communication (Page 37)

FCC Deletes 3.4 GHz Amateur Satellite Service Allocation

The AMSAT News Service (ANS) reports that at its open meeting on September 30, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted a Report and Order that sunsets Amateur use of the 3.3-3.5 GHz band.

This spectrum includes the 3.40-3.41 GHz Amateur-Satellite Service allocation. AMSAT had previously filed comments opposing the FCC’s proposal to delete this spectrum.

The adopted FCC Report and Order can be found at
https://www.fcc.gov/document/fcc-seeks-facilitate-5g-345-355-ghz-band-0

AMSAT filing https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Comments-of-Radio-Amateur-Satellite-Corporation-WT-Docket-No-19-348.pdf

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m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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ISS SSTV October 4-8 on 145.800 MHz FM

ISS SSTV image 5 received by Dave Boult G7HCE in Exeter on April 14, 2019

An ARISS Slow Scan TV (SSTV) event is scheduled from the International Space Station (ISS) for October 4-8.

The event is scheduled to begin on October 4 at 14:00 GMT for setup and operation and continue until October 8 ending at 19:15 GMT. Dates and times subject to change due to ISS operational adjustments.

Images will be downlinked at 145.800 MHz FM +/- 3 kHz for Doppler shift and the expected SSTV mode of operation is PD 120. The main theme of this collection of images will be Satellites.

Radio enthusiasts participating in the event can post and view images on the ARISS SSTV Gallery at https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/ After your image is posted at the gallery, you can acquire a special award by linking to https://ariss.pzk.org.pl/sstv/ and following directions for submitting a digital copy of your received image.

ARISS SSTV Blog http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/

If your radio has selectable FM filters then for best results select the wider filter designed for 25 kHz channel spacing.

ISS SSTV info and links https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv

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m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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Register Now for Online AMSAT-UK Space Colloquium – Open To All

Lunar Amateur Radio Transponder Project

The Online AMSAT-UK Convention takes place on Sunday, October 11, from 11am BST (10:00 GMT) to approximately 5pm, with a break for lunch, and several short breaks during the day. You don’t have to be a member of AMSAT-UK to participate, and the event is free of charge but please register ASAP.

Astronaut Sunita Williams KD5PLB answers questions from a student

Those who are registered will be entered for a number of free raffles which will take place during the event.

Among the many talks and demonstrations during the day are:

1100 BST (1000 GMT) Official opening by Martin Sweeting G3YJO
1105-1125 Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) Update by Ciaran Morgan M0XTD
1135-1200 Decoding Mars spacecraft – Bits and pieces you can learn from spacecraft telemetry by Daniel Estévez EA4GPZ
1210-1230 Tevel FM transponder satellite constellation by David Greenberg 4X1DG
1240-1300 LUNART – A Lunar Amateur Radio Transponder Project by Peter Gülzow DB2OS

Goonhilly GHY-1 “Arthur”

1400-1420 FUNcube next, to boldly go… creating an open platform in space by Phil Ashby M6IPX
1430-1450 QO-100 Demonstration by Mike Willis G0MJW
1500-1520 Getting Goonhilly’s 32m antenna ready to support ESA missions by Matt Cosby Director of Space Engineering at Goonhilly Earth Station Ltd
1530-1550 AMSAT North America Engineering Update by Jerry Buxton N0JY
1600-1620 LEO Sat demonstration by Drew Glasbrenner KO4MA

Please register online at http://tinyurl.com/amsatukreg2020

Draft schedule of the day’s events
https://ukamsat.files.wordpress.com/2020/09/amsat-colloquium-020-program-ver-1.pdf

AMSAT-UK Colloquium Page https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/

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m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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AMSAT-DL Online Symposium September 26

Peter Gülzow DB2OS President AMSAT-DL

AMSAT-DL have announced this year’s symposium will be streamed live on YouTube and most of the lectures will be in English to cater for an international audience

Matthias DD1US writes on the AMSAT Bulletin Board:

Unfortunately, the AMSAT-DL Symposium planned for September 26th and 27th, 2020 cannot take place this year in the usual manner.

Since the health of everyone is very close to our hearts and the legal framework currently leaves no other option, we have decided not to hold a meeting on site in Bochum this year. We regret this very much, but the premises only allow an occupancy of less than 20 persons.

A “social” meeting with dinner is unfortunately not possible either, nor is a flea market and other activities, such as the QO-100 User Meeting, which happened for the first time during the HAM Radio Fair in Friedrichshafen in 2019.

Instead, we will broadcast the symposium as an “online” meeting in DATV via the broadband transponder of QO-100 and on the Internet on the YouTube channel of AMSAT-DL at https://www.youtube.com/user/amsatdl

Enclosed is the preliminary schedule for September 26th 2020 (all times in CEST=UTC+2):

09:00 Welcome, Introduction, Agenda – Matthias DD1US
09:10 Interview with the AMSAT-DL Board of Directors:
Peter DB2OS, Michael DD5ER, Thilo DJ5YM – Matthias DD1US
09:45 Introduction to Bochum Observatory and its Ham Radio activities – Thilo DJ5YM
10:10 The AMSAT-DL LunART project proposal to ESA – Peter DB2OS
10:35 The ADALM Pluto as part of the AMSAT-DL QO-100 control station in Bochum – Mario DL5MLO
11:10 Portable station for QO-100 based on the modules of AMSAT-DL – Matthias DD1US
12:00 Lunch break
12:45 QO-100 DX-pedition to Namibia/South Africa/Botswana – Charly DK3ZL
13:45 Digital Narrowband Operation via QO-100 – Florian DF2ET
14:20 School contacts via QO-100 with DP0GVN in Antarctica – Heiner DD0KP
14:55 Update of ARISS and AREx activities – Oliver DG6BCE
15:45 Coffee break
16:00 Reception of the recently launched probes to Mars – Daniel EA4GPZ, Paul M0EYT, Achim DH2VA
16:50 Final interview with the AMSAT-DL BOD and conclusions: Peter DB2OS, Michael DD5ER, Thilo DJ5YM – Matthias DD1US
17:10 Introduction to the virtual QO-100 user meeting – Matthias DD1US
17:20 Virtual QO-100 user meeting via the QO-100 NB transponder – Florian DF2ET
17:50 Closing of the symposium and virtual QO-100 user meeting – Matthias DD1US

Due to the international audience, most of the lectures will be held in English. The current schedule can be found on the AMSAT-DL homepage at https://amsat-dl.org/en/

We would like to invite you all, also on behalf of the AMSAT-DL board, to this year’s AMSAT-DL online conference and the virtual QO-100 user meeting.

Jens DH6BB, Lenz DL8RDL, Florian DF2ET and Matthias DD1US

Please send any queries to Matthias DD1US matthias.bopp <AT> dd1us.de

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m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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ISS 437.800 MHz cross band FM repeater activated

International Space Station – Image Credit NASA

At 01:02 GMT on September 2 a cross band FM amateur radio repeater with a downlink on 437.800 MHz was activated on the International Space Statio.

The Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) announcement reads:

The ARISS team is pleased to announce that set up and installation of the first element of our next generation radio system was completed and amateur radio operations with it are now underway. This first element, dubbed the InterOperable Radio System (IORS), was installed in the International Space Station Columbus module. The IORS replaces the Ericsson radio system and packet module that were originally certified for spaceflight on July 26, 2000.

Initial operation of the new radio system is in FM cross band repeater mode using an uplink frequency of 145.990 MHz with an access tone [CTCSS] of 67 Hz and a downlink frequency of 437.800 MHz. System activation was first observed at 01:02 UTC on September 2. Special operations will continue to be announced.

The IORS was launched from Kennedy Space Center on March 6, 2020 on board the SpaceX CRS-20 resupply mission. It consists of a special, space-modified JVC Kenwood D710GA transceiver, an ARISS developed multi-voltage power supply and interconnecting cables. The design, development, fabrication, testing, and launch of the first IORS was an incredible five-year engineering achievement accomplished by the ARISS hardware volunteer team. It will enable new, exciting capabilities for ham radio operators, students, and the general public. Capabilities include a higher power radio, voice repeater, digital packet radio (APRS) capabilities and a Kenwood VC-H1 slow scan television (SSTV) system.

A second IORS undergoes flight certification and will be launched later for installation in the Russian Service module. This second system enables dual, simultaneous operations, (e.g. voice repeater and APRS packet), providing diverse opportunities for radio amateurs. It also provides on-orbit redundancy to ensure continuous operations in the event of an IORS component failure.

Next-gen development efforts continue. For the IORS, parts are being procured and a total of ten systems are being fabricated to support flight, additional flight spares, ground testing and astronaut training. Follow-on next generation radio system elements include an L-band repeater uplink capability, currently in development, and a flight Raspberry-Pi, dubbed “ARISS-Pi,” that is just beginning the design phase. The ARISS-Pi promises operations autonomy and enhanced SSTV operations.

ARISS is run almost entirely by volunteers, and with the help of generous contributions from ARISS sponsors and individuals. Donations to the ARISS program for next generation hardware developments, operations, education, and administration are welcome — please go to https://www.ariss.org/donate.html to contribute to these efforts.

ARISS–Celebrating 20 years of continuous amateur radio operations on the ISS!

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m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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