Chinese CAS-7B Satellite Carrying an FM Transponder to Launch

The ARRL is reporting that another Amateur Radio satellite is set to launch from China. CAMSAT CEO Alan Kung, BA1DU, reports that CAS-7B (BP-1B) is expected to launch on July 22 at 0500 UTC, on the Hyperbola 1 vehicle. CAS-7B is a spherical spacecraft, 500 millimeters (approximately 19.7 inches) in diameter with a mass of 3 kilograms (about 6.6 pounds). The CW telemetry beacon will be on 435.715 MHz. The V/U FM 16 kHz wide transponder downlink is 435.690 MHz, and the uplink is 145.900 MHz. The launch from Jiuquan will be into a 300-kilometer (approximately 186-mile), 42.7° inclination orbit.

And from AMSAT-UK

CAS-7B with FM transponder launched

CAS-7B / BP-1B satellite schematic diagram

The Amateur Radio satellite CAS-7B (BP-1B), carrying an FM transponder, was launched at 05:00 GMT on July 25, 2019 and the FM transponder and Telemetry Beacon have been received.

The satellite was launched on Hyperbola-1 from Jiuquan into a 300 km 42.7 degree inclination orbit. CAS-7B is expected to have a lifetime of less than a month before reentry.

CAS-7B is a spheriform spacecraft of 500 mm diameter with a mass of 3 kg
• CW Telemetry Beacon: 435.715 MHz 20 dBm
• V/U FM Transponder Downlink: 435.690 MHz 20 dBm, 16 kHz bandwidth
• V/U FM Transponder Uplink: 145.900 MHz 16 kHz bandwidth

Update July 30, 2019: CAS-7B Designated BIT Progress-OSCAR 102 (BO-102)

On July 25, 2019, the CAS-7B (BP-1B) microsatellite was launched on a Hyperbola-1 launch vehicle from the Jiuquan Space Center, China.

CAS-7B (BP-1B) was developed by the Chinese Amateur Satellite Group (CAMSAT), and in cooperation with the Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT). CAMSAT completed the project planning, design, build, and testing, and manages the on-orbit operation of the satellite. BIT provided the satellite environmental testing, launch support, and financial support. Many students from BIT were involved with the project, learning about satellite technology and amateur radio. The satellite carries a CW telemetry beacon and FM repeater that has been active since launch.

At the request of CAMSAT and the BIT team, AMSAT hereby designates CAS-7B (BP-1B) as BIT Progress-OSCAR 102 (BO-102). We congratulate the owners and operators of BO-102, thank them for their contribution to the amateur satellite community, and wish them continued success on this and future projects.

Further CAS-7B information from Alan Kung BA1DU https://amsat-uk.org/2019/06/02/cas7b-bp1b-satellite/

New Rules for 5 MHz (60 Meters) To Go Into Effect March 5

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB002
ARLB002 New Rules for 5 MHz (60 Meters) To Go Into Effect March 5

ZCZC AG02
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 2 ARLB002
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT February 3, 2012
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB002
ARLB002 New Rules for 5 MHz (60 Meters) To Go Into Effect March 5

On November 18, the FCC released a Report and Order (R&O), defining new rules for the 60 meter (5 MHz) band. These rules are in response to a Petition for Rulemaking (PRM) filed by the ARRL more than five years ago and a June 2010 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). In the February 3 edition of the Federal Register, the FCC announced that these new rules will go into effect on March 5, 2012.

Details can be found at,
https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2012/02/03/2012-2477/amateur-radio-use-of-the-allocation-at-5-mhz

In summarizing the new rules, the FCC explained that the new rules amend the current rules to facilitate more efficient and effective use by the Amateur Radio Service of five channels in the 5330.5-5406.4 kHz band (the 60 meter band): "Specifically, and
consistent with our proposals in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in this proceeding, the Commission replaces one of the channels with a less encumbered one, increases the maximum authorized power amateur stations may transmit in this band and authorizes amateur stations to transmit three additional emission designators. The Commission also adopts an additional operational rule that prohibits the use of automatically controlled digital stations and makes editorial revisions to the relevant portions of the Table of Frequency Allocations and our service rules."

The Amateur Radio Service in the United States has a secondary allocation on 60 meters. Only those amateurs who hold General, Advanced or Amateur Extra class licenses may operate on this band. Amateur stations must not cause harmful interference to -- and must accept interference from -- stations authorized by any
administration in the fixed service, as well as mobile (except aeronautical mobile) stations authorized by the administrations of other countries.
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FCC Releases New Rules for 60 Meters

SB QST @ ARL $ARLB024
ARLB024 FCC Releases New Rules for 60 Meters

ZCZC AG24
QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 24 ARLB024
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT November 23, 2011
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB024
ARLB024 FCC Releases New Rules for 60 Meters

On November 18, the FCC released a Report and Order (R&O), defining new rules for the 60 meter (5 MHz) band. These rules are in response to a Petition for Rulemaking (PRM) filed by the ARRL more than five years ago and a June 2010 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). In the R&O, the FCC replaced one of the channels in the band, increased the maximum authorized power amateur stations may transmit in this
band and authorized amateur stations to transmit three additional emission designators in the five channels in the 5330.6-5406.4 kHz band (60 meters).

The Amateur Radio Service in the United States has a secondary allocation on 60 meters. Only those amateurs who hold General, Advanced or Amateur Extra class licenses may operate on this band. Amateur stations must not cause harmful interference to -- and must accept interference from -- stations authorized by any
administration in the fixed service, as well as mobile (except aeronautical mobile) stations authorized by the administrations of other countries.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE CHANGES HAVE NOT YET TAKEN EFFECT. These new rules will take effect 30 days after they are published in the Federal Register. The ARRL will announce on its website when the rules are published. Additional information can currently be found on the web at, http://www.arrl.org/news/fcc-releases-new-rules-for-60-meters.
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This Week on the Radio July 15, 2010

From the ARRL : This week, the North American QSO Party (RTTY), the DMC RTTY Contest and the CQ Worldwide VHF Contest are July 17-18. The Run for the Bacon QRP Contest is July 19. Next week, there is another running of the NCCC Sprint Ladder on July 23. The RSGB Islands on the Air (IOTA) Contest is July 24-25 and the SKCC Sprint July 28. All dates, unless otherwise stated, are UTC. See the ARRL Contest Branch page, the ARRL Contest Update and the WA7BNM Contest Calendar for more info. Looking for a Special Event station? Be sure to check out the ARRL Special Events Station Web page.

IARU Region 2 Requests Frequencies Be Kept Clear After Massive Earthquake Strikes Haiti

On Tuesday, January 12 at 4:53 PM Haiti time (2153 UTC), a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit 10 miles (15 kilometers) west of Port-au-Prince, the island nation's capital. Communications in and out of Haiti have been disrupted. No word has been received as of yet from any of Haitian Amateur Radio operators. The ARRL encourages US amateurs to be aware of the emergency operations on the following frequencies: 7.045 and 3.720 MHz (IARU Region 2 nets), 14.265, 7.265 and 3.977 MHz (SATERN nets), and 14.300 MHz (Intercontinental Assistance and Traffic Net); the International Radio Emergency Support Coalition (IRESC) is also active on EchoLink node 278173.

IARU Region 2 Area C Emergency Coordinator, Arnie Coro, CO2KK, is coordinating a multi-national response by hams. There are organized nets on 7.045 and 3.720 MHz; amateurs are asked to monitor the frequencies, but to also keep them clear of non-essential traffic. Amateur Radio operators should also be aware that emergency traffic pertaining to the Haitian earthquake is expected on the SATERN frequencies of 14.265 MHz, 7.265 MHz and 3977 MHz, according to SATERN's leader, Major Pat McPherson. The Salvation Army is accepting health and welfare traffic requests on its Web site.

"As late as 9:45 PM local time (0245 UTC), we have not been able to contact any amateur or emergency services stations in Haiti," Coro said in an e-mail. "Amateurs from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Venezuela are monitoring the 40 meter band frequency. We are still keeping watch on 7.045 MHz, hoping that someone in Haiti may have access to a transceiver and at least a car battery to run it," but so far, no HH stations have checked in. Tuesday's quake was felt in the Dominican Republic, which shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, and in Eastern Cuba, but no major damage was reported in either place.

The January 13 edition of The Daily DX reported that the Rev John Henault, HH6JH, made contact late Wednesday morning with the Intercontinental Assistance and Traffic Net (IATN) on 14.300 MHz; this is the IARU Global Center of Activity frequency for emergency communications. He said that he was safe, but had no power and no phone service. He was operating on battery power and hoping to get a generator running later in the day. The edition also noted that Pierre Petry, HH2/HB9AMO -- who was in Cap Haitien (about 140 km north of Port-au-Prince) is "okay"; Petry is in Haiti working for the United Nations World Food Program. Later today, he will be traveling to the capital.

The UN's 9000 peacekeepers in Haiti -- many of whom are from Brazil -- were distracted from aid efforts by their own tragedy: Many spent the night hunting for survivors in the ruins of their headquarters. "It would appear that everyone who was in the building, including my friend Hedi Annabi, the United Nations' Secretary General's special envoy, and everyone with him and around him, are dead," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Wednesday, speaking on French radio. UN peacekeeping chief Alain Le Roy would not confirm that Annabi was dead, but said he was among more than 100 people missing in the rubble of its headquarters. He said only about 10 people had been pulled out, many of them badly injured. Fewer than five bodies had been pulled from the rubble, he said. The United Nations said the capital's main airport was "fully operational" and that relief flights would begin on Wednesday, January 13.

The situation in Haiti is still chaotic. More information will be posted as soon as possible. Information is being validated and shared between many amateur groups and news sources as it unfolds.

South African Amateur Radio Payload Reaches Orbit

SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS007
ARLS007 South African Amateur Radio Payload Reaches Orbit

ZCZC AS07
QST de W1AW
Space Bulletin 007 ARLS007
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT September 18, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB SPACE ARL ARLS007
ARLS007 South African Amateur Radio Payload Reaches Orbit

After several delays, South Africa's SumbandilaSat satellite finally
blasted to orbit aboard a Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
in Kazakhstan on September 16. The main payload is a multi-spectral
imager, but the satellite also carries an Amateur Radio component
consisting of a 2 meter/70 cm FM repeater.

After SumbandilaSat is fully commissioned, the repeater will be
activated with an uplink at 145.880 MHz and a downlink at 435.350
MHz; there will also be a voice beacon at 435.300 MHz. The
transponder mode will be controlled by a CTCSS tone on the uplink
frequency. The CTCSS tone frequencies have yet to be announced.

SumbandilaSat was sponsored by the Department of Science and
Technology and was built at SunSpace in cooperation with the
Stellenbosch University.

In addition to the SA-AMSAT amateur module, the satellite carries
Stellenbosch University's radiation experiment and software defined
radio (SDR) project, an experiment from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University and a VLF radio module from the University of
KwaZulu-Natal.

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W1AW to add new digital modes to its transmitting schedule

Want to practice receiving the ham PSK and MFSK digital modes and learning what they sound like?

Well now you will have an opportunity. From the ARRL:

ARRL Bulletin 27 ARLB027
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT July 14, 2009
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB027
ARLB027 W1AW to add new digital modes to its transmitting schedule

After a survey of W1AW-listeners, W1AW will begin using two different modes on August 17, 2009.

On August 17, 2009, W1AW will replace its AMTOR and ASCII transmissions with PSK31 and MFSK16, respectively.

RTTY (Baudot) will continue to be the first digital mode used in the transmission schedule.

The frequencies used by W1AW for all its digital transmissions will remain the same.

All regular 6 PM and 9 PM eastern time digital transmissions will begin with RTTY. PSK31 and MFSK16 will be sent as time allows.

The Tuesday and Friday Keplerian data bulletins will be sent using RTTY and PSK31.

The W1AW operating schedule -- complete with times and frequencies -- can be found on the ARRLWeb page at, http://www.arrl.org/w1aw.html#w1awsked.

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Julius Genachowski Nominated as Next FCC Chairman

From the ARRL

ARLB014 Julius Genachowski Nominated as Next FCC Chairman

On Tuesday, March 3, President Barack Obama nominated Julius Genachowski as FCC Chairman. Genachowski, 46, is a technology executive and a former classmate of Obama's from Harvard Law School. Upon Senate confirmation, Genachowski will replace Acting FCC Chairman Michael Copps; Copps took over the Commission on January 22, 2009, two days after then-Chairman Kevin Martin resigned. Genachowski has been widely praised by industry executives and consumer-activist groups -- two groups often at odds -- for his wide-ranging experience and intimate knowledge of technology issues.

"I can think of no one better than Julius Genachowski to serve as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission," said President Obama. "He will bring to the job diverse and unparalleled experience in communications and technology, with two decades of accomplishment in the private sector and public service. I know him as the son of immigrants who carries a deep appreciation for this country and the American dream; and as the proud father of three children working with his wife Rachel to be responsible parents in this digital age."

According to the Wall Street Journal, speculation has been rife as to why President Obama had not put forth Genachowski's name before now, saying that "his nomination has centered on the administration's efforts to find at least one more nominee -- more likely two -- to fill other open spots on the FCC's five-person board. Agency nominations tend to move through the Senate more quickly if a Democratic nominee is paired with a Republican nominee."

The Wall Street Journal said that a number of Republicans -- including FCC Deputy General Counsel Ajit Pai -- have been mentioned as a possible replacement for the seat left vacant by Republican Deborah Taylor Tate when she left the Commission in January. "On the Democratic side, speculation is growing that FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein may not be renominated for the seat he currently holds. South Carolina public utilities commission official Mignon Clyburn (daughter of [Democrat Representative] Jim Clyburn) has been most often mentioned by people close to the Obama team as a candidate for that seat," the Journal reported. "Adelstein could be up for a job elsewhere in the Obama administration, insiders say, possibly at the Agriculture Department."

Acting Chairman Copps said President Obama "made an excellent choice in announcing his intent to nominate Julius Genachowski to be the next Chairman of the FCC. Julius has the knowledge, experience and dedication to lead this Agency forward as we tackle the many challenges confronting the country -- and the Commission. I look forward to the prospect of working with him on a communications agenda focused on serving consumers and the public interest. He will find here a talented and energized team of public servants committed to precisely this goal. I wish him a successful Senate confirmation."

Commissioner Adelstein also added his congratulations: "I warmly congratulate my friend Julius Genachowski on his nomination by President Barack Obama to be Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission. He is the right person at the right time for the job. His leadership, experience and intelligence will serve him and the American people well as he takes the helm of the FCC during this pivotal time for our country and the agency. By designating a Chairman with such a strong strategic vision, striking talents, wealth of experience inside and outside the Commission, and practical understanding of technology, President Obama once again demonstrates his commitment to the transformational power of communications technology and innovation."

Commissioner Robert McDowell congratulated Genachowski on his nomination, saying he "will bring a valuable perspective to the Commission with his experience not only in government, but in the private sector. I look forward to working closely with Mr. Genachowski on the many important communications challenges that lie ahead for the American people."

Additional information -- including Genachowski's background -- can be found on the web at, http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/03/03/10684/?nc=1