Date: Tue, 2 Nov 93 04:30:50 PST
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Subject: Ham-Space Digest V93 #74
To: Ham-Space
Ham-Space Digest Tue, 2 Nov 93 Volume 93 : Issue 74
Today's Topics:
ANS-303 BULLETINS
Shuttle Antenna
STS-58 SAREX signal strength
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Date: Sun, 31 Oct 1993 15:36:35 MST
From: europa.eng.gtefsd.com!howland.reston.ans.net!math.ohio-state.edu!cyber2.cyberstore.ca!nntp.cs.ubc.ca!unixg.ubc.ca!kakwa.ucs.ualberta.ca!alberta!ugc!nebulus!ve6mgs!usenet@@library.ucla.edu
Subject: ANS-303 BULLETINS
To: ham-space@ucsd.edu
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-303.01
STS-58 SAREX MISSION ENDS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 303.01 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD OCTOBER 30, 1993
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-303.01
STS-58 Astronuats Breaks All SAREX Records
Now that the Space Shuttle Columbia Astronauts have packed away the Shuttle
Amateur Radio Experiment (SAREX) gear, it can be said that this SAREX
flight was one of the most successful performed to date. All facets of
this SAREX flight were performed superbly. This was a testament of the
outstanding support and preparation by the Astronauts on-orbit and the
SAREX team on the ground. For the DX chaser, this mission will probably be
remembered for the special effort that was made on the part of the
astronauts to make as many general voice QSO contacts as their busy
schedule would allow. The astronauts were available on voice for all the
"scheduled" general QSO opportunities and many additional passes.
Estimates of the number of voice contacts are difficult without hearing the
tape logs but are probably in the high hundreds. With respect to packet
QSOs, well over 800 at this time is a good estimate. Until the SAREX logs
have been completely examined, these are only preliminary estimates.
One important facet of SAREX is school group contacts. This mission shined
from a school group success standpoint. Of the 17 school groups and 8
personal contacts planned, only 2 school group and 1 personal contacts had
to be repeated. The probability of a successful school contact on the
first attempt was nearly 90% for this mission. During previous missions,
our success rate was between 66-75%. Also, the majority of the schools had
horizon to horizon contacts and many schools had 10 or more questions
answered. Hundreds of school children were thrilled by the experience of
talking directly with the STS-58 astronauts and asking questions about
various aspects of space flight. Many thousand more were also able to
listen into the conversation. On 21-OCT-93, the Lycee Gaston Febus school
in Pau, France had a telebridge contact with the astronauts. Jean-Marc
Dumont, the French school coordinator reports that over 10,000 students
throughout France listened to the contact through a national repeater link.
The SAREX Working Group wishes to thank the school group volunteers for
their outstanding efforts, the ARRL for their educational lesson plans and
education support, the AMSAT technical mentors who coached the schools
prior to the contact, and those who helped in the Mission Control Customer
Support room; particularly John Nickel (WD5EEV), and Karen Nickel (WD5EEU).
If you heard or worked the STS-58 station of KC5ACR or W5RRR-1 and you
would like to receive a QSL card, then please send your QSL card to the
following address: ARRL, STS-58 QSL, 225 Main Street, Newington, CT, 06111.
Please allow for up to 6-10 months for the STS-58 SAREX Mission QSL card to
be mailed. Please include with your QSL card all the specific QSO inform-
ation such as, date, time, mode, frequency, etc. Also, and most impor-
tantly, if you wish to receive a QSL card confirming a contact, YOU MUST
INCLUDE A SELF-ADDRESS-STAMPED-ENVELOPE (SASE) WITH PROPER POSTAGE! If you
do not include a SASE, you will not receive a QSL card.
A great deal of recognition should be given to the hard work done by the
SAREX Working Group which listened to the feedback from radio amateurs from
previous SAREX missions and worked very hard improve operations. Also, a
big "thanks" is due to the astronauts aboard STS-58; particularly Bill
McArthur (KC5ACR), Marty Fettman (KC5AXA), and Rick Searfoss, (KC5CKM).
In the upcoming weeks as the SAREX logs are analyzed by the SAREX Team, the
AMSAT News Service (ANS) bulletins will publish final STS-58 operational
statistics.
[The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank Frank Bauer (KA3HDO) for
the information which went into this bulletin item.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-303.02
AMSAT OPS NET SCHEDULE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 303.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD OCTOBER 30, 1993
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-303.02
Current AMSAT Operations Net Schedule For AO-13
AMSAT Operations Nets are planned for the following times. Mode-B Nets
are conducted on AO-13 on a downlink frequency of 145.950 MHz. If, at the
start of the OPS Net, the frequency of 145.950 MHz is being used for a QSO,
OPS Net enthusiasts are asked to move to the alternate frequency of 145.955
MHz.
Date UTC Mode Phs NCS Alt NCS
13-Nov-93 1230 B 146 VE2LVC W5IU
28-Nov-93 0230 B 39 WJ9F VE2LVC
12-Dec-93 0435 B 180 W9ODI WB6LLO
Any stations with information on current events would be most welcomed.
Also, those interested in discussing technical issues or who have questions
about any particular aspect of OSCAR statellite operations, are encouraged
to join the OPS Nets. In the unlikely event that either the Net Control
Station (NCS) or the alternate do not call on frequency, any participant is
invited to act as the NCS.
**************************************
Slow Scan Television on AO-13
SSTV sessions will be held on immediately after the OPS Nets a downlink
on a Mode-B downlink frequency 145.960 MHz.
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-303.03
WEEKLY OSCAR STATUS REPORTS
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 303.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD OCTOBER 30, 1993
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-303.03
Weekly OSCAR Status Reports: 23-OCT-93
AO-13: Current Transponder Operating Schedule:
M QST *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE *** 1993 Oct 25-Nov 15
Mode-B : MA 0 to MA 130 !
Mode-BS : MA 130 to MA 180 !
Mode-S : MA 180 to MA 205 !<- S transponder; B trsp. is OFF
Mode-S : MA 205 to MA 210 !<- S beacon only
Mode-BS : MA 210 to MA 226 ! Blon/Blat 210/0
Omnis : MA 240 to MA 80 ! Move to attitude 240/0, Nov 15
Please don't uplink to Mode-B between MA 180-205 as this interferes with
Mode-S transponder operations. Continuous up-to-date information about
AO-13 operations is always avail-able on the beacons at 145.812 MHz and
2400.646 MHz in CW, RTTY and 400 bps PSK. Also, these bulletins are also
posted to INTERNET, ANS bulletins, Packet, PACSATs, as well as many
international newsletters. [G3RUH/DB2OS/VK5AGR]
AO-16: Operating normally. [WH6I]
UO-22: Operating normally. [WH6I]
LO-19: Operating normally. [WH6I]
KO-23: Up and running. Busy as usual. [WH6I]
KO-25: File system is up and running but not open for uploads. [WH6I]
IO-26: Up and running with a lot of activity. [WH6I]
NOTE: All of the above digital "birds" are now using the new suite of
programs. They all broadcast both directories and files. PB920430 works
with all of them. [WH6I]
AO-10: SM0MRJ reports that last week downlink signals are quite strong from
AO-10 but there are almost no users taking advantage of this OSCAR.
[SM0MRJ]
The AMSAT NEWS Service (ANS) is looking for volunteers to contribute weekly
OSCAR status reports. If you have a favorite OSCAR which you work on a
regular basis and would like to contribute to this bulletin, please send
your observations to WD0HHU at his CompuServe address of 70524,2272, on
INTERNET at wd0hhu@amsat.org, or to his local packet BBS in the Denver, CO
area, WD0HHU @ W0LJF.#NECO.CO.USA.NOAM. Also, if you find that the current
set of orbital elements are not generating the correct AOS/LOS times at
your QTH, PLEASE INCLUDE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL. The information you
provide will be of value to all OSCAR enthusiasts.
/EX
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1993 17:04:56 GMT
From: mdisea!mothost!lmpsbbs!news@uunet.uu.net
Subject: Shuttle Antenna
To: ham-space@ucsd.edu
In article 26EA0B20@vms.csd.mu.edu, bargholzg@vms.csd.mu.edu (Gary S. Bargholz) writes:
}Does anyone have any information on what type of antenna is used on the shuttle for 2 meter packet and voice? I read an article stating they used a "cavity" antenna that "they poped in the front window".
As the shuttle orbits rear forward, is this why I hear them so much better the second half of each pass (as the antenna is in a front window?). Also, is this type of antenna directional at all.
}Thanks for your help in advance.
}N9UUR Gary Bargholz Brown Deer. Wi.
They use a cavity backed loop antenna and yes, it is directional. The orientation
of the space craft does make a difference as to the received signal strength.
Currently the antenna gets placed in the left front window of the orbiter.
This position is based on being in the shuttle facing forward.
This antenna is basically a loop placed in a square container. The antenna is parallel
to the back surface of the container.
During sts55, an experiment was done to measure the difference between the
internal and an external antenna, which was mounted on the German space lab
module. The external antenna wa on average 10dB better, so, keep your
fingers crossed. . .
Bruce, WB4YUC
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1993 17:13:48 GMT
From: mdisea!mothost!lmpsbbs!news@uunet.uu.net
Subject: STS-58 SAREX signal strength
To: ham-space@ucsd.edu
In article 11939@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com, whitej@iccgcc.decnet.ab.com writes:
}In article <2ahfa0$qj8@access.digex.net>, cormackj@access.digex.net (John Cormack) writes:
}John,
}I have noticed some peculiar behavior on this shuttle mission with regard
}to signal strengths. I have heard STS-58 on voice and packet on almost
}every usable pass over the Cleveland, Ohio area. Last Sat. & Sun. I
}listened to them on voice as they communicated with high school classes
}and observed horizon to horizon booming signals. On other passes this week signal strengths
}were noticably lower and in fact much like other Sarex missions. I am
}speculating that they have other equipment on board which they are using
}with a decent antenna when talking with schools. I also suspect they
}are using the window antenna for routine ham communcations. My experience
}with the indoor antenna is that it is very directional and in general a
}terrible arrangement. I suspect that with the space lab that they have
}access to an external antenna which provides much better coverage.
Maybe somebody out there knows the real story. 73 Joe KE6HA
}
Sorry, no external antenna. They are using a cavity backed loop antenna that has been
used since day one. Yes, it is directional and the shuttle will not always be in
an optimum position to be heard. I imagine for the school contacts they position the
orbiter for optimum signal on the ground. You can't imagine the paperwork that will be
required to get an external antenna - because it means putting a hole in a critical
bulkhead somewhere to facillitate the coaxial feed.
Bruce, WB4YUC, el YUCCO. . .
------------------------------
End of Ham-Space Digest V93 #74
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