Friday, May 20, 2016

New Whistler TRX-1 DMR/NXDN Capable HH

Here is the release photo from Whistler of their soon to be released DMR/NXDN and other digital mode TRX-1 HH scanner.

New Whistler TRX-1 HH Scanner

Friday, May 13, 2016

AMSAT News Service ANS-136

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:
* STMSat-1 SSTV CubeSat to deploy from ISS May 16
* 2016 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nominations Notice
* AMSAT/TAPR Banquet at the Dayton Hamvention
      TUESDAY MAY 17th SIGN UP DEADLINE
* Dayton AMSAT Demonstration Plans
* ÑuSat-1 to Carry AMSAT Argentina Linear Transponder
* ARISS at Dayton Hamvention
* CY9C DXpedition to St. Paul Island Announces Satellite Operation
* Top 10 Reasons to Come to Dayton HAMVENTION
* Saturday AMSAT Dayton Forum
* AMSAT Thursday Dinner and Beverages at Tickets Pub and Eatery
* ARISS News
 
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-136.01
ANS-136 AMSAT News Service Weekly Bulletins
AMSAT News Service Bulletin 136.01
From AMSAT HQ KENSINGTON, MD.
 
To All RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-136.01
 
STMSat-1 SSTV CubeSat to deploy from ISS May 16
A Slow Scan TV (SSTV) CubeSat developed by students at Saint Thomas
More Cathedral School (STM) in Arlington, VA, is set to be deployed
from the International Space Station between 1400 and 1500 UT on May
16. For latest date/time check
https://twitter.com/STMSAT11.
 
STM is thought to be the first Elementary school to build their own
satellite, even Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and First Grade
students were involved in the project.
 
The satellite, a 1U CubeSat called STMSat-1, will transmit a SSTV
Robot36 mode signal on 437.800 MHz.
 
Middle School Students took the initiative to begin exploring how to
receive data from the CubeSat and formed a Ham Radio Club. There,
they learned the basics of operating a ham radio station and explored
Slow Scan Television as an option for receiving images once the
satellite is deployed.
 
How Did 400 Grade School Students Built A Nano-Satellite?
http://tinyurl.com/ANS136-NanoSat
 
Watch the CBS This Morning show report on the satellite
http://tinyurl.com/ANS136-CBS-MorningShow
STMSat-1
https://twitter.com/STMSAT11
https://www.facebook.com/stmsat1/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/491135804399695/
http://www.stmsat-1.org/
[ANS thanks AMSAT-UK for the above information]
 
———————————————————————
 
2016 AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nominations Notice
It’s time to submit nominations for the upcoming AMSAT-NA Board of
Directors election. Three director’s terms expire this year: Tom
Clark, K3IO, JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM, and Lou McFadin, W5DID. In
addition, up to two Alternates may be elected for one year terms.
A valid nomination requires either one Member Society or five current
individual members in good standing to nominate an AMSAT-NA member for
Director. Written nominations, consisting of the nominee’s name and
call, and the nominating individual’s names, calls and individual
signatures should be mailed to: AMSAT-NA, 10605 Concord St, #304
Kensington, MD 20895-2526.
 
In addition to traditional submissions of written nominations, which
is the preferred method, the intent to nominate someone may be made by
electronic means. These include e-mail, Fax, or electronic image of a
petition. Electronic petitions should be sent to MARTHA at AMSAT.ORG
or Faxed to (301)822-4371.
 
No matter what means is used, petitions MUST arrive no later than June
15th at the AMSAT-NA office. If the nomination is a traditional
written nomination, no other action is required. If it is other than
this, i.e. electronic, a verifying traditional written petition MUST
be received at the AMSAT-NA office at the above address within 7 days
following the close of nominations on June 15th.
 
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS WITHOUT THIS SECOND, WRITTEN VERIFICATION ARE  NOT VALID UNDER THE EXISTING AMSAT-NA BYLAWS.
 
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
AMSAT-NA Secretary
[ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information]
———————————————————————
 
AMSAT/TAPR Banquet at the Dayton Hamvention
The tenth annual joint AMSAT/TAPR Banquet will be held on Friday
evening, May 20th. This dinner is one of the main AMSAT activities
during the Hamvention. Tickets ($35 each) may be purchased from the
AMSAT store at www.amsat.org.
THE BANQUET TICKET PURCHASE DEADLINE IS TUESDAY, MAY 17th.
The Banquet will take place at the Kohler Presidential Banquet
Center, 4572 Presidential Way, Kettering, OH 45429 (just south of
Dayton). Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a cash bar with the buffet
dinner served at 7:00 p.m.
 
AMSAT and TAPR alternate the task of providing a speaker for the
banquet. It is AMSAT¹s responsibility this year.
 
Michelle Thompson, W5NYV, will present “It¹s just software, right?”
She will survey the AMSAT Ground Terminal: Who, what, when, where,
why, and how we¹re designing open source radio solutions for the next
generation of AMSAT payloads.
 
Michelle is AMSAT¹s Team Leader for the design and execution of the
AMSAT Ground Terminal. The goal is to create a ³5 and Dime² (5 and
10 GHz) digital SDR transceiver that will support both voice and data
modes, for both general QSOs and emergency communication, for the
Phase 4B satellite and for future AMSAT projects. This is an effort
to design an inexpensive ground terminal for amateurs that would cost
tens of thousands of dollars commercially, for as much under $1,000
as we can get it.
 
A true renaissance woman, in addition to being an engineer and a
licensed amateur radio operator, Michelle has worked for Qualcomm,
attends Burning Man, and is a longtime DEFCON participant. She is
also the lead for Organ Donor (an AI pipe organ). Her Phase 4B Weekly
Ground Engineering Reports are fascinating reading.
 
Seating is limited to the number of meals we reserve with the Kohler
caterers based on the number of tickets sold by the deadline. Tickets
purchased online may be collected at the Books, Shirts & Memberships
corner of the AMSAT booth (445-446).
 
[ANS thanks Steve N9IP and the AMSAT Office for the above information]
———————————————————————
Dayton AMSAT Demonstration Plans
 
AMSAT will again have a demo station at the Dayton Hamvention this
year. The station will be located outside the main entrance to Ball
Arena, near the AMSAT booth.
 
This year, the focus of many of the demonstrations will be on the use
of inexpensive software defined radio (SDR) equipment as a downlink
receiver. Using an SDR like a FUNcube Dongle Pro+, SDRPlay, or AirSpy
allows owners of common all-mode transceivers with VHF/UHF
functionality (such as the Yaesu FT-817, Yaesu FT-857, Icom
IC-706MKIIG, or Icom IC-7100) to add full duplex satellite capability
for use with linear transponder satellites at minimal cost. The
receiver used will consist of a FUNcube Dongle Pro+ with a low cost
10.1″ Windows 10 tablet.
 
We may also use other radio combinations during the weekend.
Demos will take place during satellite passes from 8:00am (12:00 UTC)
until 5:00pm (21:00 UTC) on Friday and Saturday and from 8:00am until
12:00pm (16:00 UTC) on Sunday. Please keep in mind that the RF
environment at the Hamvention is challenging and the arena blocks low
elevations to the north and northwest. Due to these factors, we will
only be attempting passes with a peak elevation greater than 10
degrees. Please stop by for any satellite pass or at any other time if
you have questions about satellite operating.
 
A special demonstration on SO-50 will take place during the 12:19pm
(16:19 UTC) pass on Saturday May 21st. Nine year old Hope Lea, KM4IPF,
will operate that pass after completing her talk at the ARRL Youth
Forum.
 
If you are not attending the Hamvention, please call us if you hear
the AMSAT demo station on the air!
 
AMSAT DAYTON HAMVENTION DEMOS – 2016
TZ = UTC
N 39.820328 W 84.255224 ELEV. 296 M
MIN PEAK ELEV. = 10 DEG
GRID = EM79ut
* = Listen Only Pass – Telemetry, Doppler, Ant. Perf, etc.
WinAos QTH: -84.3/39.8 T#: 14019 Sat.: 12 [Standard]
———————————————————-
Day Objects AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ
———————————————————-
20.05.2016 XW-2A 12:17 12:26 09 62 016 – 187
20.05.2016 ISS * 12:28 12:37 09 40 300 – 143
20.05.2016 NO-84 * 12:28 12:38 10 21 294 – 168
20.05.2016 AO-85 12:45 12:59 14 62 200 – 036
20.05.2016 XW-2F 12:52 13:01 09 19 351 – 224
20.05.2016 AO-85 14:26 14:40 14 23 249 – 025
20.05.2016 AO-73 14:51 15:02 11 56 018 – 185
20.05.2016 EO-79 * 15:04 15:14 10 14 119 – 004
20.05.2016 SO-50 15:53 16:06 13 50 332 – 137
20.05.2016 FO-29 16:01 16:17 16 18 111 – 358
20.05.2016 AO-73 16:28 16:36 08 11 343 – 242
20.05.2016 EO-79 * 16:39 16:50 11 49 180 – 343
20.05.2016 SPROUT * 16:50 16:59 09 14 039 – 152
20.05.2016 UKUBE-1 * 16:57 17:08 11 30 025 – 171
20.05.2016 SO-50 17:34 17:45 11 17 309 – 187
20.05.2016 FO-29 17:43 18:02 19 88 163 – 348
20.05.2016 AO-07 18:12 18:28 16 15 099 – 356
20.05.2016 SPROUT * 18:25 18:36 11 44 004 – 209
20.05.2016 UKUBE-1 * 18:33 18:44 11 22 357 – 225
20.05.2016 FO-29 19:31 19:46 15 16 219 – 331
20.05.2016 AO-07 20:01 20:22 21 67 150 – 346
WinAos QTH: -84.3/39.8 T#: 14020 Sat.: 12 [Standard]
———————————————————-
Day Objects AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ
———————————————————-
21.05.2016 NO-84 * 12:04 12:14 10 22 295 – 167
21.05.2016 XW-2F 12:39 12:49 10 26 358 – 217
21.05.2016 AO-85 13:11 13:25 14 59 222 – 030
21.05.2016 XW-2C 13:12 13:20 08 11 345 – 238
21.05.2016 XW-2A 13:17 13:26 09 19 353 – 223
21.05.2016 SO-50 14:38 14:50 12 17 340 – 108
21.05.2016 AO-85 14:54 15:05 11 12 274 – 021
21.05.2016 AO-73 15:10 15:21 11 80 011 – 196
21.05.2016 EO-79 * 15:16 15:26 10 18 127 – 004
21.05.2016 SO-50 16:19 16:31 12 61 324 – 157
21.05.2016 FO-29 16:49 17:08 19 39 137 – 353
21.05.2016 EO-79 * 16:51 17:02 11 36 187 – 339
21.05.2016 SPROUT * 17:04 17:15 11 21 029 – 163
21.05.2016 UKUBE-1 * 17:14 17:26 12 45 020 – 182
21.05.2016 FO-29 18:34 18:53 19 42 189 – 342
21.05.2016 SPROUT * 18:40 18:51 11 30 360 – 217
21.05.2016 UKUBE-1 * 18:51 19:00 09 15 349 – 237
21.05.2016 AO-07 19:03 19:22 19 31 122 – 351
21.05.2016 AO-85 20:04 20:14 10 15 345 – 100
21.05.2016 AO-07 20:54 21:15 21 61 173 – 341
WinAos QTH: -84.3/39.8 T#: 14021 Sat.: 12 [Standard]
———————————————————-
Day Objects AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ
———————————————————-
22.05.2016 ISS * 12:19 12:27 08 17 288 – 162
22.05.2016 XW-2F 12:27 12:37 10 36 001 – 210
22.05.2016 XW-2A 12:44 12:54 10 47 006 – 203
22.05.2016 XW-2C 13:00 13:09 09 16 350 – 229
22.05.2016 AO-85 13:37 13:51 14 29 242 – 026
22.05.2016 AO-73 13:53 14:02 09 12 037 – 147
22.05.2016 SO-50 15:04 15:16 12 35 337 – 128
22.05.2016 EO-79 * 15:28 15:39 11 24 135 – 359
22.05.2016 AO-73 15:29 15:40 11 48 005 – 206
22.05.2016 FO-29 15:56 16:12 16 17 110 – 359
[ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information]
———————————————————————
ÑuSat-1 to Carry AMSAT Argentina Linear Transponder
Launch Scheduled for May 30, 2016.
 
The Argentinian earth observation satellite ÑuSat-1 will carry a
linear transponder built by AMSAT Argentina. The satellite is
scheduled to launch on a CZ-4B rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch
Center in China on May 30, 2016 into a 500 km sun-synchronous orbit
with an inclination of 97.5 degrees and a Local Time of the Ascending
Node (LTAN) of 10:30.
 
The AMSAT Argentina U/v inverting transponder, named LUSEX, wiil
have an uplink of 435.935 MHz to 435.965 MHz and a downlink of
145.935 MHz to 145.965 MHz. Total power output is 250 mW. There will
also be a CW beacon at 145.900 MHz with a power output of 70 mW.
For more information, see the AMSAT Argentina Facebook group.
https://www.facebook.com/Amsat.LU/
[ANS thanks AMSAT Argentina for the above information]
 
———————————————————————
ARISS at Dayton Hamvention
 
If you will be attending Hamvention next week, be sure to stop by
the AMSAT area in the Ball Arena. We will have members of the ARISS
team on-hand at all times and some of our ISS hardware (radios and an
antenna) on display.
 
During the AMSAT Forum (Saturday, 11:15-1:30), Frank Bauer will be
presenting ARISS status and future plans.
 
Also on Saturday, from 2:30-3:00, we will have a face-to-face
meeting for anyone interested in ARISS. We’d like to see members of
the ARISS team there. We will meet outside near AMSAT’s Satellite
Demo area (outside the Ball Arena entrance) or, if it’s raining,
inside at the ARISS display.
[ANS thanks Dave W8ASS for the above information]
———————————————————————
CY9C DXpedition to St. Paul Island Announces Satellite Operation
 
The CY9C DXpedition to St. Paul Island, scheduled for August 19, 2016
– August 29, 2016, has announced that Lee Imber, WW2DX, has joined the
DXpedition team and will add satellite operations, as well as 2 meter
EME and 6 meter operations, to the DXpedition plans.
 
St. Paul Island is located in gridsquare FN97 in the Cabot Strait
between Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia and Cape Ray, Newfoundland and
is a separate entity on the ARRL DXCC list. It also counts as a
country for the AMSAT OSCAR Satellite Communications Achievement
Award, AMSAT OSCAR Sexagesimal Award, and AMSAT OSCAR Century Award.
Most of Europe and North America should be easily workable from this
location. St. Paul Island has not been activated on satellite since
July 1998.
 
For further information about the DXpedition, please see the CY9C
DXpedition website (http://www.cy9dxpedition.com/)
This operation and other planned amateur satellite grid/DX operations
are posted on the AMSAT Upcoming Satellite Operations page
(http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=3921)
[ANS thanks Paul N8HM for the above information]
———————————————————————
Top 10 Reasons to Come to Dayton HAMVENTION
 
10. Rub shoulders with 25,000 of your best friends at the largest
hamfest in the United States, including all of the AMSAT Directors
and senior officers. See the latest equipment from Icom, Yaesu,
Kenwood, Flex, Alinco, M2, Arrow, and many other manufacturers of
amateur radio equipment and accessories. Take advantage of
discounted pricing you won’t find anywhere else.
9. Find out how to organize a contact with the astronauts on the
International Space Station for your local school or youth group from
our Education and ARISS experts.
8. Pickup the latest AMSAT golf shirts, T-shirts, and hats. Get
your copy of the updated “Amateur Satellite Frequency Guide”
(laminated frequency chart) and Gould Smith’s just revised “Getting
Started with Amateur Satellites” (book). We’ll also have assembled
wide-band preamps and antennas that are great for portable
operation.
7. See demonstrations of SatPC32 and MacDoppler satellite tracking
software, and get your operational questions answered. Meet Don
Agro, author of MacDoppler (Friday & Saturday, 2-3 p.m.). See a
demonstration of the LVB Tracker, a computer interface to the Yaesu
azimuth-elevation rotors. Talk with Mike Young, who has built more
LVB Trackers than anyone else. Assembled LVB Trackers will be
available.
6. Hear a team presentation at the joint AMSAT/TAPR dinner on the
new AMSAT Ground Terminal (AGT). AGT is using Five and Dime (5 GHz
uplink, 10 GHz downlink) technology that is being developed for the
Phase 3E (P3E) HEO satellite, the Phase 4B (P4B) geosynchronous
satellite, and the Cube Quest Challenge (CQC) lunar mission. While
much of the P3E and P4B *satellite* development is classified, the
AGT is all open source and public information.
5. Hear the latest on the *five* Fox satellites, P3E, P4B, CQC, the
International Space Station, other current and future satellites,
education news, and an AMSAT update at the AMSAT Forum Saturday, from
11:15 to 1:30.
4. Get one-on-one guidance on setting up your satellite station and
making contacts at our “Beginner’s Corner”. Witness live
demonstrations of contacts through satellites AO-7, AO-73, AO-85, FO-
29, SO-50, XW-2A, XW-2C, and XW-2F using handheld antennas.
3. Meet and interact with some of the Engineering Team members
working on the Fox-1 satellites and our new Five and Dime AMSAT
ground terminal. Learn all of the public information and get
breaking news on the Virginia Tech plans for the Phase 3E and Phase
4B satellites.
2. Get satellite station and operating tips from some of the best
satellite operators in the country, including John Papay K8YSE (1,575
grids confirmed), Doug Papay KD8CAO (1,159 grids), Drew Glasbrenner
KO4MA (1,343 grids), Paul Stoetzer (450 grids), and Wyatt Dirks AC0RA
(938 grids).
1. Receive special premiums when you join or renew your AMSAT
membership at Dayton, including an updated “Amateur Satellite
Frequency Guide” (laminated frequency chart), and special pricing on
the SatPC32 satellite tracking software.
[ANS thanks Steve N9IP for the above information]
———————————————————————
Saturday AMSAT Dayton Forum
The AMSAT forum will be Saturday morning from 11:15 a.m. through
1:30 p.m. in Forum Room 5. See the commercial vendor layout map in
the Hamvention program or the Hamvention website for the location of
Forum Room 5 (same as the last few years).
The following speakers will be presenting at the AMSAT Forum,
moderated by Mark Hammond, N8MH:
“AMSAT Status Report” Barry Baines, WD4ASW, AMSAT-NA President, will
highlight recent activities within AMSAT and discuss some of our
challenges, accomplishments, projects, and any late breaking news.
“AMSAT-NA Satellite Program” Jerry Buxton, N0JY, AMSAT-NA
Engineering Vice President, will review the upcoming launches of four
Fox spacecraft and exciting new engineering developments.
“AMSAT’s HEO and GSO Plans” Bob McGwier, N4HY, AMSAT-NA Director,
will discuss AMSAT-NA opportunities for High Earth Orbit and Geo-
Synchronous Orbit satellites.
“AMSAT Satellite Operations” Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT-NA
Operations Vice President, will survey the current operational
amateur satellites, as well as those planned for launch in the next
year.
“ARISS Report 2016” Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, AMSAT-NA Vice President for
Human Spaceflight, will discuss ARISS developments & operation on the
International Space Station.
“Teaching STEM Using the Fox Satellites” Joe Spier, K6WAO, AMSAT-NA
Educational Relations Vice President, will explain how the Fox MEMS
gyroscopes, radiation experiments, and cameras will be used to teach
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM).
[ANS thanks AMSAT Office for the above information]
———————————————————————
AMSAT Thursday Dinner and Beverages at Tickets Pub and Eatery
Dinner and beverages at Tickets Pub and Eatery
Thursday night, 1800-2000. The annual AMSAT “Dinner at Tickets”
party will be held Thursday, May 19, at 1800 EDT at the Tickets Pub &
Eatery. Everyone is invited regardless of whether or not they helped
with setup or plan to work in the booth.
You’ll find a great selection of Greek and American food and
excellent company! No program or speaker, just good conversation.
Food can be ordered from the menu; drinks (beer, wine, sodas and iced
tea) are available at the bar. Come as you are. Bring some friends
and have a great time the night before Hamvention®.
Tickets Pub and Eatery,
7 W. Main St.
Fairborn, OH 45324
(937) 878-9022
http://www.ticketspub.com/
[ANS thanks AMSAT Office for the above information]
———————————————————————
ARISS News
+ A Successful contact was made between The Kings School, Ottery St
Mary, Devon, UK and Astronaut Timothy Peake KG5BVI using Callsign
GB1SS. The contact began 2016-05-09 09:26 UTC and lasted about nine
and a half minutes. Contact was direct via GB1OSM.
ARISS Mentor was Ciaran MØXTD.
+ A Successful contact was made between H.A.L. School, Lucknow,
India and Astronaut Tim Kopra KE5UDN using Callsign NA1SS. The
contact began 2016-05-12 08:11 UTC and lasted about nine and a half
minutes. Contact was telebridge via K6DUE.
ARISS Mentor was Satoshi 7M3TJZ.
+ A Successful contact was made between AstroNuts Kids Space Club
Academy, David Dunlap Observatory, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada,
and Astronaut Timothy Peake KG5BVI using Callsign NA1SS. The contact
began 2016-05-14 17:37:12 UTC and lasted about nine and a half
minutes. Contact was telebridge via W6SRJ.
ARISS Mentor was Steve VE3TBD.
Upcoming ARISS Contact Schedule as of 2016-05-13 06:30 UTC
Quick list of scheduled contacts and events:
Essex Heights Primary School, Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia,
telebridge via VK5ZAI
The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
The scheduled astronaut is Jeff Williams KD5TVQ
Contact is a go for: Fri 2016-05-20 08:35:16 UTC
[ANS thanks ARISS, Charlie AJ9N and David AA4KN 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,
EMike McCardel, AA8EM, former KC8YLD
kc8yld at amsat dot org