Author: SM0TGU

Webmaster and member of the AMSAT-SM steering group.

Categories
Hamradio from ISS

Uppdatering HAM TV från ISS

Här är senaste nytt om HAM TV från ISS:

HamTV Bulletin #13
April 14, 2014

Ham Video Commissioning completed

 

The final Ham Video Commissioning Pass was performed flawlessly Sunday April 13 at 18.23 UTC.
ISS Commander Koichi Wakata operated OR4ISS while ground stations G4KLB, F6DZP, IK1SLD and KI (Livorno) received the signals and streamed the video over the BATC server. The DATV signal was received for about 6 minutes.
Commander Wakata congratulated ARISS for this achievement and answered a series of questions, prepared in the manner of a school contact. He also proceeded to a microgravity experiment.
The recorded video of this historical transmission is available at:

http://www.vivadatv.org/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=317

and also on YouTube

http://youtu.be/EpFzbKvK1pk

Congratulations to the Ham Video team for this outstanding performance.

Next step should be a video enhanced ARISS school contact.
We will keep you informed on any progress.

73,
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe chairman

Categories
Ham Satellite news

Transponder över helgerna på FUNcube

Efter några helgers test verkar det nu som om transpondern kommer vara påslagen under helgerna:

Following the 48 hour test last weekend, we have concluded that the
battery temp does reduce slightly during full time transponder mode,
but only by a degree C or so; it remains within specification. Hence
we have decided in future to switch the satellite into 'forced
eclipse mode', ie full time transponder and low power beacon at
weekends. The aim is tosignificantly increase the availability of the
transponder to radio amateurs. We will continue with this plan until
further notice.

We plan to switch to full time transponder mode during the first
suitable pass over the UK on Friday evenings, normally between 19:30
and 22:30 UTC. If for some reason this is not possible, then the
switch will be done on the first suitable pass on Saturday, normally
between 09:30 and 12:00 UTC. We plan to switch the full time
transponder mode off during a suitable pass on Sunday evenings (UK
time), which normally occur between 1930 and 22:30 UTC. Again, if
this is not possible the switch off will be made on Monday mornings,
approx. 09:30 to 12:00 UTC.

Do PLEASE NOTE that this schedule is totally reliant on the
availability of command stations, who will do their very best to
ensure it is maintained. We will not normally announce successful
full time transponder mode on/off commands, but if it proves not
possible to make one of them, then we will make a note here and on
the FUNcube web site at
www.funcube.org.uk/news.

So please do enjoy the transponder, and use it any time you hear it
on. We are always pleased to hear of your activity, so either leave a
comment on the website, or email g3wgm -at- amsat.org.

A recent QSO made by Paulo PV8DX can be seen at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nMVetMKnCMQ
Thanks for the report, Paulo!

[ANS thanks Jim G3WGM for the above information]
Categories
Ham Satellite news

Färdigställande av 2-metersloop

Då var det dags för den andra (mindre loopen). Den sätts fast på samma sätt som den stora loopen. Här upptäckte jag att det blev för mycket kabel över, några centimeter. Tydligen har jag dragit loopen för tajt – detta var svårare än jag trodde. Vi får se om det går att korrigera lite när jag ska löda/montera fast med koaxkabeln.

En annan sak jag märkt vid konstruktionen är att jag inte fick hålen borrade i linje så vissa av distanspinnarna är inte vågräta. Här måste man vara mer noggrann än jag varit.

Efter att loopen är monterad har jag fixerat distanspinnarna med hjälp av bygglim (PL 400). Nu återstår att koppla ihop looparna med koaxkabeln men det kommer jag göra efter att 70cm-antennen är klar. Nästa steg blir alltså att påbörja 70cm-antennen.

Så här blev 2-metersantennen:

QFH-antenn_2m_loop_klar

Categories
Ham Satellite news

Koax-balun

Innan den mindre loopen monteras är det dags för koaxbalunen. Koaxkabeln löper inne i röret. Ett hål borras upp och kabel tas ut, snurra den fyra varv, borra nytt hål och dra in kabeln ut genom toppen på röret. Där ska den senare kopplas ihop med de båda looparna.

QFH-antenn_2m_koaxbalun

Och sen kör vi några varv med eltejp för att fixara kabeln.

QFH-antenn_2m_koaxbalun_tejp

 

Categories
Ham Satellite news

AMSAT-SM HF-nätet 6/4 2014

Hej!

Dagens nät kördes via SK7TX. (Förra söndagen aktiverades SK5TX)

Bara lite allmänt om aktuell status avhandlades men jag tyckte det kunde
var av intresse att posta det här brevet som gått ut från Nord Amerika.

En trevlig vecka tillönskas

mvh Håkan SM7WSJ

Attention Amateur Satellite Operators from around the world!

I would like to invite you to signup for a Satellite DX bulletin board for
news about current satellite operators and also have a place to make
schedules and to make friends.

Please follow the link below and send in your request today.

http://lists.star-com.net/listinfo/satdx-bb

I have been promoting a satellite DX bulletin board hosted here in the US
but is intended to include satellite operators from EU and Africa for
updates of operators and their planned times and satellites when they will
be on the air.

While the northeast US is an easy catch for most of Europe, this BB has many
members that are much more difficult to reach and some help is needed to
make contacts.

I live in Gallatin, Tennessee (northeast of Nashville, TN) in EM66sj.

My friend Frank, K4FEG, is the BB administrator and he lives in Memphis, TN
in EM55aj.

There are only 10 – 15 EU ops currently signed up for the BB email list and
I am hoping to get the word out to more satellite operators in the EU to
have them join us.

Frank has another satellite BB for US ops that he has been running for over
a year and it is very well received by all subscribers.

This one is to reach out on a more global scale and does not have to be for
just contacts between EU and the US.

Anyone that subscribes can see where other operators from around the world
are active and this will give them a contact point to make schedules and
general satellite news.

This BB was started with the expressed interest of making contacts easier
from more difficult areas of the US to EU but can and will used by
subscribers from all over the world.

If you are interested in making more satellite contacts and really pushing
the limits of your station, this will be your new favorite bulletin board.

Does your station have what it takes to make the ‘hard’ contacts? You will
not know until you try!

There are members from all over the US and countries such as Canada and Cuba
plus others from Europe.

Please subscribe today and if you are not completely satisfied, you can
unsubscribe at anytime.

Of course the BB is free and subscription should only take a short time
(based on total volume of requests).

All that is needed is an active email address and you can get started on
your journey to new places on your grid map today.

Good luck and Good Satellite DX.

73 de Jeff, NX9B, EM66sj

Categories
Ham Satellite news

ARTSAT INVADER blir nu Cubesat OSCAR-77 CO-77

Då har vi fått ytterligare en satellit med i Oscar-familjen, nämligen ARTSAT INVADER som nu även får kallas Cubesat OSCAR-77 (CO-77):
The following was received from Bill Tynan, W3XO, AMSAT-NA OSCAR Number Administrator.

The ARTSAT Project, INVADER satellite meets all of the qualifications necessary to receive an OSCAR number.  I therefore designate the ARTSAT Project INVADER satellite, Cubesat OSCAR-77 or CO-77. Thus CO-77 joins the earlier Japanese cubesats such as XI-IX(CO-57), XI-V(CO-58), Cute-I(CO-55), SEEDS-II(CO-66).

Congratulations to you and the entire ARTSAT team for the launch and operation of Amateur Radio satellite, CO-77. May its mission be a
successful one.

[ANS thanks Bill, W3XO, for the above information]