ARLS005 Amateur Radio Transponders on Planned Chinese Satellites to Include HF

China's Amateur Radio Satellite organization, CAMSAT, has released some details of three new Amateur Radio satellites that could be launched as early as September. Two of the satellites, CAS-5A and CAS-6, will carry transponders, and one of them will have HF capability.

CAS-5A is a 6U CubeSat. It will have an HF/HF (21/29 MHz) mode linear transponder; an HF/UHF (21/435 MHz) mode linear transponder; an HF CW telemetry beacon; VHF/UHF mode linear transponder; a VHF/UHF mode FM transponder; a UHF CW telemetry beacon, and UHF AX.25 4,000/9,600-baud GMSK Telemetry. Transponders will have 30 kHz passbands, except for the H/U unit, which will be 15 kHz.

The tiny CAS-5B, weighing 1/2 kilogram, will be deployed from CAS-5A in orbit. It will carry a UHF CW beacon on an Amateur Radio frequency. It will be placed into a 539 x 533 kilometer, 97.5-degree orbit.

CAS-5A/B will launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.

CAS-6, a 50-kilogram microsat, will include a VHF CW telemetry beacon; a U/V mode 20 kHz linear transponder, and AX.25 4,800-baud GMSK telemetry downlink. It will also carry an atmospheric wind detector and other systems that will operate on non-amateur frequencies.

A launch at sea is planned for CAS-6 from the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology. The microsat will be placed into a 579 x 579 kilometer, 45-degree orbit.

CAMSAT has applied to the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) to coordinate frequencies for all three spacecraft.

Very Rare VHF/UHF Grid to Activate in South Louisiana -- EL58

Courtesy of the Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin #907.

K5, UNITED STATES (6m/Grid/LH/USI Op). Members of the "EL58 Grid ActivationGroup" will be active as K5N between May 29-31st (1700-1700z). Activitywill be from the sandy beach facing the Gulf of Mexico in Grid SquareEL58hx, ARLHS USA 1101 under the "Visual Site Rule" and a New USI Island(USI LA105S - Burwood Island, LA) (South West Pass). The operation will be6 meters ONLY, consist of 2 stations with both SSB/CW, and M/S capability,two 6M5 antennas, and 6 operators. Power out will be approximately 200W.Operating frequencies are: 50.100/CW, 50.150/SSB and 50.315 Meteor Scatter.QSL via: Joey Fierro II, 1054 Cajun Ln, Magnolia, MS 39652. Operatorsmentioned are: Al/WA4EWV, Bill/K5YG, Bob/WN2E, Bruce/N5SIX, Daniel/KE5KDMand Danny/N5OMG.

Visit their Web pages at: http://www.kcvhfgridbandits.com/kc_vhf_grid_bandits_018.htmhttp://w4abc.com/K5N.html

And this note from Danny N5OMG, one of the gang heading to south Louisiana:

It is less than a week till our operation in EL58 and we have updated our website with some interesting items. Our video from the scouting trip and the info regarding the lighthouse and island we will be activating on HF has been updated. It should be very lively down there.

At this time, all transportation has been finalized, our group members are consolidating the items for departure, and our last few conference calls will be later this week to tie up any loose ends. Our internet should be ready when we get there, so we will be monitoring both pingjockey and packetcluster nodes.

Although our main focus, and reason for being there, will be 6 meters, look for K5N on the HF IOTA freqs.. and maybe guest appearances elsewhere??

For those who haven't yet seen the website: http://www.kcvhfgridbandits.com/kc_vhf_grid_bandits_018.htm

With our special thanks to JD-N0IRS for the work he put in to this project. Thanks to JD, our logo has been finalized as well, it is too cool...

If you haven't yet made a schedule for Meteor Scatter, please email Bruce for a time slot. Check the slots available at: http://www.ykc.com/wa5ufh/EL58/EL58hx.htm and send your requests to Bruce: n5six@bellsouth.net

If you have any questions or need info, our email address: k5n@bellsouth.net

73, and hope to work everyone from EL58

Danny-N5OMG