New EMF Regulation and QO-100 satellite / Microwave operation

Es'hail-2 Qatar-OSCAR-100Ian GM3SEK is giving an online talk on the application of the RSGB-Ofcom Calculator to Microwaves and QO-100 satellite operation on Saturday, October 16, at 1230 GMT (1:30 BST)

John G3XDY, Secretary UK Microwave Group, writes:

As I expect you are aware, UK stations must have Electromagnetic Field (EMF) assessments in place for operation above 110 MHz from 18th November 2021. Some RSGB guidance on EMF is here:
https://rsgb.org/main/technical/emc/emf-exposure/

The RSGB has been developing a tool that incorporates the Ofcom EMF Calculator but extends the models to include single and multiple Yagis plus various sizes of dish antennas, and takes account of the directivity of the antenna.

Ian GM3SEK, a key member of the team that developed the spreadsheet tool, will be talking about its application to Microwaves and QO-100 operation on 16th October at 13:30pm, in a joint BATC/UK Microwave Group presentation during the BATC Convention.

Registration is not required, to view the talk just go to https://batc.org.uk/live/cat21

Full details of the BATC CAT21 program are available here
https://forum.batc.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=135&t=7609

This is an important topic for all that operate on VHF and above, and Ian will dispense invaluable practical advice on how to assess your dishes and Yagis in the microwave bands. Not to be missed!

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m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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FUNcube-1 (AO73) returns to full sunlight and continuous telemetry mode

AO-73 (FUNcube-1) - Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

AO-73 (FUNcube-1) – Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

After a few months of normal eclipse periods, FUNcube-1 (AO73) will, next week, re-enter full sunlight from next week for a period of approximately two months.

As we have been in continuous transponder mode for some time now, we have decided that, during this sunlight period, FUNcube-1 should operate in continuous high power telemetry mode. The change will be made within the next few days.

FUNcube-1 has now been in orbit for almost eight years and the telemetry indicates that all systems, including the battery and solar panels appear to operating as well now as they did immediately after launch!

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m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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GENESIS satellites to launch

AMSAT-EA GENESIS Satellites

AMSAT-EA GENESIS Satellites

After a year waiting, finally this Friday, September 3, at 01:00 UTC the digital GENESIS satellites are expected to launch from Vanderberg AFB aboard Firefly’s Alpha rocket in its maiden flight.

These satellites are ASK (OOK) and CW repeaters. They transmit a lot of telemetry and also 19 different CW greeting messages in English and Spanish.

We would like to ask you all to please try to receive them as any information about their transmissions would be very valuable for us. These are the first satellites we build by ourselves and we need to learn everything we can of them. Waterfalls, audio USB receptions or IQ files would be very appreciated. Please send them to genesis@amsat-ea.org or to ea4gqs@amsat-ea.org. We will send you a nice QSL.

Initial keplerians are listed below. We expect to provide accurate ones a pair of days after the launch.

GENESIS-L
1 99999U 21200E 21246.13531250 .0011565 00000-0 00000-0 0 9990
2 99999 137.094 42.0460 0000473 210.6500 291.0540 15.90200000 16

GENESIS-N
1 99999U 21200E 21246.13531250 .0011565 00000-0 00000-0 0 9990
2 99999 137.094 42.0460 0000473 210.6500 291.0540 15.90200000 16

Frequencies:
GENESIS-L
145.875 MHz uplink, Modes: CW, ASK 50 bps
436.875 / 434.203 (aux) MHz downlink CW, ASK 50 bps, callsign AM2SAT

GENESIS-N
145.888 MHz uplink, Modes: CW y ASK 50 bps
436.888 / 434.216 (aux) MHz downlink CW ASK 50 bps, callsign AM3SAT

Live launch streaming will be held in the channel of EverydayAstronaut on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6uKrU_WqJ1R2HMTY3LIx5Q

More information about this launch can be found here:
https://everydayastronaut.com/flta001-dream-alpha/

Current countdown can be found here:
https://spacelaunchnow.me/launch/firefly-alpha-maiden-flight/

Full GENESIS transmission descriptions can be found here:
https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/12293076/AMSAT+EA+-+GENESIS+transmissions+description.pdf

Thanks in advance and regards,

Felix EA4GQS – AMSAT EA

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m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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AMSAT-EA GENESIS satellites may launch September

AMSAT-EA GENESIS Satellites

AMSAT-EA GENESIS Satellites

Spain’s national amateur radio society, the URE, report two AMSAT-EA GENESIS satellites are expected to be launched on September 2, 2021.

A translation of the URE post reads:

The GENESIS-L and GENESIS-N satellites, designed and built by AMSAT-EA in collaboration with students from the European University and ICAI, will be launched, in a first attempt, on September 2, once the American company Firefly has carried out the static test of the Alpha launcher, this being the last step before its launch. The vehicle is ready for takeoff on its platform from Vanderberg Air Force Base in California and carries, for this inaugural flight, many other satellites from various organizations and universities.

The GENESIS are digital repeating satellites of ASK and CW and also carry Applied Ion Systems’ AIS-gPPT3-1C experimental ion thrusters.

The working frequencies of the satellites are as follows:

GENESIS-L
145.875 MHz uplink, Modes: CW, ASK 50 bps
436.875 MHz downlink CW, ASK 50 bps, am2sat callsign

GENESIS-N
145.888 MHz uplink, Modes: CW and ASK 50 bps
436.888 MHz downlink CW ASK 50 bps, am3sat callsign
The description of the telemetry and the mode of operation of its repeaters can be found in the following links:

Link to telemetry transmissions description (in English)
https://www.amsat-ea.org/app/download/12293076/AMSAT+EA+-+GENESIS+transmissions+description.pdf

Source URE https://www.ure.es/satelites-genesis-de-amsat-ea-2/

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m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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Antarctica: DP0GVN QO-100 antenna destroyed, rebuild planned for 2022

AWI Neumayer Station III Antarctica - image from AMSAT-DL

AWI Neumayer Station III Antarctica – image from AMSAT-DL

AMSAT-DL reports the antenna used by DP0GVN in Antarctica for the QO-100 geostationary satellite amateur radio transponder is completely destroyed.

According to the Alfred-Wegener-Institute (AWI), a severe winter storm hit Atka Bay (Antarctica) at the end of last week. At Neumayer Station III, about 20 kilometres away, wind speeds of max. 94.9 knots (175.7 km/h) were recorded as a minute average during the night from 13 to 14 August. The strongest gust was 112 knots (207 km/h). This is by far the highest wind speed in recent years.

Unfortunately, the satellite antenna for the geostationary QO-100 amateur radio satellite was also completely destroyed during the storm, despite the weatherproof radome, so no school contacts with DP0GVN can take place until further notice. AMSAT-DL and AWI hope to erect a new antenna early next year, in particular to continue the very successful contacts with schools.

Source AMSAT-DL
https://amsat-dl.org/en/dp0gvn-antenna-destroyed-rebuilding-planned-2022/
https://twitter.com/amsatdl

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m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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