HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 282.0 FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD October 8, 1988 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT SPACE OPERATIONS, OPERATING ACTIVITIES, AND USER INTERESTS AO-13 operations continue normally after the first major schedule change hich was completed on September 26. The new spacecraft attitude (Bahn Longitude=210,Bahn Latitude=+5) maintains solar power output at no less than 85% during the next three months according to James Miller, G3RUH. The next attitude change is scheduled to commence on January 2, 1989. Bill McCaa reports that the number of users on Mode L is definately increasing. Recently Bill McCaa along with WA6ABN, W4FJ, and JR1WZI published a partial list of stations which they have heard on AO-13. In addition, the list also includes the station's equipment and type of antenna system, if known. Some interesting items quickly become obvious from this list: 1) the most commonly used antennas are Yagi's, and 2) most of the stations run less than 100 watts. Bill McCaa has also compiled a list, along with help from DB2OS and JR1WZI stations which are running Mode S. K0RZ reports that the next Mode S activity being planned is to run the Mode S Beacon while AO-13 is in Mode B. Previously the Mode S Beacon was only turned on when AO-13 was in Mode L. At this time we don't have a date as to when this test will be scheduled but stay tuned to these nets and watch for notice of this test in ASR. [The following list is for information only and NCS's can choose to bypass this at there discretion. Ed.] AMSAT OSCAR MODE-L STATION LIST by William D.McCaa, K0RZ, October 1, 1988 Sources: K0RZ, W6ABN, W4FJ, JR1WZI Distribution: W4FJ CALL Name AO-13 Uplink equipment Downlink equipment ---- ---- ----- ---------------- ------------------ AJ9C Mike Y 10W, 1X45 loop Yagi 1X19 F9FT, GaAs DK2UO Heinz y ?W, 2 mtr dish ? DK2ZF Rolf y 80W, 2mtr dish ? DF3XG Gerhard y 80W, 1.2 mtr dish 2X9 Yagi DJ3OS Bernd Y 5000W erp ? DF4HR Michael y 80W, 1X28 el Yagi ? DF5FP Burt y ? ? DJ5BV Gerd y 300W, 4X loop Yagi 4X Quagi DP5DP Robert y 70 W, 2X48 Yagi ? DL6QO -- y ? ? DJ9PC Peter Y 200W, 3 mtr dish 3 mtr dish DL9GU Ed Y 150W, 1.2 mtr dish 4X22 Yagi, GaAs DL9ZV Eberhard y 40W, 1X43 el Yagi ? F9FT/TK Franck Y 200W, 2X55 F9FT Yagi 1X21 F9FT, GaAs CALL Name AO-13 Uplink equipment Downlink equipment ---- ---- ----- ---------------- ------------------ G2BFO David Y 100W, 4X23 F9FT Yagi 4X19 F9FT Yagi, GaAs G3RUH James Y 20W, 15T helix 16T helix, GaAs G4DDK Sam y ? ? G4JY Art y 40W, ? G5TU John y 15W, Twin helix ? G0DLJ Pete y ? ? GW3XYW Stu y 75W, 6 mtr dish 10T helix, GaAs N3HER Raimund y 100W, 3.2 mtr dish 4X20 Yagi, GaAs I5CTE Peter y 45W, 1.3 mtr dish 1X19 Yagi, GaAs I5UXJ Alfred y 300W, 4X55 el Yagi ? I7FKQ Francesco y ? ? I8CVS Dominic y 100W, 4X23 Yagi ? JA1NYB -- y ? ? JA1SYK Hiro y 30W, 2 mtr dish 4X21 Yagi, GaAs JR1WZI Ken Y 30W, 1.5 mtr dish 4X15 Yagi, GaAs JA2ODV Taro y ? ? JA4BLC Row y 30W, 2X26 Yagi 2X17 Yagi, GaAs JA4DNC Nito y 20W, 2 mtr dish ? JR4BRS Toshe y 30W, 3 mtr dish 4X21 Yagi, GaAs JR4GGT Kaquo y ? ? JG6FMH -- y ? ? JA7EC Shoji Y ? ? JH7JKW Nikio y ?W, 2 mtr dish 2X21 Yagi JA0IXX Miki Y 30W, 22T helix 4X15 Yagi, GaAs KA1IFX Ron y 10W, 2X44LBX KLM ? K2RDX/6 John Y 10w, 40T helix 1X36 Yagi, GaAs KD5RO/2 Dave Y 15W, 1X45 loop Yagi ? KB6BQQ Alex Y 80W, s ft dish 2X18C KLM, GaAs KJ6AL Doug Y 150W, 2X35 loop Yagi 1X40CX KLM, GaAs K7WUP Shirlef y 75W, 4X35 Quagi's 2X12T Helix KC7GY John Y 35W, 2X45 loop Yagi 1X40CX KLM, GaAs KD7YZ Bob y 5W, 12.5 ft dish 1X40CX KLM KE7NR Don Y 10W, 2X55 F9FT Yagi ? KL7GRF John Y 10W, ? KL7NO Al Y 50W, 2X28 loop Yagi 4X18C KLM, GaAs KL7YV Frank y 100W, 2X45 loop Yagi K8TL Tom y 30W, 1X23 F9FT Yagi 16C Cushcraft K8YAH Ron y 130W, 4X23 F9FT Yagi 4X21 F9FT Yagi KE9I Jerry Y 29W, 1X45 loop Yagi 1X19 Yagi, GaAs K0GCJ John y 10W, 1X45 loop Yagi ? K0KE Eric y 50W, 1X23 F9FT Yagi 1X19 K2RIW Yagi K0RZ Bill Y 120W, 4X38 loop Yagi 4X15 NBS Yagi, GaAs K0SMI Hank y 4.5W, 4X23 F9FT Yagi 2X430 LBX KLM, GaAs KA0CIC Bill y 10W, 1X55 F9FT Yagi 2X14 Yagi LU2DDU Daniel y 15W, 1X?? Yagi LU3DCA Michael Y 50W, 1X45 loop Yagi 4X19 K2RIW, GaAS LU3DH Jack y 70W, 1X28 loop Yagi ? LU7DJZ Ramon y 100W, 2X25 Yagi ? N1CHM Tom Y 13W, 1X44 KLM Yagi 1X44C KLM N4OUL Blenn y 100W, 1X44 KLM Yagi ? NA6E -- y ? ? CALL Name AO-13 Uplink equipment Downlink equipment ---- ---- ----- ---------------- ------------------ N9QX Leo Y 25W, 2X45 loop Yagi 1X19 F9FT, GaAs NW0X Charlie Y 9W, 4X38 loop Yagi 1X18C KLM NY0T Keith y 12W, 1X44 KLM Yagi ? OE5ACL Karl y 15W, 4 mtr dish ? OR9ERC Eric y 50W, 1X23 loop Yagi ? ON6UG -- y ? ? PA0SSB Jan y 200W, 2 mtr long helix ? PE0AGO Tony Y 50W, 2.2 mtr dish 1X24 Yagi, GaAs UA1ZCL -- y ? ? VE2AED Howard y 100W, 1X44 loop Yagi ? VE7CLD Gunter Y 100W, 12 ft dish 12 ft dish, GaAs VE7VL Val Y 20W, 12 ft dish 2X16 KLM Yagi VK2ALU Lyle y 40W, 1.8 mtr dish 2X14 Yagi, GaAs VK4TL John y ? ? VK5QR Reg y 100W, 2 mtr dish 4X10T helix, GaAs VK7ZSF Frank y ? ? W1NU Vic y 7W, 1X45 loop Yagi ? WA2LQQ Rip Y 250W, 16 ft dish 1X40CX KLM, GaAs WB3CZG Ray y 50W, 4XF9FT Yagi ? WA3ETD/1 John Y 150W, 2X24 loop Yagi 2X18C KLM, GaAs W3KH Buck y 20w, 5 ft dish 88 el J-Beam WA3WBU John Y 30W, 2X45 loop Yagi ? W4AUZ Shep Y 10W, 1X45 loop Yagi 1X18C KLM, GaAs W4FJ Ted Y 90W, 4X23 F9FT Yagi 10T Helix WD4FAB Dick Y 15W, 1X45 loop Yagi ? W4ODW Gene Y 40W, 4X45 loop Yagi 4X19 K2RIW Yagi WA4OFS Harry y 100W, 2X45 loop Yagi 8X19 K2RIW Yagi W4WSR Ott Y 80W, 4X Quagi's 2X12 K2RIW, GaAs W4ZPG John y 80W, 2X45 loop Yagi ? WD5GQM Fred Y 60W, 4X26 loop Yagi 4X13 Yagi, GaAs W5HEZ Jack y 10W, 4XF(FT Yagi ? W5IU Keith Y 10W, 4 ft dish 4X18C KLM, GaAs W5SXD Dick Y 10W, 1X44 KLM Yagi WA5ZIB Andy y ? ? W6ABN Stan Y 50W, 4 ft dish 1X18C KLM, GaAs W6GHV Ken y 10W, 12 ft dish 12 ft helix CALL Name AO-13 Uplink equipment Downlink equipment ---- ---- ----- ---------------- ------------------ W6YQ -- y ? ? WB7ABP Dick y 15W, 10 ft dish 2X10T helix, GaAs W7GBI Charley y 6W, 25 ft dish 25 ft dish WF7S Bill y 10W, 1X44 Yagi ? WA8OLM -- y ? ? WD9HAK Emil y 75W, 8X loop Yagi 4X20 F9FT Yagi W0EKZ Bud Y 30W, 12 ft dish 1X40CX KLM, GaAs W0HHE Al y 100W, 20ft dish 20 ft dish, GaAs W0IT Stan Y 100W, 1X55 F9FT Yagi 88el J-Beam, GaAs W0KJY Jim Y 150W, 1X45 loop Yagi 1X22 K1FO, GaAs WB0P Dave y ? ? WB0QMN Tom Y 8W, 16 foot dish 8X30LBX KLM, GaAs WB0RLY Joe y 30W, 4X23 F9FT Yagi 2X416B Yagi, GaAs W0RUE -- y ? ? XE1XA Max y 5W, 20 ft dish ? XE1TU -- y YT3MV Matjaz y 25W, 1.2 mtr dish 10T helix (in USA) ZL1AOX Ian Y ? ? ZL3AAD Graham y 2W, 20 ft dish ZS6AXT Ivo y 100W, 1.5 mtr dish 19el Yagi AMSAT AO-13 MODE-S STATION LIST by William D.McCaa, K0RZ, October 1, 1988 Sources: K0RZ, DB2OS, JR1WZI CALL Name XPNDR Uplink equipment Downlink equip Beacon QRL power/ant ant/preamp NF S/N dB ---- ---- ----- ---------------- -------------- ------ DK2ZF Rolf ? ? ? DF5DP -- ? ? Yagi 20 dBd Gain 6 G2BFO David ? ? ? -- IN3HER Raimund ? ? 1.5 meter dish 10 JA1UHY Hisa y 10 KW erp 2 mtr dish, 0.9 20 JR1WZI Ken y 4 KW erp 5 ft dish, 3 10 JA4BLC Row y 65 KW erp 40 el loop, 3 JR4AEP -- y ? ? -- JR4BRS Toshe y 10 KW erp 4 mtr dish, 20 K0KE Eric Y 40W, 8X K2RIW Yagi 12 ft dish, 0.9 8 K0RZ Bill Y 750W, 4X15 NBS Yagi 4 ft dish, 1.3 10 * ON6UG -- ? ? ? -- VE4MA Barry Y 800W, 8X Yagi 12 ft dish, 1.0 21 WA3ETD John ? ? 4 ft dish 6 WB5LUA Al Y 800W, 10 turn Helix 4 ft dish, 0.8 10 WB0QIY Doug ? ? 4 ft dish 6 * Includes PSK Telemetry Decode 2.0 Phase IV Study Progress Almost two years ago AMSAT-NA initiated a study effort to examine the feasability of building a geostationary satellite known as Phase IV. Teamed with AMSAT-NA in this effort is Weber State College, Ogden, Utah, and its Center for AeroSpace Technology (CAST). Weber State College students, volunteer engineers, and faculty have submitted a Statement of Work (SOW) to the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors to fund a study effort which will include building a mock-up of Phase IV, performing studies on structrual fabrication and manufacturing methods, subsystem design in such areas as propulsion, attitude control, ground station design, and general layout of major components of the satellite. It is estimated that in the 1988-89 school year over 8,000 hours of labor in support will be donated to AMSAT-NA by Weber State College faculty, students, and volunteer engineers. This SOW will be examined by the Board of Directors for approval. 3.0 AMSAT Symposium With less than a month to go, preparations are accelerating for the AMSAT Sixth Space Symposium says organizer Byron Lindsey, W4BIW. The Symposium will be held at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Hotel November 11, 12, and 13 and is being organized by AMSAT in cooperation with the Atlanta Radio Club. Registratifon may be accomplished by mail. The address is: Space Symposium Box 29221 Atlanta, GA 30359 The meeting will be held at the Airport Marriott Hotel, 4711 Best Road, College Park, GA. If you would like information about reserving rooms, discount airfares, contact Byron Lindsey at (404) 636-7452 in Decatur, GA for further information. Featured speakers this year include Leonid Labutin, UA3CR, and Geoffrey Perry of England's Kettering Group. 4.0 Short Burts Mike Parisey, WD0GML, says his AMSAT BBS is now operational on 2400 baud as well as 1200 and 300 baud. He also has a satellite tracking program that can be brought on-line on the BBS. The BBS system is located near St. Louis, MO and can be accessed at (314) 447-3003. FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! FLASH! Last Saturday, October 8th, W9PRD, conducted an amateur radio helium balloon launch from Greensburg, Indiana. Equipment on board included a 439 MHz ATV transmitter and a 2 meter beacon. Lift off from the Greensburg airport was at 12:33 UTC. The 2 meter beacon failed after several minutes but the ATV signal remained strong throughout the flight. Video signals ranging from P4 near the launch site to P1 in the Detroit area were received by a number of amateurs. Rick, WA3USG, served as HF net control for the flight, gathering data and balloon headings to aid in balloon recovery. The sudden rapid QSB that signalled the balloon's burst occurred at 14:39 UTC. Meanwhile, a chase plane with W9DUU, on board monitored the parachute's descent some 20 miles southwest of Cincinatti near Union, Kentucky. Bill, WB8ELK, and some 15 members of the Indianapolis Fox Hunters Club followed the descending parachute and package on the ground. Snow free pictures were received by the hunters during the descent. Some confusion ensued as to the rural Kentucky road system but the team of 7 or so chase cars was only 3 miles from the landing point when the package touched down. Larry, WB9YAJ, was first to locate the parachute and package which was in plain view from the road. It lay in a residents front yard with the parachute draped across the driveway. You can imagine the scene when the chase cars with their wierd antenna systems arrived on the site. The package was still operating at full power with the batteries in great shape. Later, it was determined that the final had blown on the 2 meter beacon after about 5 minutes of operation. We thank Bill Brown, WB8ELK, for this report. Bill's own helium balloon flight will take place, weather permitting, on Saturday, October 22nd. Launch will take place at about 8:30 AM from Findlay, Ohio. Phil, KA8TEF, will be working with Bill on the flight which will include a 2 meter packet radio package. Details of this flight will be given on next week's nets. The AMSAT Chicken Little II contest was won by John Biro, K1KSY, who submitted the closest eligible entry. Kosmos 1900 re-entered over Africa at 0126z/02Oct as announced by the Soviets and this agrees with U.S. Space Command tracking. Congratulations to John and good luck with the new GaAS FET pre-amp! 73 Ed O'Grady KC2ZF