZRO TESTS SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 154.03 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD JUNE 3, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT The Popular "ZRO Tests" Are Scheduled To Begin Again In July The ZRO Memorial Technical Achievement Award Program, or just "ZRO Test" will be reactivated in July following the mid-June reorientation of AMSAT-OSCAR-13 (AO-13). This activity is a test to evaluate the operating skill and equip- ment performance. During a typical ZRO run, a control station will send numeric code groups using CW at 10 WPM. At the beginning of the ZRO Test run, the uplink power from the control station is set to match the general beacon downlink strength. This is level "zero". The control operator will then send and repeat a random five-digit number; next, he will lower his uplink power by 3 dB (half power) and repeat the procedure with a new random number. This will continue to a level 27 dB below the beacon (level "nine"). A participat- ing listener then monitors the downlink signals until he can no longer copy the numbers. Those who can hear the beacon will qualify for the basic award by copying the code group heard at level "zero". The challenge is to improve your home-station performance to a point where the lower-level downlink signals can be copied (levels 6 through 9). The best reported achievement since the inception of the program several years ago via AO-10 came from W7ID. Recently, W7ID copied four out of five digits correctly at level 9 on a run via AO-13 earlier this year. The estimated EIRP from the control station, WA5ZIB, was just over ONE Watt! The following schedule of Mode "B" ZRO tests with a downlink frequency of 145.840 MHz was chosen for convenient operating times and favorable "squint" angles. AO-13 users who don't wish to participate in the ZRO Test are asked to avoid operating on or near that frequency during these ZRO Test times. Please post the following list of times in your ham shack for the ZRO Tests so that you will have them handy for quick reference: Saturday July 1, 1989 at 21:10 UTC Saturday July 8, 1989 at 04:50 UTC Sunday July 16, 1989 at 07:20 UTC Saturday July 22, 1989 at 20:50 UTC Saturday July 29, 1989 at 04:20 UTC Saturday August 12, 1989 at 20:20 UTC Any changes will be announced as soon as possible via the AMSAT HF and AO-13 Operations Nets. ZRO brochures are available from WA5ZIB, Andy MacAllister, AMSAT V.P. User Operations, 14714 Knightsway Drive, Houston, TX 77083 for an S.A.S.E. with one unit of postage. The brochure characterizes test proced- ures, means for obtaining certificates, and gives some historical background about the program. All listener reports with date of test and numbers copied should be sent to WA5ZIB at the address above. A report will be returned verifying the level of accurate reception. Good luck! /EX SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-154.04 CALL FOR PAPERS FOR JOURNAL HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 154.04 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD JUNE 3, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT Editor of AMSAT Journal Is Soliciting Papers And Articles For Next Journal By now, all current AMSAT-NA members should received their first issue of "The AMSAT Journal." With the successful publication of this first issue, Editor Joe Kasser (G3ZCZ/W3) is making an appeal for papers and articles which he will use in the second issue of "The AMSAT Journal." Joe is looking for papers which deal with AO-13 operations, construction projects, software, and in general, articles which deal with all aspects of OSCAR satellite operation. If you have a article you would like to submit for publication, please send it to AMSAT-NA Headquarters, P.O. Box 27, Washington, D.C., 20044, ATTENTION: Joe Kasser. Joe encourages all OSCAR enthusiast to submit your ideas for publication. Perhaps you have built something or have learned something which might be helpful to other AMSAT users -- whatever that might be -- you are invited to write for this "banner" publication of AMSAT-NA. SB ALL @ AMSAT $ANS-154.05 AMSAT SHORT BURSTS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 154.05 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD JUNE 3, 1989 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT AMSAT Short Bursts AMSAT-NA has learned from Ron Broadbent, G3AAJ, that the launch of RS 12/13 is imminient. This information was made available from reliable Russian sources familiar with amateur satellite activities in the Soviet Union. It is felt by G3AAJ's colleagues in the Soviet Union that the launch of RS 12/13 will occur sometime in June. AMSAT-NA urges all OSCAR enthusiasts to monitor the planned beacon frequencies of 29.408 MHz for RS 12 and 29.4582 MHz for RS 13. The "robot" downlink frequencies for RS 12/13 will be 29.4543 MHz and 29.5043 MHz, respectively. If you should hear the CW beacon on these frequencies for RS 12/13, please contact AMSAT HQ's [(301) 589-6062] so that this information can be passed along to AMSAT Net Control Stations for announcement during the many regular AMSAT Nets each week. Please include the date, time, frequency, your call, and QTH. The following will be the operating schedules for AMSAT OSCAR-13 for the next several months. Please post this in a convenient place in your ham shack for quick reference. M de VK5AGR 14May89: *** AO-13 Transponder Schedule Update *** 14May89 to 14Jun89 Mode-JL from MA 160 to MA 200 ! Mode-B from MA 200 to MA 160 Also, for a trial period the OMNI-directional 70cm antenna will be connected to the Mode-B RCVR from MA 20 to MA 40. These changes have been introduced to enable stations who have access around perigee to experiment with perigee operation. Mode S unchanged. 14May89: BLON/BLAT 212.0/+2.4 with a drift rate of 0.016/-0.061 deg/day, respectively. O S C A R - 1 3 Date : 14Jun89 until 16Aug89 ! 16Aug89 until 16Nov89 Attitude: 180/0 ! 210/0 Mode-B : MA 0 to MA 110 ! MA 3 to MA 160 Mode-JL : MA 110 to MA 145 ! MA 160 to MA 200 Mode-B : MA 145 to MA 255 ! MA 200 to MA 240 OFF : % ! MA 240 to MA 3 Mode-S : MA 150 to MA 160 ! MA 210 to MA 222 Transponders will be in operation during the whole orbit from June 14 until Aug 16 due to excellent sunangle and power budget. No perigee operation between August and November due to perigee solar eclipses! AMSAT is seeking additional Area Coordinators throughout North America. These additional members of the Field Operations organization are needed to support the expected inrush of activity and excitement centered about the launch of an additional six or seven amateur radio satellites this year. AMSAT-NA is seeking those who wish to promote the Amateur Radio Satellite program, and primarily, those experienced satellite users who will serve as "Elmers" for aspiring satellite enthusiasts. If you are interested in joining this team of "make it happen" amateurs, contact the AMSAT VP of Field Operations: Jack Crabtree, AA0P 4327 W. Bellewood Dr. Littleton, CO 80123 (303) 795-7736 Many AO-13 users are unaware that there is an AMSAT Operations Net which is conducted on AO-13 several times each month to help answer questions about OSCAR satellites and to provide information about the many exciting things going on in AMSAT. The following is a list of the times for the Ops Net. Please place this list in a convenient place in your OSCAR station so that you won't miss out on this interesting net which is offered as a service to all AMSAT members. Here is the Ops Net schedule through June: Date UTC orb-phs NCS 04 Jun 0300 746-045 (03 Jun local) 11 Jun 0000 760-152 (10 Jun local) 18 Jun 0100 775-092 W0RPK (17 Jun local) 25 Jun 0300 790-055 (24 Jun local) Nets can be held on B or JL, but if the AO-13 satellite schedule is changed such that the Ops Net falls during an "off" period, it will be rescheduled. Downlink frequencies are 145.950 MHz and 435.970 MHz for Mode B and JL, respectively. All these are for AO-13 but AO-10 is sometimes used when available. The following is the operating schedule for FO-12 for the rest of the month of May and for June: DATE MODE OPERATING PERIOD 06/09/89 JA 04:25 UTC until 21:20 UTC 06/21/89 JA 01:43 UTC until 18:38 UTC 06/24/89 JA 01:03 UTC until 17:58 UTC 06/29/89 JA 00:35 UTC until 15:29 UTC de DB2OS 01May89: *** AO-10 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE *** 01May89 to 13Jul89 Mode-B : from MA 025 to MA 225 OFF : from MA 226 to MA 024 All radio amateurs who live in the Northern California area are reminded of the "Shasta SpaceCon '89" which will be held in Weed, CA on June 17th at the Student Center of the College of the Siskiyous. This all day seminar is designed to be a "beginners introduction" OSCAR satellites. Many excellent speakers from AMSAT-NA and Project OSCAR will be present. For more infor- mation about this fine seminar, please contact Bob Dalleske (W6AMW) at (916) 964-3154. /EX FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! THE FOLLOWING ADDED BY AMSAT-NA CBBS at St. Louis (314) 447-3003 24hr 7day 300/1200/2400 baud. This section may have additions through the week! NO CODE UPDATE: Steve Mendelsohn, WA2DHF, ARRL Hudson Division Director, recently sent all a survey questionnaire to all members of the division about the no-code issue. This included essays for and against (including an excellent one by KA9Q) as well as a "check the box" reply form. Steve asked whether respondents were for or against the ARRL committee proposal as described in QST, or if they could support it with one of several possible changes. My reply to Steve was along the following lines (which I am sharing with you for your own consideration): I do not support the ARRL committee proposal, but do support the idea of a no-code license as originally proposed by AMSAT, to wit, no privileges below 220 MHz. (The ARRL committee proposed including 50 MHz and limited digital privileges on 144 MHz.) Basically, the original idea behind AMSAT's proposal was to help populate the UHF bands. Whether or not this would be of material benefit in retaining these bands at a future WARC I don't know, but the increased activity would be desirable in its own right. The ARRL committee's reasoning for including 6 and part of 2 meters was to "mainstream" the new people into the body of existing Amateurs. Frankly, that is just what we should NOT do! The last things we need are more TVI on 6 meters to stimulate anti-Ham legislation, more packet overcrowding on 2 meters and more "mainstreamed" newcomers yelling their lungs out at DX stations on 20 meter SSB. We DO need more occupancy in the bands above 220 MHz, and the history of no-code licenses in other countries is that most of them tend to migrate to 2 and 6 meters if those bands are available to them. The other change I would support is the one proposed by Bill Tynan, namely adding a prohibition on FM operation in the weak-signal and satellite portions of the bands. That issue was not covered by the ARRL proposal or by Steve's survey. Hope these comments are of interest. 73, Ray, W2RS OPERATIONS NET REPORT 5/27 (5/28 UTC): The AMSAT Operations Net for 5/27/89 was held on 5/28/89 at 0200 UTC at 145.951 on AO-13 mode B. The following stations checked in: Jim WD0E, Andy WA5ZIB, Chuck W9ODI, Keith W5IU, Mike KA5SMA, Greg WQ0P (on CW), Chuck W7KIV, Keith WB5ZDP, Jeff N5ITU, Ben WA1QXR*, Steve KE4BM*, Gould WA4SXM*, Gedry LU8MBL*, Gerd WB8IFJ*, Willie K5MFD, Dave NU9H, and Cliff W6HDO. Those marked by asterisks were checked in by WD0E assisting net control. Conditions were poor early on with severe spin modulation. Later on in the net, conditions improved to good. Andy, WA5ZIB, announced that ZRO tests would resume on mode B the weekend after ARRL Field Day and would run through the summer, concluding on August 14. Mode JL ZRO tests are also being planned but are not yet scheduled. Keith, W5IU, talked about the station and operating schedule at W1AW/5 at the ARRL National Convention in Arlington, Tx next weekend. A bulletin announcing the activity had just been succesfully uploaded to the FO-12 BBS. Jim, WD0E, has uploaded notes and comments on FO-12 modem construction to the WD0GML bulletin board. Keith, WB5ZDP, expressed interest in SatFoxHunt software and activities. The net was closed at 0303 UTC. Next week's AMSAT Operations Net will be held on 6/4/89 at 0300 UTC (Saturday 6/3 local in the U.S.). Conditions are expected to be extremely poor. I've taken some flack for having a poor receiving situation on two meters. It is unclear whether this is because of inadequate equipment, local noise, or bad geometry. For geometry, the other station that checked in from the west coast also reported poor reception. For local noise, my QTH views the entire valley containing downtown LA and I see S9 intermod frequently (with preamp turned on). For station equipment, I'm going to eliminate that as a possibility shortly by upgrading my preamp, coax, and station ground on two meters. I hope that spending the money solves all my problems but am not terribly optimistic. I did reduce local noise to the point where I could hear on the net frequency at all, by turning off a nearby MFJ 1270B. . . 73, Courtney, N5BF