🚀 go-pugleaf

>Path: infoac!unido!mcsun!uunet!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!n8emr!gws
>From: gws@n8emr.uucp (Gary Sanders)
>Newsgroups: rec.radio.amateur.misc
>Subject: AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 117.01
>Message-ID: <1991Apr29.023836.6937@n8emr.uucp>
>Date: 29 Apr 91 02:38:36 GMT
>Sender: gws@n8emr.uucp (Gary Sanders)
>Organization: HAM BBS, 614-895-2553 (1200/2400/v.32/pep)
>Lines: 251

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| 		Relayed from AMSAT BBS  NETWORK              |
| 		 N8EMR's Ham BBS, 614-895-2553               |
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SB ALL @ AMSAT      $ANS-117.01
UOSAT-F Status, PART II

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 117.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 27, 1991
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

UoSAT-F Combines Humanitarian Mission With Amateur Radio, Part I     

UoSAT-F -- now scheduled to be launched on 7 May -- will support both amateur 
and non-amateur RF links. The satellite's primary non-amateur mission is to 
provide store-and-forward communications for SatelLife, an organisation formed 
by 1985 Nobel Prize winner Dr. Bernard Lown. SatelLife will use UoSAT-F to 
start a non-profit electronic mail network for health professionals. 
Initially, five African medical schools will use "HealthNet" to exchange 
electronic mail and receive up-to-date medical literature. HealthHet is a 
direct application of store-and-forward satellite communications techniques 
developed within the Amateur Service.
 
When not serving HealthNet on non-amateur frequencies, UoSAT-F will transmit 
and receive on Amateur Satellite Service channels.  It will transmit and 
receive AX.25 data using 9600 bit/second FSK modulation. The uplink is on 2 
meters and the downlink is on 70 cm. This is the same frequency plan and 
modulation used on UoSAT-OSCAR-14. Stations already equipped for UO-14 
operation will be able to receive UoSAT-F with the same software and hardware 
they already use. Many of the 100 stations now active on UO-14 found the 
implementation of 9600 bps FSK much easier than expected, so newcomers 
shouldn't be frightned of this high speed technology.
 
[ANS thanks Jeff Ward (G0/K8KA) of the University of Surrey for information
 in this bulletin.]

/EX 
SB ALL @ AMSAT      $ANS-117.02
UOSAT-F STATUS, PART II         

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 117.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 27, 1991
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

UoSAT-F Combines Humanitarian Mission With Amateur Radio, Part II     

UoSAT-F will transmit telemetry, status messages, and files, in the pattern 
typical of UO-14. Telemetry and status messages will be in the same format as 
that on UO-14, files will be broadcast using the PACSAT Broadcast Protocol. 
This protocol is already in use on PACSAT, LUSAT and UO-14. 
 
UoSAT-F's roll in the amateur satellite service will be similar to that of UO-
9, UO-11 and WEBERSAT. Instead of providing a two-way communication service, 
it will transmit experimental data and telemetry. The most exciting aspect of 
this mission will be the charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. UO-F's CCD camera 
design incorporates all of the lessons learned from previous UoSAT CCD 
experiments. It has a wide angle lens (110 degrees) providing a field of view 
only slightly smaller than the satellite's footprint. Images will measure 1600 
by 1800 kilometres, making identification of ground features much easier than 
on previous cameras (UO-9 and WO-18). The image will be 578 pixels by 576 
pixels, providing ground resolution on the order of 2 km. Each pixel is 8 
bits, giving a black and white image with 256 levels of grey. 
 
UO-F will broadcast CCD images routinely using the standard PACSAT Broadcast 
Protocol. The 2 Transputer microprocessors in the CCD camera module will take 
the image and send it over an on-board network to the main 80C186 onboard 
computer (OBC186). The OBC will put the image into a file, with 256 bytes of 
image header information and a standard PACSAT File Header. This file will 
then be broadcast. For those interested in writing their own display program, 
complete technical details of the image file contents will be published soon. 
When we have confirmed that the camera is working, we'll release a display 
program for PC compatibles. (We'll actually distribute this software over the 
satellite using the Broadcast Protocol, "bootstrapping" groundstations.)
 
The wide-angle, black & white CCD camera on UoSAT-F will compliment the 
WEBERSAT camera. Taking advantage of the stable, Earth-pointing UoSAT bus and 
the 9600 bit/second downlink, it should provide very interesting results for 
experimental and educational users.
 
We will broadcast progress bulletins on UO-F's amateur downlink as soon as we 
have the Housekeeping Integration Task (HIT) loaded - probably on the first 
day of operations. 
 
UoSAT-F FREQUENCY PLAN
 
Downlink
     435.120 MHz 
     9600 bps FSK 
     1200 bps AFSK (backup)
     5 W or 2 W
 
Uplink
     145.900 MHz 
     9600 bps FSK
     1200 bps AFSK (backup)
     NOTE: This channel will be used by groundstations transmitting 
     "hole lists" and requests for the PACSAT Broadcast Protocol. There 
     should be little interference with the Microsat uplink on the same 
     frequency.
 
 
** LAUNCH SLIP **
 
On Friday 26 April notification was received from Arianespace of a launch 
slip. The earliest date for the launch is now Monday 6 May (Kourou).

[ANS thanks Jeff Ward (G0/K8KA) of the University of Surrey for information
 in this bulletin.]

/EX
SB ALL @ AMSAT      $ANS-117.03
ATV BALLOON LAUNCH ANNOUNCEMENT

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 117.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 27, 1991
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

Denver Area ATV Enthusiasts Prepare For Balloon Launch May 4, 1991

The next in a series of amateur radio equipped balloon flights is scheduled
for Saturday, May 4, 1991.  The launch will take place at 9:00 A.M. MDT or
15:00 UTC on Saturday, May 4, 1991 from Denver, Colorado.           

The balloon payload will consist of a live video camera and transmitter 
operating on 426.250 MHz.  In addition, the balloon will carry two beacon
transmitters.  A 2M voice FM beacon will operate on 144.340 MHz.  This    
beacon will serve as the primary tracking beacon.  A 10M CW beacon will
operate on 28.800 MHz.  Several sensors will also ride along on this flight 
providing, among other things, altitude and outside air temperature. 

Two tracking, information and coordinations nets will start operating at    
at 8:30 A.M. on launch day.  A 2M net will operate on the 147.225 MHz
repeater in the Denver area while a 40M net will operate on 7.232 MHz.  
All stations wishing to check in are welcomed, especially those who would
like to help in tracking this balloon experiment.  Beam headings to the 
tracking beacon will be periodically taken during these nets.

This balloon project is being conducted by the "Edge of Space Sciences,"
EOSS, a non-profit organization that promotes science and education 
through amateur radio and high altitude balloons.

/EX
SB ALL @ AMSAT      $ANS-117.04
ZRO TESTS RESUME THIS WEEK

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 117.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 27, 1991
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

Popular Station Receiving Test to Begin this Week


The ZRO Memorial Technical Achievement Award Program, or just "ZRO Test" has a 
new schedule for May and early June, 1990 via AMSAT-OSCAR-13.  This activity 
is a test of operating skill and equipment performance.  The following 
schedule of Mode "B" and "JL" ZRO tests were chosen for convenient operating 
times and favorable squint angles.  The "B" tests can be heard on 145.840 MHz 
and the "JL" test on 435.945 MHz.

ZRO Test Times and Dates: (in UTC)

  Saturday May  4, 1991 at 2100 UTC "B"
  Sunday   May 19, 1991 at 0300 UTC "JL"
  Saturday May 25, 1991 at 1845 UTC "JL"
  Saturday May 25, 1991 at 2045 UTC "B"
  Saturday June 1, 1991 at 2230 UTC "JL"
  Sunday   June 2, 1991 at 0030 UTC "B"

Note that the dates and days are shown in "UTC", thus the tests on May 19th 
and June 2nd occur on Saturday nights for those in North America.  Any changes 
will be announced as soon as possible via the AMSAT HF and AO-13 Operations 
Nets.  Recently updated ZRO brochures are available from WA5ZIB, Andy 
MacAllister, AMSAT V.P. User Operations, 14714 Knightsway Drive, Houston, TX 
77083 for an S.A.S.E. with two units of postage.  The brochure characterizes 
test procedures, means for obtaining certificates and gives some historical 
background about the program.

All listener reports with date of test and numbers copied should be sent to 
WA5ZIB at the address above.  A report will be returned verifying the level of 
accurate reception.  Good luck!

/EX
SB ALL @ AMSAT      $ANS-117.05
OPERATIONS NET SCHEDULE

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 117.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 27, 1991
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

AMSAT-NA Operations Net Schedule

AMSAT Operations Nets are planned for the following times.  Mode B nets are
conducted on an AO-13 downlink frequency of 145.950.  Mode J/L nets are
conducted on an AO-13 downlink frequency of 435.970.
 
 Date      UTC   Mode  Phs     NCS     Alternates   U.S. day 

04 May 91  2100   B    141   WB9ANQ KA5SMA   WJ9F   Saturday
12 May 91  0100   B    149   WA5ZIB KA5SMA  WB6LLO  Saturday
22 May 91  0115   B    146    WD0E  WB6LLO   N5BF   Tuesday
02 Jun 91  0045   B    151   KA5SMA  WJ9F   WB9ANQ  Saturday

The Operations Net features guest speakers approximately every other week 
to provide up-to-the-minute information on topics of interest to various
sorts of satellite users.  Watch ANS for information on guest speakers
and topics.


/EX
SB ALL @ AMSAT      $ANS-117.06
REVISED AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHED.
 
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 117.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD APRIL 27, 1991
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
 
AO-13 Spring Schedule Returns, AO-10 Not Presently Available

Magnetorquing of AO-13 has been finally completed.  It had been delayed due to 
a non-scheduled geomagnetic storm.

 The AO-13 transponder schedule which expected to continue through 17JUL91 is:

 Mode-B  : MA 000 to MA 095 !
 Mode-JL : MA 095 to MA 125 !
 Mode-LS : MA 125 to MA 130 !
 Mode-S  : MA 130 to MA 140 ! <= Mode-B transponder is OFF !!   
 Mode-B  : MA 140 to MA 256 !  Perigee eclipses, (max 29 mins)  
 Omnis   : MA 240 to MA 030 !  from May 21 until end September. 
 

The current Spacecraft attitude is:

				BLON = 179.5  BLAT = 0


Currently, OSCAR-10 is not receiving sufficient solar panel illumination to 
support the transponder.  PLEASE DO NOT attempt to use OSCAR-10 until further 
notice.  This period of dormancy is expected to last for several months.  As 
soon as OSCAR-10 can support Mode-B transponder operations it will once again 
be released for general use.  Early reports of OSCAR-10's beacon returning to 
full strength can be sent to VK5AGR @ PACSAT-1, @ UOSAT-3, @ 8J1JBS, or @ 
VK5WI.  73, Graham VK5AGR

/EX
-- 
Gary W. Sanders (gws@n8emr or ...!osu-cis!n8emr!gws), 72277,1325
N8EMR @ W8CQK (ip addr) 44.70.0.1 [Ohio AMPR address coordinator]
HAM BBS 614-895-2553
Voice: 614-895-2552 (eves/weekends)
-- 
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