The Btown Monitoring Post

Welcome to the Btown Monitoring Post, the official blog site of the Teak Publishing Co. in western North Carolina. This where we post current news items, radio related bulletins, and reference material that will be of interest to a wide variety of radio monitors. Copyright © 2006-2021 by Teak Publishing, who is solely responsible for the content on this blog. All rights reserved and redistribution these pages in any format without prior permission is prohibited. Links to stories are permitted.

Friday, November 26, 2010

AMSAT Weekly Satellite Report 328 24 Nov 2010

This report is organized into four (4) parts.
Part 1 (S1) - operational analog amateur satellites
Part 2 (S2) - operational digital amateur satellites
Part 3 (S3) - non - operational satellites
Part 4 (S4) - deborbited/returned satellites

SB SAT @ AMSAT W8ISS $WSR-328.S1
WSR 328 Part 1 11/24/2010

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 328.S1
FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, November 24, 2010
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $WSR-328.S1

HO-68 HOPE-1 (CAS-1)(XW-1)
Catalog Number: 36122
Launch Date: December 15, 2009
Status: Operational

Callsign:
Broadcast: BJ1SA-11
BBS: BJ1SA-12

Uplinks: 145.8250 MHz FM, PL 67.0 Hz.
145.9250 - 145.9750 MHz SSB/CW
145.8250 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Downlinks: 435.6750 MHz FM
435.7650 - 435.7150 MHz SSB/CW
435.6750 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Beacon: 435.7900 MHz CW

Mode and Antenna Polarization:
V: LHCP 2.0dBi max
U: RHCP 3.0dBi max

IARU coordination page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/formal_detail.asp?serial=108

For more information about XW-1 (CAS-1):
http://www.camsat.cn/
[09062010]

=====
SO-67 SumbandilaSat
Catalog Number: 35870
Launch Date: September 17, 2009

Status: Suspended

Callsign: ZS0SUM

Uplink: 145.875MHz FM tone 233.6 Hz
Downlink: 435.345MHz FM

Mode and Antenna Polarization:
V: Linear
U: Linear

For more information about SO-67:
http://www.amsatsa.org.za/
[09062010]

=====
DO-64 Delfi-C3
Catalog number: 32789
Launch Date: April 28, 2008

Status: Operational
Current Mode: Science Mode - Beacon ONLY

Telemetry: 145.870 MHz

Downlink: 145.880 to 145.920 MHz
Uplink: 435.530 to 435.570 MHz

Delfi-C3 web page: http://www.delfic3.nl/

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=68
[09062010]

=====
VO-52 HAMSAT
Catalog number: 28650
Launch Date: May 05,2005

Status: Operational
Current Mode: U/v - Indian Transponder

Frequencies:
Indian Transponder:
Uplink: 435.220 to 435.280 MHz LSB/CW
Downlink: 145.930 to 145.870 MHz USB/CW

Dutch Transponder:
Uplink: 435.225 to 435.275 MHz LSB/CW
Downlink: 145.925 to 145.875 MHz USB/CW

Indian Beacon: 145.9360 MHZ CW
Dutch Beacon: 145.860 MHz 12WPM with CW message

Mode and Antenna Polarization:
V: LHCP
U: RHCP

Official Webpage: http://www.amsatindia.org/hamsat.htm

To know what transponder is switched on please listen for the beacon that is active. Each transponder has a different beacon. [09062010]

=====
AO-51 ECHO
Catalog number: 28375
Launch date: June 29, 2004

Status: Operational

Current Mode:
Voice repeater:
Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM

PBBS: L/u
Uplink: 1268.705 mhz FM 9k6 Pacsat Broadcast Protocol
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM 38k4 PBP, 1 watt output

Telemetry:
Downlink: 435.150MHz 9k6

Analog voice downlink: 435.300 MHz FM
435.150 MHz FM
2401.200 Mhz FM
Analog voice uplink: 145.860 MHZ FM
145.880 MHz USB
145.880 MHz FM
145.920 MHz FM
145.920 MHz FM - 67 Hz PL tone burst
1268.705 MHz FM
Digital Downlinks: 435.150 MHz FM 38k4 PBP, 1 watt output
435.150 MHz FM 9k6 Pacsat Broadcast Protocol
2401.200 MHz FM 38k4 bps, AX.25
Digital Uplink: 145.860 MHz FM 9k6 Pacsat Broadcast Protocol
1268.705 mhz FM 9k6 Pacsat Broadcast Protocol
Beacon: 435.150 MHz

Mode and Antenna Polarization:
T: Linear
V: Linear
U: TX A (usually digital)LHCP
TX B (usually analog) RHCP
L: Linear
S: Linear

Broadcast: PECHO-11
BBS: PECHO-12

Official Webpage: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=19
[11242010]

=====
SO-50 SAUDISAT-1C
Catalog number: 27607
Launch date: December 20, 2002

Status: Operational

Current Mode: V/u

Uplink: 145.850 MHz FM - 67.0 Hz PL tone
Downlink: 436.795 MHz

Mode and Antenna Polarization:
V: Linear
U: Linear

Official Webpage: http://saudisat.kacst.edu.sa/index.shtml (not up and running currently)

To switch the transmitter on, you need to send a CTCSS tone of 74.4 Hz. The order of operation is thus: (allow for Doppler as necessary):
1) Transmit on 145.850 MHz with a tone of 74.4 Hz to arm the 10 minute timer on board the spacecraft.
2) Now transmit on 145.850 MHz (FM Voice) using 67.0 Hz to PT the repeater on and off within the 10 Minute window.
3) Sending the 74.4 tone again within the 10 minute window will reset the 10 minute timer.
[09062010]

=====
AO-27 AMRAD
Catalog number: 22825
Launch date: September 26, 1993

Status: Operational

Current Mode: V/u

Uplink: 145.850 MHz FM
Downlink: 436.797 MHz FM

Mode and Antenna Polarization:
V: Linear
U: Linear

Official Webpage: http://www.ao27.org/
[09062010]

=====
AO-7 AMSAT OSCAR 7
Catalog number: 07530
Launch Date: November 15, 1974

Status: Operational

Current Mode: Alternating between Mode A and B every 24 hours

Uplink: 145.850 to 145.950 MHz CW/USB Mode A
432.125 to 432.175 MHz CW/LSB Mode B
Downlink: 29.400 to 29.500 MHz CW/USB Mode A (1W PEP)
145.975 to 145.925 MHz CW/USB Mode B (8W PEP)
145.975 to 145.925 MHz CW/USB Mode C (2W PEP)
Beacons: 29.502 MHz CW
145.972 MHz CW
435.100 MHz CW
2304.100 MHz CW

Official Webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/sat_summary/ao7.php

The AO-7 Logbook and Resource Website:
http://www.planetemily.com/ao7/
[09062010]

=====
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) - ARISS
Catalog number: 25544
Launch date: November 20, 1998

Status: Operational

Current Active Modes: FM Repeater - OFF
Voice - V/v
BBS - OFF
APRS - OFF
SSTV - OFF

Expedition 25 Crew:
Commander: Doug Wheelock KF5BOC
Flight Engineer: Shannon Walker KD5DXB
Flight Engineer: Fyodor Yurchikhin RN3FI
Flight Engineer: Scott Kelly
Flight Engineer: Alexander Kaleri U8MIR
Flight Engineer: Oleg Skripochka RN3FU

Available Modes and Frequencies:
Digital/APRS:
Worldwide packet uplink: 145.825 MHz FM 1k2
Worldwide packet downlink: 145.825 Mhz FM 1k2

Voice:
Region 1 voice uplink: 145.200 MHz FM
Region 2/3 voice uplink: 144.490 MHz FM
Worldwide downlink: 145.800 MHz FM

Crossband Repeater:
Repeater Uplinks: 1269.650 MHz FM
437.800 MHz FM
145.990 MHz FM - 67.0 PL (Kenwood)
Repeater Downlink: 145.800 MHz FM
437.800 MHz FM (Kenwood)

SSTV Robot 36:
Downlink: 145.800 MHz FM

Mode and Antenna Polarization:
V: Linear
U: Linear

Callsigns:
Belgian: OR4ISS
German: DP0ISS
Russian: RS0ISS
RZ3DZR
United States: NA1SS
Packet Mailbox: RS0ISS-11
Digipeater callsign: ARISS

Official ARISS Webpage: http://www.rac.ca/ariss
ISS Fan Club Webpage: http://www.issfanclub.com/
APRS tracking page: http://www.ariss.net/

ISS Daily Crew Schedule: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines
Remember that the crew operates on UTC time. Also, all of the time line is NOT translated from Russian and posted.
[10112010]

NNNN
/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT W8ISS $WSR-328.S2
WSR 328 Part 2 11/24/2010

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 328.S2
FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, November 24, 2010
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $WSR-328.S2

O/OREOS
Catalog Number:
Launch Date: November 19, 2010

Status: On Orbit

Uplink:
Downlink: 437.035 MHZ AX.25

Beacon:

Callsign:

URL: http://www.ooreos.org/
[11242010]

=====
Rax-1 Radio Aurora Explorer
Catalog Number:
Launch Date: November 19. 2010

Status: On Orbit

Uplink:
Downlink: 437.505 MHz 9k6 GMSK

Beacon:

Callsign: RAX-1

URL: http://rax.engin.umich.edu/
[11242010]

=====
Fastrac-1 Sara Lily
Catalog Number:
Launch Date: November 19, 2010

Status: On orbit

Uplink 1: 145.980 MHz 1k2 baud
Uplink 2: 145.825 MHz 1k2 baud
Downlink: 437.345 MHz 1k2 and 8k6 baud

Beacon: 437.435 MHz 1k2 AX.25

Callsign: Fast1

URL: http://fastrac.ae.utexas.edu/index.php
[11242010]

=====
Fastrac 2 Emma
Catalog Number:
Launch Date: November 19, 2010

Status: On Orbit

Uplink 1: 435.025 MHz 1k2 baud
Uplink 2: 437.435 MHz 9k6 baud
Downlink: 145.825 MHz

Beacon: 145.825 MHz 1k2 AX.25

Callsign: Fast2

URL: http://fastrac.ae.utexas.edu/index.php
[11242010]

=====
StudSat
Catalog Number: 36796
Launch Date: July 12, 2010
Status: On Orbit

Uplink: 437.505MHz, 9600bps FSK
Downlink: 437.505MHz, 9600bps FSK
Beacon : 437.505MHz, 20bps ASK
[08062010]

=====
TIsat-1
Catalog Number: 36799
Launch Date: July 12, 2010

Status: On orbit

Callsign: HB9DE

Uplink: 145.980MHz FM, AFSK
Downlink: 437.305MHz FM, AFSK
Beacon: 437.305MHz CW
[08062010]

=====
HO-68 HOPE-1 (CAS-1)(XW-1)
Catalog Number: 36122
Launch Date: December 15, 2009

Status: Operational

Callsign:
Broadcast: BJ1SA-11
BBS: BJ1SA-12

Uplinks: 145.8250 MHz FM, PL 67.0 Hz.
145.9250 - 145.9750 MHz SSB/CW
145.8250 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Downlinks: 435.6750 MHz FM
435.7650 - 435.7150 MHz SSB/CW
435.6750 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS

Beacon: 435.7900 MHz CW

IARU coordination page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/formal_detail.asp?serial=108

For more information about XW-1 (CAS-1):
http://www.camsat.cn/
[09062010]

=====
SwissCube
Catalog Number: 35932
Launch Date: September 23, 2009

Status: Operational

Callsign: HB9EG

Beacon(100mw): 437.5050MHz CW
Beacon(1w): 437.5050MHz FSK 1k2bps
[04222010]

=====
UWE-2
Catalog Number: 35934
Launch Date: September 23, 2009

Status: In Orbit

Beacon(500mw): 437.3850 MHz AFSK 1k2bps
437.3850 MHz FSK 9k6bps
[1112009]

=====
ITUpsAT1
Catalog Number: 35935
Launch Date: September 23, 2009

Status: Operational

Beacon(100mw): 437.325MHz CW
Beacon(1w): 437.325MHz 19k2bps
[11112009]

=====
BEESAT
Catalog Number: 35933
Launch Date: September 23, 2009

Status: Operational

Callsign: DP0BEE

Beacon(100mw): 436.000MHz CW
Beacon(500mw): 436.000MHz GMSK 4k8bps
Beacon(500mw): 436.000MHz GMSK 9k6bps
[04222010]

=====
CP-6
Catalog Number: 35003
Launch Date: May 19, 2009

Status: Operational

Downlink: 437.365 MHz 1k2 AFSK
[09062010]

=====
HAWKSAT 1
Catalog number: 35004
Launch Date: May 19, 2009

Status: operational

Downlink: 437.345 MHz ?
[09062010]

=====
Pharmasat
Catalog Number: 35002
Launch Date: May 19, 2009
Status: Operational

Downlink: 437.465 MHz 1k2 AFSK
[09062010]

=====
ANUSAT
Catalog Number: 34808
Launch Date: April 20, 2009

Status: ?

Downlink: 435.000 MHz
Uplink: 145.800 MHz

Telemetry: 137.400 MHz
[09062010]

=====
SOHLA-1 (ASTRO TECH.)
Catalog Number: 33496
Launch Date: January 23, 2009

Status: Operational

Proposed Frequencies and Modes:
Downlink: 437.505 MHz AFSK/CW
Beacon: 437.505 MHz AFSK/CW

Callsign:

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/formal_detail.asp?serial=101
[09062010]

=====
KAGAYAKI (Solan Co.)
Catalog Number: 33495
Launch Date: January 23, 2009

Status: In Orbit

Downlink: 437.375 MHZ FSK9k6/CW
Beacon: 437.375 MHz FSK9k6/CW

IARU coordination status page:

AMSAT-NA webpage:

[09062010]

=====
STARS (Kagawa Univ.) (Twin Satellites)
Catalog Number: 33498
Launch Date: January 23, 2009

Status: Operational ?

Downlinks: 437.485 MHz FM/CW
437.465 MHz FM/CW
Beacons: 437.305 MHz FM/CW
437.275 MHz FM/CW

Callsigns: JR5YBN
JR5YBO

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=99

AMSAT-NA webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=121&retURL=/satellites/status.php
[09062010]

=====
KKS-1 (Tokyo MCIT)
Catalog Number: 33499
Launch Date: January 23, 2009

Status: Operational

Downlink: 437.455 MHz AFSK/CW
Beacon: 437.385 MHz AFSK/CW

Callsign: JQ1YYY

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=107

AMSAT-NA webapge:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=120&retURL
=/satellites/status.php
[09062010]
=====
PRISM (Tokyo Univ.)
Catalog Number: 33493
Launch Date: January 23, 2009

Status: Operational ?

Downlink: 437.425 MHz AFSK/GMSK/CW
Beacon: 437.250 MHz AFSK/GMSK/CW

Callsign: JQ1YCX

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=97

AMSAT-NA webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=119&retURL
=/satellites/status.php
[09062010]
=====
RS-30 Radio Sputnik 30 (Yubileiny)
Catalog Number: 32953
Launch Date: May 23, 2008

Status: Operational

Curent Modes: Telemetry
Audio
Images

Downlinks: 435.315 MHz
435.215 MHz

AMSAT-NA website:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=115&ret
URL=/satellites/status.php

Official website:
http://www.npopm.com/?cid=leoca&caid=43
[09062010]
=====
CanX-2
Catalog number: 32790
Launch Date: April 28, 2008

Status: Operational in range of ground station only

Downlink: 437.478 MHz GFSK

For the latest project status update please visit the Can X-2 web
page: http://www.utias-sfl.net/nanosatellites/CanX2/

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=46
[09062010]
=====
AAUSAT-II
Catalog number: 32788
Launch Date: April 28, 2008

Status: Operational

Downlink: 437.425 MHz 1k2 baud packet

For the latest project status update please visit the AAUSAT-II web
page:
http://www.aausatii.aau.dk/homepage/index.php?language=en&page=home

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=60
[09062010]
=====
CO-65 CUTE-1.7+APD II
Catalog number: 32785
Launch Date: April 28, 2008

Status: Digipeater

Downlink: 437.475 MHz 9k6 Packet
Uplink: 1267.600 Mhz

Telemetry Beacon:
Downlink: 437.2750 MHz CW

For the latest project status update please visit the Cute-1.7+APD II
web page: http://lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/cute1.7/index_e.html

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=78

Command Station blog website:
http://lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/cute1.7/blog/

AMSAT-NA webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=112&retURL
=/satellites/status.php
[09062010]
=====
Compass-1
Catalog number: 32787
Launch Date: April 28, 2008

Status: Operational

Current Mode: 4k8 MSK packet

Uplink: 145.980 MHz FM
Downlink: 437.275 Mhz CW
437.405 MHz Packet

For the latest project status update please visit the Compass 1 web
page: http://www.raumfahrt.fh-aachen.de/

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=52

AMSAT-NA webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=114&retURL
=/satellites/status.php
[09062010]
=====
CO-66 Seeds II
Catalog number: 32791
Launch Date: April 28, 2008

Status: Operational

Downlink: 437.485 MHz

Callsign: JQ1YGU

For the latest project status update please visit the Seeds 2 web
page: http://cubesat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/english/seeds_2_e.html

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=36

AMSAT-NA webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=113&retURL
=/satellites/status.php
[09062010]
=====
CAPE-1
Catalog Number: 31130
Launch Date: April 17,2007

Status: Intermittent

Current Mode: /u

TLM Downlink: 435.245 MHz 9600 bs FSK AX.25
CW Beacon: 435.245 MHz CW

Callsign: K5USL

TLM and CW interchange every 30 seconds.

AMSAT-NA webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=94&retURL=
/satellites/status.php

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=72
[09062010]
=====
CP3
Catalog Number: 31129
Launch Date: April 17,2007

Status: Operational

Current Mode: /u

Downlink: 436.845 MHz 1200 bps AFSK AX.25
[09062010]
=====
CO-58 CubeSat XI-V
Catalog number: 28895
Launch Date: October 27, 2005

Status: Operational - CW Beacon only

Current Mode: /u

Telemetry Downlink: 437.4250 MHz AFSK 1200bps using AFK protocol
Beacon: 437.2750 MHz CW

Callsign: JQ1YGW

Official Webpage: http://www.space.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/cubesat/mission/V/

Pictures received by Mineo Wakita - JE9PEL:
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/xivpicte.htm
[09062010]
=====
CO-57 CubeSat XI-IV
Catalog number: 27848
Launch date: June 30, 2003

Status: ?????

Current Mode: /u

Beacon: 436.8475 MHz CW
Telemetry : 437.4900 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS

Callsign: JQ1YGW

AMSAT-NA webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=96&retURL
=/satellites/status.php

Official Webpage: http://www.space.t.u-tokyo.ac.jp/cubesat/mission/V/
[09062010]
=====
AO-51 ECHO
Catalog number: 28375
Launch date: June 29, 2004

Status: Operational

Current Mode:
Voice repeater:
Uplink: 145.920 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.300 MHz FM

PBBS: L/u
Uplink: 1268.705 mhz FM 9k6 Pacsat Broadcast Protocol
Downlink: 435.150 MHz FM 38k4 PBP, 1 watt output

Telemetry:
Downlink: 435.150MHz 9k6

Analog voice downlink: 435.300 MHz FM
435.150 MHz FM
2401.200 Mhz FM
Analog voice uplink: 145.860 MHZ FM
145.880 MHz USB
145.880 MHz FM
145.920 MHz FM
145.920 MHz FM - 67 Hz PL tone burst
1268.700 MHz FM
Digital Downlinks: 435.150 MHz FM 38k4 PBP, 1 watt output
435.150 MHz FM 9k6 Pacsat Broadcast Protocol
2401.200 MHz FM 38k4 bps, AX.25
Digital Uplink: 145.860 MHz FM 9k6 Pacsat Broadcast Protocol
1268.708 mhz FM 9k6 Pacsat Broadcast Protocol
Beacon: 435.150 MHz

Mode and Antenna Polarization:
T: Linear
V: Linear
U: TX A (usually digital)LHCP
TX B (usually analog) RHCP
L: Linear
S: Linear

Broadcast: PECHO-11
BBS: PECHO-12

Official Webpage: http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/CTNews.php

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=19
[11242010]
=====
QuakeSat
Catalog Number: 27845
Launch Date: June 30, 2003

Status: Telemetry only

Current Mode: 9600 baud data packet

Mode U packet
Downlink: 436.675 MHz 9k6 BPS

Quakesat webpage:
http://www.quakefinder.com/services/quakesat-ssite/
[10042010]
=====
CO-55 CUTE-1
Catalog Number: 27844
Launch date: June 30, 2003

Status: Operational

Current Mode: CW downlink worldwide
AX25 Packet with uplink command over Japan only

Mode U Telemetry
Downlink: 437.4000 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS

Mode U TLM Beacon
Downlink: 436.8375 MHz CW

AMSAT-NA webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=69&retURL
=/satellites/status.php
[09062010]
=====
NO-44 PCSAT
Catalog number: 26931
Launch Date: September 30, 2001

Status: Telemetry only

Current Mode: V/v

General Usage Uplink/Downlink: 145.827 MHz 1200 Baud
Special Usage Downlink: 144.390 Mhz 1200 Baud

PCSAT APRS page: http://pcsat.aprs.org

aprstlm Telemetry Decoder program:
http://www.xciv.org/~iain/aprstlm/v1.2/
[09062010]
=====
RS-22 RADIO SPORT 22
Catalog number: 27939
Launch Date: September 27, 2003

Status: Operational - 70cm cw only

Current Mode: /u

CW Beacon - 435.352 MHz
145.818 MHz

AMSAT-NA webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=76&retURL
=/satellites/status.php
[09062010]
=====
LO-19 LUSAT
Catalog number: 20442
Launch date: January 22, 1990

Status: CW Beacon only

Uplinks: 145.840 MHz 1200-baud Manchester FSK
145.860 MHz 1200-baud Manchester FSK
145.880 MHz 1200-baud Manchester FSK
145.900 MHz 1200-baud Manchester FSK

CW downlink: 437.125 MHz

Digital downlink: 437.150 MHz SSB (RC-BPSK 1200-baud PSK)

Broadcast Callsign: LUSAT-11
BBS: LUSAT-12

General information and telemetry samples can be found at:
www.telecable.es/personales/ea1bcu
[09062010]
=====
UO-11 OSCAR-11
Catalog number: 14781
Launch Date: March 1, 1984

Status: Operational

Current Mode: /v

Telemetry Downlink: 145.825 MHz FM 1200 AFSK
UHFBeacon: 435.025 MHz
Mode-S Beacon: 2401.500 MHz

Mode and Antenna Polarization:
V: RHCP
S: LHCP

Webpage: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/clivew/
MPEG3 files: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/uo11tlme.htm
[11062010]
=====
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) - ARISS
Catalog number: 25544
Launch date: November 20, 1998

Status: Operational

Current Active Modes: FM Repeater - OFF
Voice - V/v
BBS - OFF
APRS - OFF
SSTV - OFF

Expedition 25 Crew:
Commander: Doug Wheelock KF5BOC
Flight Engineer: Shannon Walker KD5DXB
Flight Engineer: Fyodor Yurchikhin RN3FI
Flight Engineer: Scott Kelly
Flight Engineer: Alexander Kaleri U8MIR
Flight Engineer: Oleg Skripochka RN3FU

Available Modes and Frequencies:
Digital/APRS:
Worldwide packet uplink: 145.825 MHz FM 1k2
Worldwide packet downlink: 145.825 Mhz FM 1k2

Voice:
Region 1 voice uplink: 145.200 MHz FM
Region 2/3 voice uplink: 144.490 MHz FM
Worldwide downlink: 145.800 MHz FM

Crossband Repeater:
Repeater Uplinks: 1269.650 MHz FM
437.800 MHz FM
145.990 MHz FM - 67.0 PL (Kenwood)
Repeater Downlink: 145.800 MHz FM
437.800 MHz FM (Kenwood)

SSTV Robot 36:
Downlink: 145.800 MHz FM

Mode and Antenna Polarization:
V: Linear
U: Linear

Callsigns:
Belgian: OR4ISS
German: DP0ISS
Russian: RS0ISS
RZ3DZR
United States: NA1SS
Packet Mailbox: RS0ISS-11
Digipeater callsign: ARISS

Official ARISS Webpage: http://www.rac.ca/ariss
ISS Fan Club Webpage: http://www.issfanclub.com
APRS tracking page: http://www.ariss.net/

ISS Daily Crew Schedule: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines
Remember that the crew operates on UTC time. Also, all of the time
line is NOT translated from Russian and posted.
[10112010]
NNNN
/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT W8ISS $WSR-328.S3
WSR 328 Part 3 11/24/2010

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 328.S3
FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, November 24, 2010
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $WSR-328.S3

THE FOLLOWING ARE IN ORBIT BUT ARE NON-OPERATIONAL AT THIS TIME:

CP4
Catalog Number: 31132
Launch Date: April 17, 2007

Status: Non-Operational

Current Mode: /u

TLM Downlink: 437.325 MHz 1200 bps FSK AX.25
CW Beacon: 437.325 MHz CW

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=79
[09062010]
=====
LIBERTAD-1
Catalog Number: 31128
Launch Date: April 17, 2007

Status: Non-Operational

Current Mode: V/u APRS Packet ax25

Callsign: 5K3L

Uplink: 145.825 MHz 1200 AFSK ax25 APRS
Downlink: 437.399 MHz 1200 AFSK ax25 APRS

Telemetry Beacon: 437.4050 MHz 1200 AFSK ax25
[09062010]
=====
PO-63 PEHUENSAT-1
Catalog Number: 29712
Launch Date: January 10, 2007

Status: Non-Operational

Current Mode: V/v

Uplink/Downlink: 145.825 Mhz FM
Voice Recorder: 145.825 Mhz FM
[09062010]
=====
NCUBE-2
Catalog number: 28897
Launch Date: October 27, 2005

Status: Still attached to XO-53 (SSETI)?

Proposed Callsign: TBA
Proposed Transmit Frequency: 437.305
2407.250

Official Website: http://www.ncube.no
[09062010]
=====
XO-53 SSETI
Catalog number: 28894
Launch Date: October 27, 2005

Status: Non-operational

Voice Uplink: 437.250 MHz FM 67Hz CTCSS
Voice Downlink: 2401.835 MHz FM
Packet Up/Downlink: 437.250 MHz 9k6 packet
Packet Downlink 2401.835 MHz 38k4 packet

Official webpage: http://sseti.gte.tuwien.ac.at/WSW4/
Latest news: http://sseti.gte.tuwien.ac.at/WSW4/MOPWS/news.php
[09062010]
=====
UWE-1
Catalog Number: 28892
Launch Date: October 27, 2005

Status: Non-Operational

Mode U Telemetry
Downlink: 437.5050 MHz 9600 AFSK
[09062010]
=====
CANX-1
Catalog Number: 27847
Launch Date: June 30, 2003

Status: Non-Operational

Downlink: 437.8800 MHz AFSK 1k2bps
[06052009]
=====
DTUSAT
Catalog Number: 27842
Launch Date: June 30, 2003

Status: Non-Operational

Current Mode: 2k4 AFSK Packet last reported

Downlink: 437.475MHz

Officail webpage: http://dtusat1.dtusat.dtu.dk/

AMSAT-NA webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=101&retURL
=satellites/all_oscars.php
[02212009]
=====
AO-49 AATiS OSCAR-49 (SAFIR-M)
Catalog number: 27605
Launch Date: December 20, 2002

Status: Non-operational.

Uplink: 435.275 MHz 1200-baud AFSK
Downlink: 145.825 MHz 9600-baud FSK
(optional voice message)

Broadcast callsign: DP0AIS

Official webpage: http://amend.gmxhome.de
[01222007]
=====
MO-46 TIUNGSAT-1
Catalog number: 26548
Launch date: September 26, 2000

Status: Telemetry only

Uplinks: 145.850 MHz
145.925 MHz 9600-baud FSK
Downlink: 437.325 MHz

Broadcast callsign: MYSAT3-11
BBS: MYSAT3-12

TiungSat-1 is Malaysia's first micro-satellite and in addition to
commercial land and weather imaging payloads offers FM and FSK
Amateur Radio communication.

TiungSat-1, named after the mynah bird of Malaysia, was developed as
a collaborative effort between the Malaysian government and Surrey
Satellite Technology Ltd.
[03302009]
=====
NO-45 SAPPHIRE
Catalog number: 26932
Launch Date: September 30, 2001

Status: Non-Operational

Downlink: 437.095 MHz 1200 baud AX-25 AFSK
Uplink: 145.945 MHz UI Digipeater
Digi Callsign: KE6QMD

Everyone is welcome to use the digipeating/APRS features of Sapphire,
as per the user service agreement located at the following URL:
http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/pcsat/contract.txt
[03132005]
=====
SO-42 SAUDISAT-1B
Catalog number: 26549
Launch date: September 26, 2000

Status: Non-Operational

Downlink: 437.075 MHz

Broadcast Callsign: SASAT2-11
BBS: SASAT2-12

Further information is available at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/so42.html
[01222007]
=====
SO-41 SAUDISAT-1A
Catalog number: 26545
Launch Date: September 26, 2000

Status: Non-Operational

Uplink: 145.850 MHz
Downlink: 436.775 MHz

Broadcast Callsign: SASAT1-11
BBS: SASAT1-12

Further information is available at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/so41.html
[01222007]
=====
AO-40 AMSAT OSCAR 40
Catalog number: 26609
Launch Date: November 16, 2000

Status: Non-Operational

Uplinks
-------
V-band: 145.840 - 145.990 MHz CW/LSB
U-band: 435.550 - 435.800 MHz CW/LSB
L1-band: 1269.250 - 1269.500 MHz CW/LSB
L2-band: 1268.325 - 1268.575 MHz CW/LSB

Downlinks
---------
S2-band: 2401.225 - 2401.475 MHz CW/USB
K-band: 24048.010 - 24048.060 MHz CW/USB
Beacon: 2401.323 MHz
24048.035 MHz

P3-D Telemetry Beacons (IHU)
----------------------------
BEACON General Beacon(GB) Middle Beacon(MB) Engineering Beacon(EB)
2 m none 145.898 MHz none
70cm 435.438 MHz 435.588 MHz 435.838 MHz
13cm(1) 2400.188 MHz 2400.338 MHz 2400.588 MHz
13cm(2) 2401.173 MHz 2401.323 MHz 2401.573 MHz
3cm 10450.975 MHz 10451.125 MHz 10451.375 MHz
1.5cm 24047.885 MHz 24048.035 MHz 24048.285 MHz
[07162007]
=====
OO-38 OPAL
Catalog Number: 26063
Launch Date: January 27, 2000

Status: Non-Operational

Mode U TLM Beacon
Downlink: 437.1000 MHz 9600 FSK
[08132007]
=====
UO-36 UoSAT-12
Catalog number: 25693
Launch date: April 21, 1999

Status: Unknown

Uplink: 145.960 MHz (9600-baud FSK)
Downlinks: 437.025 MHz
437.400 MHz

Broadcast Callsign: UO121-11
BBS: UO121-12

The VK5HI viewer shareware for UO-36 is available on the AMSAT-NA web
site at the following URL:
ftp://ftp.amsat.org/amsat/software/win32/display/ccddsp97-119.zip
[01222007]
=====
SO-35 SUNSAT
Catalog Number: 25636
Launch date:February 23, 1999

Status: Non-Operational

Downlink: Mode B Repeater: 436.291 MHz
Mode J Digipeater: 436.250 MHz

Uplinks: Mode B Repeater: 145.825 MHz
Mode J Digipeater: 145.825 MHz
145.900 MHz

For more information of SUNSAT vist the satellite web site:
http://esl.ee.sun.ac.za/projects/sunsat/
[01222007]
=====
PO-34 PANSAT
Catalog number: 25520
Launch date: October 30, 1998

Status: Telemetry downloads only

Uplink/downlink: 436.500 MHz

Official Webpage: http://www.sp.nps.navy.mil/pansat/
[05092004]
=====
SO-33 SEDSAT-1
Catalog number: 25509
Launch date: October 24, 1998

Status: Semi-operational

Downlink: 437.910 MHz FM (9600-baud FSK)

The satellite is not currently available for uplink transmissions and
the image and transponder recovery efforts have been unsuccessful.

For more information on SedSat-1 visit the satellite web site:
http://seds.uah.edu/projects/sedsat/sedsat.htm
[09042006]
=====
GO-32 Gurwin TechSat-1B
Catalog number: 25397
Launch Date: July 10, 1998

Status: Non-Operational

Current Modes:
Telemetry : /u

Downlink: 435.225 MHz FM (9600-baud FSK)
435.325 Mhz - Not Available - temperature problems
Uplinks: 145.850 FM
145.890 FM
145.930 FM
1269.700 FM
1269.800 FM
1269.900 FM

Broadcast Callsign: 4XTECH-11
BBS Callsign: 4XTECH-12

More information of GO-32 can be found at:
http://asri.technion.ac.il/techsat/

AMSAT-NA webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID=14&retURL
=/satellites/status.php
[07172010]
=====
TO-31 TMSAT-1
Catalog number: 25396
Launch Date: July 10, 1998

Status: Non-operational

Uplink: 145.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK
Downlink: 436.925 MHz 9600 baud FSK

Broadcast callsign: TMSAT1-11
BBS: TMSAT1-12
[05012006]
=====
MO-30 UNAMSAT-2
Catalog Number: 24305
Launch Date: September 5, 1996

Status: Non-operational

Downlink: 435.1380 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Downlink: 435.2060 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Uplink: 145.8150 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Uplink: 145.8350 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Uplink: 145.8550 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Uplink: 145.8750 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
[06042009]
=====
FO-29 JAS-2
Catalog number: 24278
Launch Date: August 17, 1996

Status: Non-operational
Current Mode: V/u (Mode JA)

Voice/CW (Mode JA)
Uplink: 145.90 to 146.00 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink: 435.80 to 435.90 MHz CW/USB
Beacon: 435.795 MHz

Digital Mode JD
Uplinks: 145.850 MHz FM
145.870 MHz FM
145.910 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.910 MHz 1200-baud BPSK or 9600-baud FSK
Callsign: 8J1JCS
Digitalker: 435.910 MHz

Mode and Antenna Polarization:
V: RHCP
U: RHCP

For current operational schedule for FO-29:
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/m-arai/gkz/satinfo/fo29e.htm

JARL English webpage:
http://www.jarl.or.jp/English/5_Fuji/ejasmenu.htm

AMSAT-NA Webpage:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/satInfo.php?satID
=5&retURL=/satellites/status.php

Mineo Wakita, JE9PEL, has created a simple decoder program for FO29's
CW telemetry downlink: http://www.ne.jp/asahi/hamradio/je9pel/
fo29cwts.htm
[11062010]
=====
PO-28 POSAT-1
Catalog number: 22829
Launch Date: September 25, 1993

Status: Non-operational

Downlink: 429.950
Uplink: Not until handover back to Amatuer usage

Broadcast callsign: POSAT1-11
BBS callsign: POSAT1-12

AMSAT Webpage: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/po28.html
POSAT-1 webpage:
http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/SSC/CSER/UOSAT/missions/posat1.html
[01012009]
=====
IO-26 ITAMSAT
Catalog number: 22826
Launch Date: September 26, 1993

Status: PSK carrier only

Current Mode:

Uplinks: 145.875 MHz FM 1200-baud
145.900 MHz FM 1200-baud
145.925 MHz FM 1200-baud
145.950 MHz FM 1200-baud

Downlink: 435.808 MHz PSK

Broadcast Callsign: ITMSAT-11
BBS: ITMSAT-12

Official webpage: http://www.itamsat.org
AMSAT Webpage: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/io26.html
[01212007]
=====
KO-25 KITSAT
Catalog number: 22828
Launch date: September 26, 1993

Status: Non-operational

Uplink: 145.980 MHz FM 9600-baud FSK
Downlink: 436.500 MHz FM

Broadcast Callsign: HL02-11
BBS: HL02-12
[05092004]
=====
AO-24 ARSENE
Catalog Number: 22654
Launch Date: May 13, 1993

Status: Non-operational

Uplink: 435.0625 MHz FM 1k2bps AFSK
435.1125 MHz FM 1k2bps AFSK
435.1375 MHz FM 1k2bps AFSK
Downlink: 145.9750 MHz FM 1k2bps AFSK
2446.5025 MHz FM 1k2bps AFSK

Beacon: 2446.4700 MHz CW

Broadcast callsign:
BBS:
[12162009]
=====
KO-23 KITSAT
Catalog number: 22077
Launch date: August 10, 1992

Status: Non-operational

Uplink: 145.900 MHz FM (9600-baud FSK)
Downlink: 435.170 MHz FM

Broadcast Callsign: HLO1-11
BBS: HLO1-12
[01222007]
=====
UO-22 UOSAT
Catalog number: 21575
Launch date: July 17, 1991

Status: Non-Operational

Uplink: 145.900 FM 9600-baud FSK
Downlink: 435.120 MHz FM

Broadcast Callsign: UOSAT5-11
BBS: UOSAT5-12
[01222007]
=====
AO-21 AMSAT-OSCAR 21
Catalog Number: 21087
Launch Date: January 29, 1991

Status: Non-Operational

Uplink: 435.041 MHz FM DSP
Downlink: 145.983 MHz FM DSP
[01222007]
=====
FO-20 JAS-1b
Catalog number: 20480
Launch Date: February 07, 1990

Status: Non-Operational

Beacons: 435.795 MHz CW
435.910 MHz AX25

Voice Transponder:
Uplink: 145.900 to 146.000 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink: 435.800 to 435.900 MHz CW/USB

Digital Transponder:
Uplinks: 145.850 MHz
145.870 MHz
145.890 MHz
145.910 MHz
Downlink: 435.910 MHz

More FO-20 info can be found at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/fo20.html
[01152007]
=====
WO-18 WEBERSAT
Catalog Number: 20441
Launch Date: January 22, 1990

Status: Non-Operational

Downlink: 437.104 MHz SSB 1200 Baud PSK AX.25
[05012006]
=====
DO-17 Dove
Catalog Number: 20440
Launch Date: January 22, 1990

Status: Non-operational.

Downlink: 145.825 MHz FM 1200 Baud AFSK
Beacon: 2401.220 MHz
[05012006]
=====
AO-16 PACSAT
Catalog number: 20439
Launch Date: January 22, 1990

Status: non-operational

Current Mode: V/u

Uplink: 145.900 MHz FM 1200-baud Manchester FSK (reserved)
145.920 MHz FM VOICE
145.940 MHz FM 1200-baud Manchester FSK (reserved)
145.960 MHz FM 1200-baud Manchester FSK (reserved)

Downlink: 437.026 MHz USB VOICE
(1200-baud PSK - MBL Telemetry Only)

Mode-S Beacon: 2401.1428 MHz [NO FUTURE OPERATIONS PLANNED]

Mode and Antenna Polarization:
U: RC 437.050 MHz RHCP
PSK 437.026 MHz LHCP
V: Linear

Broadcast Callsign: PACSAT-11
BBS: PACSAT-12

AO-16 AMSAT Webpage: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/sats/n7hpr/ao16.html
[07242009]
=====
UO-15 UoSAT-4
Catalog Number: 20438
Launch Date: January 22, 1990

Status: Non-operational

Uplink: ?
Downlink: 435.1250MHz (?)
435.1200MHz (?)
[06042009]
=====
UO-14 UoSAT-3
Catalog number: 20437
Launch date: January 22, 1990

Status: Non-operational

Uplink: 145.975 MHz FM
Downlink: 435.070 MHz FM
[05092004]
=====
FO-12 Fuji-OSCAR 12
Catalog Number: 16909
Launch Date: August 12, 1986

Status: Non-Operational

Mode V/U (J) Linear Transponder (Inverting):
Uplink: 145.9000 - 146.0000 MHz SSB/CW
Downlink 435.8000 - 435.9000 MHz SSB/CW

Mode V/U (J) Packet:
Uplink: 145.8500 MHz MFSK 1200 BPS
Uplink: 145.8700 MHz MFSK 1200 BPS
Uplink: 145.8900 MHz MFSK 1200 BPS
Uplink: 145.9100 MHz MFSK 1200 BPS

Downlink 435.9100 MHz PSK 1200 BPS

Telemetry Beacon: 435.7950 MHz SSB/CW
[01152007]
=====
AO-10 OSCAR 10
Catalog number: 14129
Launch Date: June 16, 1983

Status: Non-operational

Uplink: 435.030 to 435.180 MHz CW/LSB
Downlink: 145.975 to 145.825 MHz CW/USB

Beacon: 145.810 MHz (unmodulated carrier)

W4SM has more information about the satellite at the following URL:
http://www.cstone.net/~w4sm/AO-10.html
[05092004]
=====
AO-8 AMSAT-OSCAR 8
Catalog Number: 10703
Launch Date: March 3, 1978

Status: Non-Operational

Mode V/U (J) Linear Transponder (Non-Inverting): Non-Operational
Uplink: 145.9000 - 146.0000 MHz SSB/CW
Downlink 435.1990 - 435.2000 MHz SSB/CW

Mode V/U (J) TLM Beacon: Non-Operational
Downlink 435.0950 MHz CW

Mode V/A (A) Linear Transponder (Non-Inverting): Non-Operational
Uplink: 145.8500 - 145.9000 MHz SSB/CW
Downlink 29.4000 - 29.5000 MHz SSB/CW

Mode V/A (A) TLM Beacon: Non-Operational
Downlink 29.4020 MHz CW
[01152007]
=====
AO-6 AMSAT-OSCAR 6
Catalog Number: 06236
Launch Date: October 15, 1972

Status: Non-Operational

Uplink: 145.9000 - 146.0000 MHz SSB/CW
Downlink: 29.4500 - 29.5500 MHz SSB/CW
Beacons: 29.450 MHz
435.100 MHz
[01312008]
=====
AO-5 Australis-OSCAR 5
Catalog Number: 04321
Launch Date: January 23, 1970

Status: Non-Operational

Telemetry Beacons: 144.0500 MHz CW
29.4500 MHz CW
[01152007]
=====
OSCAR III
Catalog Number: 01293
Launch Date: March 09, 1965

Status: Non-Operational

Uplink: 145.9750 - 146.0250 MHz SSB/CW
Downlink: 144.3250 - 144.3750 MHz SSB/CW
[01012007]
=====
RS-15 RADIO SPORT RS-15
Catalog number: 23439
Launch Date: December 26, 1994

Status: Non-operational

Uplink: 145.858 to 145.898 MHz CW/USB
Downlink: 29.354 to 29.394 MHz CW/USB

Beacon 1: 29.352 MHz (intermittent)
Beacon 2: 29.398 MHz

SSB meeting frequency: 29.380 MHz (unofficial)
[06202004]
=====
RS-13 RADIO SPORT RS-13
Catalog number: 21089
Launch date: February 5, 1991

Status: Non-operational

Uplink: 21.260 to 21.300 MHz CW/USB
Downlink: 145.860 to 145.900 MHz CW/USB

Beacon: 145.860 MHz

Robot: 145.908 MHz
[05232004]
=====
RS-12 RADIO SPORT RS-12
Catalog number: 21089
Launch date: February 5, 1991

Status: Non-operational

Uplink: 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/USB
Downlink: 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/USB

Beacon: 29.408 MHz

Robot: 29.454 MHz
[05232004]
NNNN
/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT W8ISS $WSR-328.S4
WSR 328 Part 4 11/24/2010

AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 328.S4
FROM AMSAT HQ SILVER SPRING, MD, November 24, 2010
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $WSR-328.S4

THE FOLLOWING SATELLITES HAVE RE-ENTERED OR HAVE BEEN RETURNED SAFELY:

CO-56 CUTE-1.7 + APD
Catalog number: 28941
Launch date: February 21, 2006

Status: Re-entered
Re-entered:

Uplink: 1268.5000 MHz GMSK 9600 BPS
Downlink: 437.4700 MHz 1200 FM ax25 or SRLL (ACTIVE only near Japan?)

Telemetry Beacon: 437.3850 CW
Callsign: JQ1YPC

Information webpage:
http://lss.mes.titech.ac.jp/ssp/spacerium/cute1blog/

IARU coordination status page:
http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/finished_detail.asp?serial=56
[09062010]
=====
BEVO-1 (DRAGONSAT-1)
Catalog Number: 35690
Launch Date: May 19, 2009

Status: Re-entered
Re-entered:

Downlink: 437.325 MHz 9k6 GMSK
437.325 MHz CW 20wpm
[07312009]
=====
AggieSat2 (DRAGONSAT-2)
Catalog Number: 35690
Launch Date: May 19, 2009

Status: Re-entered
Re-entered:

Downlink: 436.250 MHz 9k6 FHSS
[11112009]
=====
Pollux
Catalog Number: 35693
Launch Date: July 31, 2009

Status: Re-entered
Re-entered:

Callsign: POLLUX-1

Downlink: 145.825MHz 1k2 AX.25
[09062010]
=====
Castor (ANDE-2)
Catalog Number: 35694
Launch Date: July 31, 2009

Status: Re-entered
Re-entered:

Callsign: KD4HBO-1

Downlink: 145.825 MHz 1k2 AX.25
[09062010]
=====
NO-62 FCAL
Catalog Number: 29667
Launch Date: December 21, 2006

Status: Re-Entered
Re-entered: July 28, 2008

Downlink: 437.385 Mhz APRS AX25

Downlink ID: KD4HBO

Website: http://eng.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/fcal.html
[01012009]
=====
NO-61 ANDE
Catalog Number: 29664
Launch Date: December 21, 2006

Status: Re-Entered
Re-entered: December 25, 2007

Uplink/Downlink: 145.825 Mhz FM APRS AX25
[01032008]
=====
NO-60 RAFT-1
Catalog Number: 29661
Launch Date: December 21, 2006

Status: Re-Entered
Re-entered: May 30, 2007

Main Downlink: 145.825 Mhz FM APRS AX25
APRS Uplink: 145.825 MHz FM APRS AX25
Voice/PSK31 Uplink: 28.120 MHz

Packet to Voice ID: RAFT
[06112007]
=====
GENESAT-1
Catalog Number: 29655
Launch Date: December 16, 2006

Status: Re-Entered
Re-entered date: August 8, 2010

Current Mode: /u

Callsign: KE7EGC

Telemetry Beacon Downlink: 437.0695 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS

Official webpage: http://www.crestnrp.org/genesat1/ahc.html
[08082010]
=====
HO-59 HITSat
Catalog number: 29484
Launch date: September 22, 2006

Status: Re-Entered
Re-entered: June 18, 2008

Telemetry Downlink: 437.4250 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Beacon: 437.2750 MHz CW

Callsign: JR8YJT
[01012009]
=====
SO-43 Starshine 3
Catalog Number: 26929
Launch Date: September 30, 2001

Status: Re-Entered
Re-entered: January 21, 2003

Beacon: 145.825Mhz
[02212009]
NNNN
/EX

ANS is released worldwide via the AMSAT ANS e-mail reflector and a live
radiocast on the AMSAT-NA 20-meter net held each Sunday on 14.282 MHz.
Pre-net operations start at 18:00 UTC, with current ANS bulletins trans-
mitted to the eastern U.S. at 19:00 UTC and to the western U.S. at 19:30
UTC.

Information on AMSAT-NA is available at the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org

Mailing address:
AMSAT-NA
850 Sligo Avenue, Suite 600
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910-4703

Voice: 301-589-6062
888-322-6728
FAX: 301-608-3410

Currently, AMSAT-NA supports the following (free) mailing lists:

* AMSAT News Service (ANS)
* General satellite discussion (AMSAT-BB)
* Orbit data (KEPS)
* Manned space missions (SAREX)
* District of Columbia area (AMSAT-DC)
* New England area (AMSAT-NE)
* AMSAT Educational Liaison mailing list (AMSAT-EDU)
* AMSAT K-12 Educational Liaison mailing list (AMSAT-K12)

A daily digest version is available for each list.

To subscribe, or for more list information, visit the following URL:
http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/ans

In addition to regular membership, AMSAT-NA 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 additional
benefits. Application forms are available from the AMSAT-NA Office.

This week's Weekly Satellite Report Editor is James French, W8ISS.

ANS is always dedicated to past ANS editor 'BJ' Arts, WT0N, and to
the memory of longtime AMSAT supporters Werner Haas, DJ5KQ, Dennis
Kitchen, G0FCL and John Branegan GM4IHJ.

Please send any amateur satellite news or reports to: ans-editor{at}
amsat.org
NNNN
/EX

Milcom Blog Logs - 25 Nov 2010 Brasstown NC

Time for another round of USB/ALE logs from here on the radio ranch. All logged yesterday using my main receiving setup while I enjoyed turkey and all the trimmings. Most of the activity was FEMA or related FEMA nets (NPHRN/Shares/etc).

3341.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 6*: FC4FEM FC8 FC0FEM004 FR4FEM
4490.0 SHARES SCN ALE Net (SCN Channel 03): SEJNNN WWLNNN
4603.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 9: FC1FEM FC4FEM FC6FEM
4757.0 National Public Health Radio Network Channel 2: FC1
4780.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 10*: FC1FEM002 FC6FEM002 FC8
5135.0 Operation Secure: MA1NC (NH) SEMO05 (NY)
5402.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 13: FC6FEM
5821.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 14*: FC8
5961.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 15: FC8 (This is also a posible EPA freq)
6806.0 Civil Air Patrol National Command ALE Network: 0181ALCAP 0021CTCAP 0025CTCAP 0360FLCAP 0020NHCAP 4800MICAP 000WICAP 034MERCAP 202SERCAP
6809.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 21: FC8
7348.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 22*: FC6FEM FC0FEM FC0FEM004
7428.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 23: FC1FEM002 FC8FEM002
7805.0 Operation Secure: MA1NC (NH)
8012.0 Civil Air Patrol National Command ALE Network: 0011ARCAP 0011CACAP 0025CTCAP 0011DCCAP 0360FLCAP 0112GACAP 0011RICAP 0004WICAP 034MERCAP 042RMRCAP 202SERCAP
8050.0 FEMA NS/EP Net: FC8
9106.0 SHARES SCN ALE Net (SCN Channel 05): OARNNN
9462.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 24: FC6FEM FC8
10194.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 25*: FC4FEM FC8 FC8FEM FC0FEM004 FR4FEM
10588.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 27*: FC4FEM FC0FEM FC0FEM004
10899.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 31: FC8FEM002 FC0FEM002
11108.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 73*: FC8
12129.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 33: FC1FEM002 FC6FEM002 FC8FEM002
12216.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 34: FC1FEM FC6FEM FC0FEM004 FR4FEM
12270.0 Apparent FEMA Net: FC1 FC6
13242.0 USAF Global Black (NIPR) Net: DL0004DAT (AWACS)
13446.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 36: FC6FEM FC8 FC0FEM004
13894.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 75*: FC1FEM002 FC6FEM002 FC8FEM002
14776.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 42: FC8FEM
14885.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 44: FC8 FR7FEM
15708.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 50: FC1FEM FC8
16201.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 51: FC8 FC0FEM
17487.0 SHARES SCN ALE/STI Net (Channel 08): SEJNNN
18264.0 National Public Health Radio Network Channel 11: FR7
19969.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 57*: FC0FEM
21866.0 FEMA National Radio System (FNARS) Channel 60*: FC0FEM FC0FEM004

Thursday, November 25, 2010

MT Equipment Buyers Guide

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Launch Notification: STPSAT 2 (USA 217), RAX (USA 218), O/OREOS (USA 219), FASTSAT-HSV01 (USA 220), FALCONSAT 5 (USA 221), FAST 1 (USA 222)

Courtesy of AGI's Launch Notification e-mails. AGI's E-mails are sent after every launch and include key spacecraft information such as: the date, time, launch site, launcher, international number, name, and owner. Get more information on thousands of satellites and other vehicles by viewing STK models, animations, and our encyclopedic "Spacecraft Digest" database at www.agi.com/scdigest.

New Launch: 2010 November 20, 0124 UTC
Site: Kodiak Launch Complex, Alaska, USA
Launcher: Minotaur IV
International Designator(s): 2010-062A, 2010-062B, 2010-062C, 2010-062D, 2010-062E, 2010-062F

SSC Name Owner
37222 STPSAT 2 (USA 217) US
37223 RAX (USA 218) US
37224 O/OREOS (USA 219) US
37225 FASTSAT-HSV01 (USA 220) US
37226 FALCONSAT 5 (USA 221) US
37227 FAST 1 (USA 222) US

"A rocket carrying seven different satellites, including one that will attempt to deploy a small solar sail into orbit, successfully blasted off from an island in Alaska tonight (Nov. 19).

"The Minotaur 4 rocket launched at 8:24 EST (0124 Nov. 20 GMT) from the Alaska Aerospace Corporation's Kodiak Launch Complex. The rocket's many different payloads will attempt to demonstrate several new space technologies, including novel command and control frameworks and satellite propulsion systems—all while keeping costs down."

"Built by the Virginia-based company Orbital Sciences, Corp., the Minotaur 4 rocket is expected to deliver all seven satellites, which carry a total of 16 separate experiments among them, to an orbit about 404 miles (650 kilometers) above Earth. The $170 million mission, STP-S26, is part of the Air Force's Space Test Program.

"Here's what's on board:

"FASTSAT

"This NASA craft—short for Fast, Affordable Science and Technology Satellite—weighs about 325 pounds (148 kilograms) and is about the size of a washing machine It's part of a broader NASA effort to find ways to perform research in space cheaply and reliably.

"The agency spent less than $12 million developing the spacecraft, agency officials have said.

"FASTSAT is carrying six different scientific experiments. One of those is a smaller satellite called NanoSail-D, an 8.5-pound (3.9-kg) probe designed to eject from FASTSAT and deploy a solar sail in orbit. Solar sails catch photons from the sun much as ships' sails catch the wind.

"NanoSail-D will use its solar sail to deorbit itself, potentially demonstrating a new way to bring satellites and debris back to Earth without any chemical propellant, NASA officials have said.

"Also onboard FASTSAT are three NASA instruments designed to monitor space weather, as well as two payloads managed by the U.S. Air Force. One is a low-cost star-tracking instrument, and the other is a device that will evaluate techniques used to measure how beams of light move through Earth's atmosphere.

"O/OREOS

"NASA's O/OREOS (Organism/Organic Exposure to Orbital Stresses) is another demonstration satellite that was developed on the cheap (less than $1.75 million, officials have said).

"O/OREOS is about the size of a loaf of bread and weighs 12 pounds (5.5 kg). It contains two experiments that will activate once the nanosatellite reaches low-Earth orbit.

"One of these will characterize how microbes grow and reproduce in space, as well as how they adapt to the stresses of the space environment. The other will look at how space conditions affect four different classes of organic molecules, which are the building blocks of life.

"STPSat-2

"This U.S. Air Force microsatellite is the Minotaur 4's primary payload. STPSat-2 carries two payloads of its own: the Ocean Data Telemetry Microsat Link, which will relay data from ocean and terrestrial sensors, and the Space Phenomenology Experiment, which will evaluate sensor compatibility in space.

"STPSat-2 will be the first satellite operated by a new command and control system called the Multi-Mission Space Operations Center. This ground system is designed to fly multiple constellations of spacecraft with various missions.

"FASTRAC, FalconSat-5 and RAX

"Also aboard the Minotaur are three other satellites called FASTRAC, FalconSat-5 and RAX.

"FASTRAC—short for Formation Autonomy Spacecraft with Thrust, Relnav, Attitude and Crosslink—was developed by grad students and undergrads at the University of Texas, Austin.

"FASTRAC consists of two satellites, each about the size of two car tires, that will separate from each other in orbit to demonstrate communication and coordination capabilities.

"FalconSat-5 was also built by students—cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. The $11 million microsatellite carries several different payloads, which will monitor space weather and its effects on radio signals.

"The Radio Aurora Explorer, or RAX, is a 6-pound (28-kg) nanosatellite. It's a joint effort of the University of Michigan and SRI International, and it's sponsored by the U.S. National Science Foundation.

"RAX's primary mission is to study dense plasma clouds in Earth's upper atmosphere. These clouds can disrupt communication between Earth and orbiting spacecraft, and RAX's operators hope the little satellite's measurements can help minimize communication problems in the future.

"All of these satellites—from FASTSAT to RAX—are launching as part of the U.S. Department of Defense's Space Test Program, which is managed by the Air Force.

"Because this will be the STP's 26th small launch vehicle mission, it is being called STP-S26.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

North Carolina VIPER 800 MHz Statewide TRS

Here are some updated facts regarding the NC statewide 800 MHz TRS according to the September 2010 VIPER Newsletter.

• 239 total sites planned for statewide coverage: 153 sites constructed and on-the-air; 61 sites are fully funded and under construction; and 25 sites UNFUNDED.
• VIPER is 64% complete (number of sites) with 153 sites on-the-air
• VIPER infrastructure is 64% funded
• VIPER infrastructure remains to be 36% funded
• 49,800 Users are currently on the VIPER Network
• 214 Emergency Responding agencies makeup the 49,800 users
• SC has the same type Interoperable System; NC/SC can talk to each other using the same type user device.

Sites that have been activated to date:

Site County Site
1 Alamance Altamahaw
2 Alamance Cane Mtn
3 Alleghany Green Mt
4 Anson Wadesboro
5 Avery Linville
6 Beaufort Bath
7 Beaufort Chocowinity
8 Bertie Windsor
9 Bladen Elizabethtown
10 Brunswick Pea Landing
11 Brunswick Supply
12 Buncombe High Windy
13 Buncombe Meadows
14 Burke High Peak Mtn
15 Cabarrus Concord
16 Caldwell Butte Mountain
17 Caldwell Hi Britten Mtn
18 Camden South Mills
19 Carteret Newport
20 Carteret Laurel Road
21 Carteret Stacy
22 Carteret Kuhns PE
23 Caswell Yanceyville
24 Catawba Baker Mt Twr
25 Catawba River Bend
26 Chatham Chatham
27 Chatham Siler City
28 Cherokee Wine Springs
29 Cherokee Joanna Bald
30 Chowan Valhalla
31 Cleveland Shelby
32 Cleveland Boiling Springs
33 Cleveland Bens Knob
34 Cleveland Kings Mtn
35 Columbus Delco
36 Columbus Whiteville - TWC
37 Craven New Bern PE
38 Cumberland Cedar Creek
39 Cumberland Slocomb
40 Cumberland Fayetteville-TWC
41 Currituck Barco
42 Dare East Lake
43 Dare Bodie Island
44 Dare Rodanthe
45 Dare Kitty Hawk
46 Dare Buxton (US Cellular)
47 Davie Mocksville
48 Duplin Kenansville
49 Duplin Kornegay PE
50 Duplin Wallace PE
51 Duplin Chinquapin
52 Durham Camden Ave
53 Durham Cole Mill Rd
54 Edgecombe Tarboro
55 Edgecombe Dodge City
56 Franklin Margaret
57 Franklin Youngsville
58 Franklin Hosley Forest
59 Gaston Cherryville
60 Gaston Belmont
61 Gates Gatesville
62 Granville Butner
63 Granville Oxford BiCom
64 Granville Bullock
65 Granville Oak Hill
66 Granville Berea
67 Granville Oxford Water Tank
68 Greene Farmville
69 Greensboro A&T Univ.
70 Halifax Brinkleyville
71 Halifax Halifax
72 Harnett Cokesbury
73 Harnett Erwin PE
74 Harnett Spout Springs
75 Hertford Ahoskie
76 Hoke McCain
77 Hyde Ponzor
78 Hyde Rose Bay
79 Hyde Engelhard
80 Hyde Ocracoke
81 Iredell Mooresville
82 Iredell Barium Springs
83 Johnston Archers Lodge
84 Johnston Smithfield
85 Lee Tramway
86 Lenoir Seven Springs
87 Lenoir Kinston
88 Lincoln Anderson Mt
89 Macon Cowee Bald
90 Madison Big Knob
91 Martin Williamston
92 McDowell Grants Mtn
93 Mecklenburg Pineville
94 Mecklenburg - UASI Heathway
95 Mecklenburg - UASI Huntersville
96 Montgomery Buck Mountain
97 Montgomery Mt. Gilead
98 Moore Carthage
99 Nash Rocky Mount
100 New Hanover Wilmington
101 New Hanover Carolina Beach
102 Northampton Odom
103 Onslow Jacksonville
104 Onslow Holly Ridge
105 Orange Hillsborough
106 Orange Chapel Hill
107 Orange Laws
108 Pamlico Bayboro
109 Pasquotank Elizabeth City
110 Pender Penderlea
111 Pender Burgaw (NC53 East)
112 Perquimans Winfall
113 Pitt Greenville
114 Randolph Shepherd
115 Randolph Cole Ridge AAA
116 Richmond Ellerbe
117 Richmond Rockingham NCDOT
118 Robeson St Pauls
119 Robeson Proctorville
120 Rockingham Reidsville
121 Rockingham Wentworth
122 Rockingham Eden
123 Rockingham Mayodan
124 Rowan Faith
125 Rowan Salisbury
126 Sampson Newton Grove
127 Sampson Salemburg
128 Sampson Taylor's Bridge
129 Scotland Laurinburg
130 Stanly Albemarle
131 Stokes Sauratown
132 Stokes Booth Mt
133 Stokes Sandy Ridge
134 Surry Turner Mt
135 Surry Chestnut Ridge
136 Surry Elkin DOT
137 Surry Fisher's Peak
138 Transylvania Brevard
139 Tyrell Columbia
140 Union Monroe
141 Union Waxhaw
142 Union Wingate
143 Wake Wake County Simulcast
144 Wake Wake Forest
145 Wake Fuquay
146 Warren Manson
147 Washington Plymouth
148 Wayne Lee Plant PE
149 Wayne Goldsboro
150 Wilkes Pores Knob
151 Wilson Bailey
152 Wilson Wilson
153 Yancey Clingmans Peak

Up-Coming Site Activations through Q4:
• McFarland – Anson Co. Early 4th Quarter 2010 (October)
• Clemmons – Forsyth Co. 4th Quarter 2010
• Comfort – Jones Co. 4th Quarter 2010
• Riverdale – Guilford Co. 4th Quarter 2010
• Longarm Mountain – Haywood Co. 1st Quarter 2011
• Louisburg – Franklin Co. 1st Quarter 2011
• Margaretsville – Northampton Co. Changed to Old Mill 1st Quarter 2011
• Fain Mountain – Cherokee Co. 1st Quarter 2011
• Pisgah – Haywood Co. 2nd Quarter 2011

I will have more upcoming soon on this blog regarding the VIPER System.

Free FAA Digital Aero Charts Available Online

If you are into aeronautical monitoring, especially on the HF bands monitoring MWARA comms, then you will want to checkout the free digital chart downloads on the FAA website at http://aeronav.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=aeronav/applications.

You can get Caribbean, Atlantic, and Pacific Enroute charts in PDF format that will show reporting waypoints you can use to pinpoint the flights you are monitoring if you are into flight following.

Here is a list of goodies you will find on this page for download:

Sectional Raster Charts
VFR Terminal Area Raster Charts
World Raster Charts
Helicopter Route Raster Charts
IFR Enroute Charts
Caribbean, Atlantic & Pacific Enroute Charts
Gulf of Mexico Charts
Digital Aeronautical Chart Supplement
Digital Obstacle File
Navaid Digital Data File
Geodetic Calculations (Compsys 21)
Aeronautical Chart User's Guide
VFR Chart Update Bulletins
Digital Aeronautical Chart Supplement Change Notice

This is some pretty good stuff and the best part is this is a free service. have fun and good hunting.

Launch Notification: Soyuz-TMA 01M

Kodiak rocket launch next week will carry 7 satellites to orbit

The Kodiak Launch Complex is scheduled to see its second orbital mission take off next Friday afternoon when a Minotaur 4 rocket loaded with seven satellites is launched, reports Space Flight Now.

The launch customer is the U.S. Air Force Space Test Program, a unit devoted to demonstrating enabling technologies that could be incorporated on more costly and critical spacecraft in the future. ...

"On this single rocket, we will launch seven satellites carrying 16 science and technology experiments from the Air Force, Army, Navy, NASA and the National Science Foundation," said Air Force Col. Carol Welsch, director of the Space Test Program.

The Minotaur 4 rocket is scheduled for blastoff in a 90-minute launch window opening at 8:24 p.m. EST (4:24 p.m. Alaska time) next Friday, or 0124 GMT on Nov. 20.

The Air Force Minotaur 4 rocket will launch a group of satellites in a launch opportunity sponsored by the Air Force's Space Test Program. The payloads include the Air Force's STPSat 2 satellite, NASA's FASTSAT (Fast, Affordable, Science and Technology Satellite), two FASTRAC spacecraft from the University of Texas, the Air Force Academy's FalconSat 5 satellite, NASA's O/OREOS and NanoSail-D CubeSat missions and the RAX CubeSat for the University of Michigan.

More as we get closer to launch.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Launch Notification: COSMO-SKYMED 4

Launch Notification: Fengyun 3B

Friday, November 05, 2010

Chinese Lunar Orbiter Downlink

Paul Marsh reported the following on the Hearsat-L newsgroup:

I think I have re-found the Chinese Chang'e-2 lunar orbiter downlink. I've been monitoring it for a few hours, and can see both Doppler inversions as it orbits the Moon.

http://pjm.dyndns.org/sdr/change2a021110.jpg shows the signal, downlinking on 2210.800 MHz nominally.

I also caught this fft http://pjm.dyndns.org/sdr/change2a021110a.jpg showing the Doppler inversion.

Can someone else with S-Band facilities try to track this orbiter and report back its signal strength etc?

Also Nils in Germany confirmed Paul's observation:

I can confirm the Signal on 2210.816 MHz from Moon with upward doppler direction
at ~ 12:30 UTC. The Moon is about to set here currently, the following FFT was taken at 3°Elevation only. This is using a 1m mesh dish + EME103B LNA and Winradio Converter into an ICOM IC-R7100 with SDR-14 on the IF out.

http://www.bildercache.de/anzeige.html?dateiname=20101102-143010-148.png

Thanks gentlemen for sharing your observations with the rest of the monitoring community.

Thursday, November 04, 2010

Launch Notification: Beidou G4

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Launch Notification: Progress-M 08M

New York HF Volmet Off the Air

If you have been looking for any of the New York Volmet broadcasts on HF, they are off the air for transmitter replacement.

A0667/10 - QXXXX DUE TO TRANSMITTER REPLACEMENT AT THE BARNEGAT, NEW JERSEY, USA SITE, THERE WILL BE NO VOLMET SERVICE AVAILABLE FROM THIS LOCATION BETWEEN OCTOBER 12, AND NOVEMBER 18, 2010. 12 OCT 00:00 2010 UNTIL 18 NOV 23:59 2010. CREATED: 22 SEP 12:10 2010

New York Volmet shares its frequencies below with Gander NF Volmet.
Frequencies: 3485.0 6604.0 10051.0 13270.0 kHz

Monday, November 01, 2010

Launch Notification: XM-5

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Newly Launched Eutelsat W3B SATELLITE in Trouble

Eutelsat is reporting a loss of the recently launched W3B Satellite.

http://www.eutelsat.com/news/press-releases.html?idCp=755

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Launch Notification: GLOBALSTAR M079, GLOBALSTAR M074, GLOBALSTAR M076, GLOBALSTAR M077, GLOBALSTAR M075, GLOBALSTAR M073

Courtesy of AGI's Launch Notification e-mails. AGI's E-mails are sent after every launch and include key spacecraft information such as: the date, time, launch site, launcher, international number, name, and owner. Get more information on thousands of satellites and other vehicles by viewing STK models, animations, and our encyclopedic "Spacecraft Digest" database at www.agi.com/scdigest.

New Launch: 2010 October 19, 1711 UTC
Site: Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan
Launcher: Soyuz 2
International Designator(s): 2010-054A, 2010-054B, 2010-054C, 2010-054D, 2010-054E, 2010-054F

SSC Name Owner
37188 GLOBALSTAR M079 GLOB
37189 GLOBALSTAR M074 GLOB
37190 GLOBALSTAR M076 GLOB
37191 GLOBALSTAR M077 GLOB
37192 GLOBALSTAR M075 GLOB
37193 GLOBALSTAR M073 GLOB

"Globalstar's fleet of orbiting communications satellites received reinforcements Tuesday, when a commercial Soyuz rocket launched from Kazakhstan and deployed six advanced spacecraft to restore the company's diminished two-way voice and data services.

"Built by Thales Alenia Space, the satellites are also the cornerstone of a rejuvenated Globalstar constellation Three more Soyuz launches are planned through the summer of 2011, bringing the company's fleet of second-generation satellites to 24 platforms.

"Globalstar officials say the transition to the new satellite fleet will be seamless for the company's 400,000 subscribers, except for a marked improvement in mobile two-way communications service.

"S-band antenna degradation on Globalstar's existing satellites has limited voice and duplex data communications since 2007. The problem has not affected Globalstar's simplex data relay and asset tracking product, according to the company.

"Globalstar subscribers use the satellite network to make mobile phone calls and data transmissions, especially in rural zones where terrestrial coverage is spotty or non-existent.

"By the middle of 2011, Globalstar officials say customers can expect a return to reliable voice and data transmissions. Until then, subscribers can use an application on the company's website to plug in their location and determine what hours satellite coverage is available."

"A Soyuz rocket launched at 1710:59 GMT (1:10:59 p.m. EDT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. Soaring into a partly cloudy night sky, the Soyuz 2-1a booster and Fregat upper stage accelerated to orbital velocity a few minutes after liftoff.

"After coasting around the world for more than an hour, the Fregat upper stage ignited again to reach the planned separation orbit. The rocket was targeting a circular orbit 572 miles [921 km] high with an inclination of 52 degrees

"Mounted on a specially-built satellite dispenser during launch, the Globalstar spacecraft were released in a choreographed sequence to avoid collisions. Two satellites bolted to the top of the cone-shaped adapter separated first, then four craft on the lower portion of the structure deployed 96 seconds later.

"The satellites' first radio signals were received by ground stations moments after spacecraft separation, according to Jean-Yves Le Gall, chairman and CEO of Arianespace, which oversees commercial Soyuz launches through its Starsem subsidiary."

"In a phone interview from Baikonur on the eve of launch, Navarra said two of the satellites launched Tuesday will enter service in about one month. It will take up to four months for the other four craft to drift to their prescribed orbital locations."

"The new satellites weigh 1,543 pounds [700 kg] at launch and are supposed to operate for 15 years, extending Globalstar's constellation life through at least 2025

"When the Globalstar launch campaign ends next year, the company's fleet will include 24 second-generation spacecraft and eight leftover first-generation satellites built as spares and launched in 2007."

Source: Spaceflight Now, "Six improved Globalstar craft orbited by Soyuz rocket"

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Launch Notification: SHIJIAN-6G and SHIJIAN-6H

Friday, October 01, 2010

Launch Notification: Cosmos 2469

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Launch Notification: YAOGAN 11, ZHEDA PIXING 1B, ZHEDA PIXING 1C

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Nine years later: Towers of Babble

From the The Virginian-Pilot, September 11, 2010
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/09/nine-years-later-towers-babble

A network that allows public safety agencies to communicate with each other remains one of the most elusive and pressing recommendations from the 9/11 Commission. Nine years after America was attacked, there's no guarantee that such a system will ever come into existence.

As The New York Times reported this week, squabbling over who will control a prime slice of broadband spectrum has left plans for a nationwide system literally up in the air.

The Federal Communications Commission has been pushing an approach that would have commercial companies buy and control the airwaves and build fourth-generation wireless networks on it. During emergencies, police and fire and emergency personnel would get control of the network, effectively taking over the airwaves to coordinate interagency communication.

Those public safety groups, however, insist such a network is unlikely to have the capacity needed during an emergency, meaning it could fail under heavy use and put lives at risk. They want exclusive control of the entire section of the spectrum, and they're lobbying Congress for it.
It has been six years since the 9/11 Commission issued its massive report, which included recommendations to improve the response to catastrophes on the scale of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

That makes the prolonged delay over divvying up broadband spectrum and developing a nationwide interoperable communication system all the more frustrating, particularly for commission members. Two years ago, after an FCC auction failed to draw sufficient commercial bids, the commission's vice chairman told The Washington Post: "I've lost patience... The slowness of this just indicates a lack of urgency and a lack of concern about human survival and human life if a disaster strikes."

The unhurried pace is indeed disappointing, especially given the urgency of the problem. During the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York nine years ago, first responders found themselves - for a variety of reasons - unable to communicate with each other. People died as a result.

There has been some progress that will help in future emergencies.

Today, many police and fire departments, including those in South Hampton Roads, use plain English on their radios instead of arbitrary, agency-specific codes.

They have developed interoperable regional systems and standard operating procedures to communicate during emergencies, and they've held joint training to prepare for hurricanes, plane crashes and other disasters.

Such changes have helped communities become better prepared, but each would be more valuable if they were part of a system that permits local, state and federal agencies from Virginia to Oregon to communicate and coordinate in a large-scale emergency.

Officials have said construction of the network could take as much as a decade. That means if Congress has any intention of seeing the system in place before the 20th anniversary of 9/11, it must act now to settle the debate over access to the broadband spectrum.

QZS-1 (MICHIBIKI)

Friday, September 03, 2010

Launch Notification: Cosmos 2464/2465/2466

Wednesday, September 01, 2010

Blog Disclosure Statement

This policy is valid from 1 September 2010

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To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Mysterious Russian 'buzzer' (Enigma S28) radio broadcast changes

From our sister blog, Shortwave Central,(http://mt-shortwave.blogspot.com/) the following posted on the increase in Enigma S28 Russian Buzzer station activity:

The output of Russian number station UVB-76 has increased dramatically over the past week or so. The station, which broadcasts from near Povarovo [on 4625 kHz AM with suppressed lower sideband], is known as “The Buzzer” by its listeners because of the short, monotonous buzz tone that it normally plays 21 to 34 times per minute. It’s only deviated from that signal three times previously - briefly in 1997, 2002 and 2006.

In early August, a garbled recording of a voice speaking Russian was heard by listeners. A few days later, on 23 August at 13:35 UTC, a clearer voice read out the following message twice: “UVB-76, UVB-76 — 93 882 naimina 74 14 35 74 — 9 3 8 8 2 nikolai, anna, ivan, michail, ivan, nikolai, anna, 7, 4, 1, 4, 3, 5, 7, 4″, before returning to its normal broadcasting.

Since then, a number of other distorted voices have appeared over the normal buzzing transmission, as well as knocks and shuffles, as if someone were moving things around inside the broadcasting room. It’s believed that the transmission site has an open microphone, which occasionally picks up sounds from technicians working within the broadcast site.

Additional story at: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2010-08/25/russian-numbers-station-broadcast-changes (R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)

And from the SCAN-DC newsgroup:

UVB-76 is the callsign of a shortwave radio station that usually broadcasts on the frequency 4625 kHz (AM suppressed lower sideband). It is known among radio listeners by the nickname The Buzzer. It features a short, monotonous buzz tone, repeating at a rate of approximately 25 tones per minute, for 24 hours per day. The station has been observed since around 1982. On rare occasions, the buzzer signal is interrupted and a voice transmission in Russian takes place. Only four to five such events have been noted. Despite much speculation, the actual purpose of this station remains unknown to the public, but is probably used for relaying military orders. There has been a spike in activity as of late August, 2010. More details on the spike below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UVB-76#August_2010

Here is the latest intercepts from the Wikipeda link above:

August 2010
There has been a spike in activity on UVB-76 in August 2010. Following messages have been detected by listeners:

On August 20, 2010 at 05:11 UTC, a garbled voice speaking Russian, was detected by amateur listeners. It made a short message with 56° 5'8.23"N little interference and then repeated itself with noticeably more static. This followed recent activity on the station tha little interference and then repeated itself with noticeably more static. This followed recent activity on the station that included more static than usual and several instances of objects being moved/dropped. All of this was detected by amateur listeners and is unconfirmed at the moment.

On August 23, 2010 at 13:35 UTC, a voice speaking in Russian was detected. The voice read out a single, short transmission several times before the line went dead, then returned to its normal broadcast. As the message was transmitted on upper side-band, reception with ordinary AM receivers was weak and distorted.
The message, repeated twice, was: UVB-76, UVB-76 — 93 882 naimina 74 14 35 74 — 9 3 8 8 2 nikolai, anna, ivan, michail, ivan, nikolai, anna, 7, 4, 1, 4, 3, 5, 7, 4[11] (recording of the August 23 2010 voice transmission)

On August 24, 2010 at approximately 04:00 UTC, a heavily distorted voice was heard by amateur listeners.

On August 24, 2010 at 13:25 UTC, another heavily distorted voice was detected by several amateur listeners.

On August 24, 2010 at 17:43 UTC, Hard to hear voices were heard over the transmission.

On August 24, 2010 at around 03:30 UTC, distorted voices in addition to fast beeps and pulses were heard.

On August 25, 2010 around 06:13 UTC, Random knocks or shuffles as if someone is in the room, changes in tone randomly.

On August 25, 2010 at 11:53 GMT the following message was detected: "August 3 5 2 7 Accretion 3 6 0 9 5 6 7 3". A recording is available here mirror Said message is a Google Translate of 3 8 5 2 7 ???????? 3 6 0 9 5 6 7 3. This is identical to the August 25, 2010 06:54 UTC message mentioned below.

On August 25, 2010 at 06:45 UTC, A grumble or garbled sound appeared out of nowhere for 389 ms.

On August 25, 2010 at 06:54 UTC, Another transmission occurred. (Recording of the fifth voice transmission) A new sequence/pattern with a chirping/crank noise occured on top of the previous buzzer. At times this new noise made the old buzzing noise barely audible.The message content was: "UVB-76. UVB-76. 38, 527. ????????. 36, 09, 55, 73.".

On August 25, 2010 at 18:07 UTC, Morse code could be heard behind the buzzer signal. It lasted until approximately 18:20 UTC. At approximately 18:08 UTC A tone was heard in the background followed by a short message.

There is a lot of very interesting additional details at the Wikipedia website above.

Also courtesy of the Spooks list and Jakon Hays, the following associated links:

Saw a post on MeFi this morning about it.
http://www.metafilter.com/95091/4625-kHz

Which cites this site.
http://uvb-76.blogspot.com/2010/08/august-23-2010-935am-pst-voice.html

The wiki page has been updated quite a bit though the day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UVB-76

And there is a live stream here.
http://www.justin.tv/rampageturke#/w/340896016/4

Saturday, August 14, 2010

Current status of the ROS digital mode use in the US

Earlier this year there was quite a bit of buzz on the amateur radio newsgroups about a new digital mode known as ROS developed by a non-ham, José Alberto Nieto Ros.
The new mode uses spread spectrum technology at 1 or 16 Baud signalling rates, and is designed to cope with disturbances, low level signals, meteor scatter and moon bounce says José. José claims that receiving signals down to -35 dB (!) with 1 Bd signalling rate and -30 dB (!) with 16 Bd are possible.

But we have a problem here in the US. ROS is a spread spectrum mode and US hams are not allowed to use SS modes below 222 MHz by FCC regulation. Another problem is that hams in other portions of the world are using this 2.2 kHz bandwidth mode in the portion of the ham bands reserved for narrowband comms. Again not a good thing.

On March 4, 2010 the following was posted to the ARRL website:

In mid-February, European amateurs first used a new, experimental digital mode known as ROS. On February 23, 2010 -- after FCC review of the original documents provided from the developer's Web site -- the FCC made the following statements on ROS:

"Section 97.305 is the rule that specifies where different emission types are allowed to be transmitted on different bands. 'ROS' is viewed as 'spread spectrum,' and the creator of the system describes it as that. We assume that he knows what he created. [Section] 97.305 authorizes spread spectrum emission types (defined in Section 97.3) to be transmitted by FCC licensed amateur stations at places we regulate communications only on 222-225 MHz and higher frequency amateur bands. European telecommunication regulatory authorities may authorize amateur stations in Europe to use SS on the HF bands, but this is of no concern to us. The Commission does not determine if a particular mode 'truly' represents spread spectrum as it is defined in the rules. The licensee of the station transmitting the emission is responsible for determining that the operation of the station complies with the rules. This would include determining the type of emission the station is transmitting and that the frequencies being used are authorized for that type of emission."

Since that initial FCC review, several Internet sites have reported a claim -- attributed to the FCC -- that the original statements made had been reconsidered and that the FCC view was now that "ROS cannot be viewed as Spread Spectrum and it would be encompassed within Section 97.309 (RTTY and data emissions codes)."

When queried about this new statement, the FCC's Consumer Assistance Office stated that "[T]he information contained on the ROS Web site was not provided by the FCC." They then reaffirmed the original statements that originated from the FCC's Wireless Bureau, which handles Amateur Radio rules for the US.

The ARRL supports -- as one of the basic purposes of Amateur Radio -- the experimentation and advancing the technical skills of operators. The development and use of any new mode is exciting to many amateurs, and the League encourage amateurs to experiment within the parameters of the rules; however, the ARRL also reminds US licensees that according to Section 97.307, spread spectrum communications are only permissible in the US on frequencies above 222 MHz.

Of course, the debate raged on the various newsgroups about the pros and cons, but soon the conversation slowly died off, until this week. Earlier in the week the conversation cranked up in earnest again about the legally of using ROS in the US on the 30MDG newsgroup. This was due to this post by José on his ROS website:
http://rosmodem.wordpress.com/2010/08/13/the-fcc-allows-ros-to-be-used-in-the-usa/

Instead of investigating the details of the post, a flame war erupted, and is still raging strong even this morning. So now I'm now waiting for the aluminum foil hats (or hard kats with rubber ducks in the middle) to come out and aliens to land in BTown.

Yes, José's choice of a headline was poor "The FCC allows ROS to be used in the USA," since it makes it sound like the FCC has cleared and approved the mode for general hams ops in the US. But the details are in the body of the post:

”The FCC allows ROS to be used in the USA” (only for WE9XLQ)

Instead of taking a pause and looking into the callsign on the FCC website which would have been the prudent thing to do, some gents blew up the situation into a full blown flame war. Theese folks should have their keyboards disabled and given a time out in one corner of their shacks. ;-)))

Now the real truth, WE8XLQ is a newly issued FCC experimental license issued to Reindert A Smit in Alta Loma, CA, to test the ROS mode in the HF spectrum. The license is valid from 8/1/2010 to 1/31/2011.

In the "Explanation" section of the license it states:
Like to use ROS Modem digital mode in Amateur Radio Service. Questions exist about the legality of this mode on frequencies below 225 MHz.

In the "Purpose of Operation" section of the license it states:
Experiment with this mode and research capabilities of this mode under weak signal conditions and make comparisons against other digital modes such as WSJT and PSK31

Complete details are available at the link below: https://fjallfoss.fcc.gov/oetcf/els/reports/STA_Print.cfm?mode=initial&application_seq=45235

So it will be interesting to see how all of this washes out. Personally other than the wideband nature of ROS being used in the narrowband section of the various bands, I don't see why the ARRL and FCC should have opposed the mode in the first place. There is a mode called Chip64/128 which is also described as spread spectrum (full details at http://xoomer.virgilio.it/aporcino/Chip64/index.htm) being used in the HF spectrum. I haven't seen anything being done to ban this mode on the HF spectrum by the FCC. It has been around since 2007.

Not sure why all the fuss over ROS and not CHIP64/128 by the FCC. I look forward to seeing the test results of the ROS mode from WE9XLQ early next year.

In the meantime, here is your caveat. Using the ROS mode on HF by US hams other than Reindert A Smit, WE9XLQ, is illegal. If you use it, you may lose it (your license that is).

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Perseid Meteor Shower

The annual Perseid meteor shower is underway. Earth is passing through a wide stream of debris from Comet Swift-Tuttle, and each time a fleck of comet dust hits Earth's atmosphere--flash!--there is a meteor. Forecasters say the shower will peak on Thursday, August 12th, and Friday, August 13th. You can see Perseids flitting across the sky at any time between about 10 pm on Thursday evening and sunrise on Friday morning. Observers who get away from city lights can expect to count dozens of meteors per hour, especially during the dark hours before dawn. http://spaceweather.com

Time to dust off my meteor scatter software and head up to 6 meters for some ping time from EM85.

Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Solar Tsunami to Strike Earth

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory snapped this X-ray photo of the Sun early in the morning of Sunday, August 1st. The dark arc near the top right edge of the image is a filament of plasma blasting off the surface -- part of the coronal mass ejection. The bright region is an unassociated solar flare. NASA

From FoxNews:

Earth is bracing for a cosmic tsunami Tuesday night as tons of plasma from a massive solar flare head directly toward the planet.

The Sun's surface erupted early Sunday morning, shooting a wall of ionized atoms directly at Earth, scientists say. It is expected to create a geomagnetic storm and a spectacular light show -- and it could pose a threat to satellites in orbit, as well.

"This eruption is directed right at us and is expected to get here early in the day on Aug. 4," said Leon Golub of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. "It's the first major Earth-directed eruption in quite some time."

The solar eruption, called a coronal mass ejection, was spotted by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory, which captures high-definition views of the sun at a variety of wavelengths. SDO was launched in February and peers deep into the layers of the sun, investigating the mysteries of its inner workings.

"We got a beautiful view of this eruption," Golub said. "And there might be more beautiful views to come if it triggers aurorae."

Views of aurorae are usually associated with Canada and Alaska, but even skywatchers in the northern U.S. mainland are being told they can look toward the north Tuesday and Wednesday evenings for rippling "curtains" of green and red light.

When a coronal mass ejection reaches Earth, solar particles stream down our planet's magnetic field lines toward the poles. In the process, the particles collide with atoms of nitrogen and oxygen in the Earth's atmosphere, which then glow, creating an effect similar to miniature neon signs.

The interaction of the solar particles with our planet's magnetic field has the potential to create geomagnetic storms, or disturbances, in Earth's magnetosphere. And while aurorae are normally visible only at high latitudes, they can light up the sky even at lower latitudes during a geomagnetic storm.

Fortunately for Earth-bound observers, the atmosphere filters out nearly all of the radiation from the solar blast. The flare shouldn't pose a health hazard, Golub told FoxNews.com.

"It's because of our atmosphere," he explained, "which absorbs the radiation, as well as the magnetic field of the Earth, which deflects any magnetic particles produced."

The radiation "almost never" makes it to ground, he noted, though pilots and passengers in airplanes may experience increased radiation levels akin to getting an X-ray.

The solar particles also could affect satellites, though scientists think that possibility is remote. Orbital Sciences Corp. believe a similar blast may have knocked its Galaxy 15 satellite permanently out of action this year.

This type of solar event has both government officials and satellite manufacturers worrying.

NASA scientists warned recently that high-energy electric pulses from the sun could cripple our electrical grid for years, causing billions in damages. In fact, the House is so concerned that the Energy and Commerce committee voted unanimously to approve a bill allocating $100 million to protect the energy grid from this rare but potentially devastating occurrence.

The sun's activity usually ebbs and flows on a fairly predictable cycle. Typically, a cycle lasts about 11 years, taking roughly 5.5 years to move from a solar minimum, a period of time when there are few sunspots, to peak at the solar maximum, during which sunspot activity is amplified.

The last solar maximum occurred in 2001. The latest minimum was particularly weak and long- lasting.

The most recent solar eruption is one of the first signs that the sun is waking up -- and heading toward another maximum.

Space.com contributed to this report.

Propagation Alert: Will it hit Earth?

On August 1, 2010, the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) observed a beautiful prominence eruption that may hit Earth and cause a geomagnetic storm. As the solar cycle progresses and the Sun becomes more active there will be many more opportunities to observe the causes of space weather. Want to see what happens? Follow the event at spaceweather.com.

And from the Spaceweather website:

On August 1st, the entire Earth-facing side of the sun erupted in a tumult of activity. There was a C3-class solar flare, a solar tsunami, multiple filaments of magnetism lifting off the stellar surface, large-scale shaking of the solar corona, radio bursts, a coronal mass ejection and more.

High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras tonight. One and possibly two coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are heading toward Earth, propelled by the solar eruptions of August 1st (see below). NOAA forecasters estimate a 10% chance of major geomagnetic storms and a 45% chance of at least some geomagnetic activity when the clouds arrive on August 3rd and 4th.

And finally this report from our good friend Tomas Hood

At approximately 0855 UTC on August 1, 2010, a C3.2 magnitude soft X-ray flare erupted from NOAA Active Sunspot Region 11092 (1092).

At nearly the same time, a massive filament eruption occurred. Prior to the filament's eruption, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) instruments revealed an enormous plasma filament stretching across the sun's northern hemisphere. When the solar shock wave triggered by the C3.2-class X-ray explosion plowed through this filament, it appears to have caused the filament to erupt, sending out a huge plasma cloud (a coronal mass ejection, or CME).

A shock wave can be seen emerging from the origin of the X-ray flare and sweeping across the sun's northern hemisphere into the filament field. The impact of this shock wave may well have propelled the filament into space. The movies (see links, below) seem to support the conclusion that both eruptions, occurring together, are linked, despite the approximately 400,000 kilometer distance between the flare and the filament eruption. How can this be? While we cannot always see the magnetic field lines between solar features (magnetic field lines are not visible unless there is plasma trapped along these field lines), we can assume from this event
that huge connecting field lines existed between the sunspot region and the filament in the sun's northern hemisphere.

This is an amazing event. A complex series of eruptions involving most of the visible surface of the sun has occurred, ejecting plasma toward the Earth. This coronal mass ejection (CME) rides the solar wind. Depending on the speed of the solar wind and the ejected plasma, this cloud will reach Earth's magnetosphere sometime between August 3 and August 5. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras. Radio communications by way of the ionosphere may become degraded soon after the CME arrives, and the degraded conditions may last for up to three days.

First view at the 304-Angstrom wavelength by SDO/AIA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyaqxKkSCpU

Second view at the 171-Angstrom wavelength by SDO/AIA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HW_-yQY6YlA

Source: SDO/AIA

73 de NW7US, Tomas David Hood ( http://tomas-david-hood.com/ )

Facebook:

Main NW7US Page: http://hfradio.org/
Twitter Space WX : @hfradiospacewx
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Podcast: http://podcast.hfradio.org/ (restarting Summer 2010)

Linux User #32405 - Since 1996

Monday, August 02, 2010

Complex Eruption on the Sun

Space Weather News for August 1, 2010
http://spaceweather.com

GLOBAL ERUPTION: During the early hours of August 1st, NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded a complex global disturbance on the Earth-facing side of the sun. Most of the sun's northern hemisphere was involved in the event, which included a long-duration C3-class solar flare, a "solar tsunami," and a massive filament eruption. As a result of these blasts, a coronal mass ejection (CME) is heading toward Earth. High-latitude geomagnetic storms and auroras are possible when the cloud arrives a few days hence.

On August 1st around 0855 UT, Earth orbiting satellites detected a C3-class solar flare. The origin of the blast was sunspot 1092. At about the same time, an enormous magnetic filament stretching across the sun's northern hemisphere erupted. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded the action.

The timing of these events suggest they are connected, and a review of SDO movies strengthens that conclusion. Despite the ~400,000 km distance between them, the sunspot and filament seem to erupt together; they are probably connected by long-range magnetic fields.

In short, we have just witnessed a complex global eruption involving almost the entire Earth-facing side of the sun.

A coronal mass ejection (CME) produced by the event is heading directly for Earth. High-latitude sky watchers should be alert for auroras when it arrives on or about August 3rd. See forecast below.

3-day Solar-Geophysical Forecast issued Aug 01 22:00 UTC
Solar Activity Forecast: Solar activity is expected to be very low. However, there is a chance for an isolated C-class flare from Region 1092.

Geophysical Activity Forecast: Geomagnetic field activity is expected to be at quiet levels during most of day 1 (02 August). An increase to unsettled to active levels is expected late on day 1 due to the arrival of the full-halo CME observed on 01 August. Activity is expected to increase to unsettled to active levels with a chance for minor storm levels on day 2 (03 August) as CME effects persist. Activity is expected to decrease to quiet to unsettled levels with a chance for active levels on day 3 (04 August) as CME effects subside.

Monday, July 19, 2010

HomePatrol-1 - What can it monitor?

I have had several questions regarding what HomePatrol will and will not monitor from the Radioref database. Paul Opitz from Uniden recently wrote the following:

HomePatrol-1 includes all systems and channels in Radio Reference database with the following exceptions:

-- Channels function tagged as Data
-- Channels that are not function tagged
-- Channels function tagged as Deprecated
-- Channels with a mode of "E" (encrypted)
-- Digital channels on system types that cannot be monitored (i.e. ProVoice)
-- Channels in deprecated systems
-- Unmonitorable Systems (i.e. OpenSky / Nextel / etc)

HomePatrol-1 can automatically select for scanning any channel that is properly geotagged. Channels not geotagged can be manually selected (easiest by using the included Sentinel PC software). The geographic selection process is unique to Uniden (and patented, to boot).

At some point, Joes (scanner geeks), will have the ability through the Uniden software to program the HomePatrol-1 with their own frequency list, but this won't happen with the initial release of the unit.

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Uniden HomePatrol Update

Recently some question on the Scan-DC newsgroup came up on the new Uniden HomePatrol scanner. here is a portion of my comments regarding this new scanner.

My initial testing of the unit is pretty cool. The manuals aren't done yet, but if you have every programmed any scanner you don't need one, it is that simple. So folks who do not want to become radio engineers (Uniden calls them Bob and Mabel) will want to purchase this scanner. There will be additional features for advanced users that will be activated in the near future so that power users (Uniden calls them Joe) will have some interesting features they will like in HomePatrol. On the Friday before the Uniden Open House during our formal intro of the product, I had the scanner in my hands about one hour and during that time I master the basica operations and menuing system (actually it took about 20 minutes).

Saturday during the Uniden Open House in Dallas, an 8 year old grandson of one of the hobbyists at my table (I was a table host), programmed the HP scanner for DFW in literally seconds. Yes, Bob and Mabel, it is really that easy.

You can read some of my additional thoughts on my personal blog at
http://monitor-post.blogspot.com/2010/06/revolution-in-scanning-is-coming.html

You can get my exclusive HP spec sheet (based on the testing of the unit we
have in hand) on the Grove Ent website at http://www.grove-ent.com/homepatrol.html

More to come including a full review in Monitoring Times magazine soon.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

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.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

SSTV from ISS on 145.800 MHz FM during July 15-16

ISS Amateur Radio Status: July 13, 2010

SpaceCam planed for July 15-16 By Miles Mann WF1F
MAREX-MG News www.marexmg.org
Manned Amateur Radio Experiment

Notes from the Ariss blog http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/

MAI-75 activation planned for July 15-16 (updated)

An activity to support SSTV activation (MAI-75) has been schedule on July 15 and 16. Times fall between 12:00-15:00 UTC on the 15th and 10:00-12:00 UTC on the 16th . The system will be operating space cam in slide show mode and is expected to use the Martin 1 format. The times are just over 1 orbit each day (two passes over Moscow) so opportunities will be very limited.

Tips for Working Slow Scan TV:

Will I be able to receive images from SpaceCam1?

Yes! SpaceCam1 will transmit and receive images on amateur radio frequencies, using standard SSTV formats. Although SpaceCam1 is capable of operating in several modes, the recommended format while in Slide Show mode is Robot 36. This format offers the best standard compromise between image quality and transmission time and heat stress.

In addition to two-way "interactive" operation, SpaceCam1 provides the following fully automatic functions:

-- Transmission from a live camera or disk at specified intervals
-- “Slide Show" operation from a set of images stored on the system
-- SSTV Repeater

What equipment will I need to receive the images?

Radio receiver with an outdoor antenna. The radio receive will need to be able to receive FM signals on 145.800 MHz radio band. A PC with SSTV software or a dedicated SSTV scan converter.

For information on how to receive SSTV images from the International Space station, check out the MAREX link: http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/howtouseiss.html

Over the next few weeks we maybe receiving images from the International Space station via Slow Scan TV (SSTV). The MAREX team will be collecting these images from the amateur Radio and SWL community and we will post the best.

We would like to collect all images received. However in order to properly catalog the images we request you use the following image naming format. After you receive you images; please rename the images using the following format, All Lower case letters

Year 06, Month 07, Day 31, (UTC time), Call sign, Short text description, .JPG

Example:

New format: 0607311905wf1f.jpg

I removed the first two numbers of the year and the “Z” for UTC time. All dates are assumed to be in UTC dates. The images coming down from ISS will also have a time stamp embedded into the image. You can also use these numbers to generate you file names. If you are a Short Wave listener and do not have a call sign, just place your Initials after the time (0607311905abc.jpg)

If we break this down
Year =06
Month = 07
Day = 31
Time = 1905 UTC
Call sign = wf1f
Description (optional) = Windows shot
Image format = jpg

Image Quality
Please do not put any text over lays on the images, Example, do not put web page or advertisements in the image. Your own call sign and date are acceptable.

Send all images directly to MAREX at Marexmg@comcast.net

We would also like to know the following information in your email.

Name or Call sign
Country / State
Receiver
Software decoding tool
Elevation or range of ISS when you decoded the image.

Slide Show Mode:
The MAREX SpaceCam1 software contains a feature called “Slide Show” mode. It allows the crew to preload a directory full of images that will be automatically transmitted to Earth. The crew will not need to keep pushing a button to send images. In theory the system can run for weeks at a time without crew involvement. The SpaceCam project will be able to transmit over 200 SSTV images per day (Robot 36 format).

Ariss has not announced any plans for a SSTV Uplink frequency.

SSTV Decoding Software http://www.barberdsp.com/

There are many choices in SSTV software, some Free, others with more features cost a few bucks. http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/sstvlinkpage.html

So have fun, find your best setup and start practicing (on Earth) how to decode SSTV on 2-meters.

Marexmg Web page
http://www.marexmg.org/

ARISS Web page and other great Space projects
http://www.rac.ca/ariss/

73 Miles WF1F MAREX-MG

Amateur satellite to investigate power line interference

Hans van de Groenendaal ZS6AKV will be giving a presentation on South Africa's first CubeSat at the AMSAT-UK Colloquium in Guildford, England, July 31- Aug 1

The world has experienced a long solar minimum which means that ionospheric communication had been very limited and for a few years was almost exclusively the domain of the commercial broadcasters running Megawatts.

HF radio communication is very susceptible to noise levels that are created by power lines, electrical installations and overhead lines used by trains and busses and power line telecommunication systems. If fact today there are many installation that do not necessarily comply with internationally agreed emission standards. With increasing solar activity interference signals are propagated over large areas and will interfere with HF communication.

The important mission of the SA AMSAT CubeSat is to measure the High Frequency noise levels over South Africa and report these measurement back to a ground station for analysis and action to reduce these unwanted signals. The information from the tiny satellite will identify the areas where the HF frequency polluters are situated and will help in reducing or eliminating the source.

It is also hoped to include a 30 kHz linear transponder and an Automatic Packet Reporting System (APRS) in the CubeSat.

I want one. After the South Africans have done their mapping maybe they can swing it up here to help locate our local power line interference.

Thursday, July 08, 2010

Mississippi Deploys Wireless Radio System To Aid Oil Spill Cleanup

From the Gov Monitor website:

Governor Haley Barbour announced today the distribution of more than 200 radios capable of operating through the Mississippi Wireless Integrated Network to help in the oil spill cleanup along Mississippi’s shoreline and barrier islands.

The MSWIN system, which provides interoperable communication for emergency responders, was created under the direction of Governor Barbour after Hurricane Katrina exposed a critical need.

“Immediately after the storm, we were unable to exchange critical information between various law enforcement agencies and other emergency personnel,” Governor Barbour said. “The ability to communicate can make a huge difference in our ability to fight the oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill now, and in the future, it could mean the difference in our ability to save lives in an emergency.”

The MSWIN system allows users to speak through a secure digital radio system operating under the Mississippi Wireless Communications Commission. The Mississippi National Guard, United States Coast Guard and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency will use the hand-held radios to guide cleanup vessels to oil in the water sighted by aircraft.

“This will help streamline response time to any reports of oil from Mississippi National Guard air operations,” said MEMA Director and WCC Vice Chairman Mike Womack. “The vessels assigned to a particular area will now have the capability to communicate directly with the resources in the air.”

“Interoperability is about breaking down communication barriers,” said WCC Chairman Chris Epps. “This is what the system is designed for, and we are proud that we can assist with and improve the response efforts in the oil disaster.”

The MSWIN system was established with $157 million in federal funds and $57 million in state bond funds. The MSWIN system is currently fully operational in the southern third of the state and is scheduled to be complete throughout the entire state of Mississippi by December of 2011.

Governor Barbour has asked for nearly $84 million more in federal funding to expand the MSWIN system’s broadband capacity beyond voice-only communications. The upgraded system could include photo and ambulance-to-hospital data transmission abilities.

Col. Lee Smithson, who oversees the Mississippi National Guard’s response to the oil spill as commander of Task Force Vigilant Horizon, said the radios will enable National Guard personnel to guide crews to the oil and allow ground crews to document the sightings.

“The radios enable us to fully leverage the capabilities of all supporting agencies. We tie in air, marine and shore activities using one system. It is a game changer in our favor.”

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