Dayton

Dayton Hamvention AMSAT Demonstration Plans

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AMSAT will again have a demo station at the Dayton Hamvention this year. The station will be located outside the main entrance to Ball Arena, near the AMSAT booth.

This year, the focus of many of the demonstrations will be on the use of inexpensive software defined radio (SDR) equipment as a downlink receiver. Using an SDR like a FUNcube Dongle Pro+, SDRPlay, or AirSpy allows owners of common all-mode transceivers with VHF/UHF functionality (such as the Yaesu FT-817, Yaesu FT-857, Icom
IC-706MKIIG, or Icom IC-7100) to add full duplex satellite capability for use with linear transponder satellites at minimal cost. The receiver used will consist of a FUNcube Dongle Pro+ with a low cost 10.1″ Windows 10 tablet.

We may also use other radio combinations during the weekend.

Demos will take place during satellite passes from 8:00am (12:00 UTC) until 5:00pm (21:00 UTC) on Friday and Saturday and from 8:00am until 12:00pm (16:00 UTC) on Sunday. Please keep in mind that the RF environment at the Hamvention is challenging and the arena blocks low elevations to the north and northwest. Due to these factors, we will only be attempting passes with a peak elevation greater than 10 degrees. Please stop by for any satellite pass or at any other time if you have questions about satellite operating.

A special demonstration on SO-50 will take place during the 12:19pm (16:19 UTC) pass on Saturday May 21st. Nine year old Hope Lea, KM4IPF, will operate that pass after completing her talk at the ARRL Youth Forum.

If you are not attending the Hamvention, please call us if you hear the AMSAT demo station on the air!

Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, and Keith Pugh, W5IU, at the AMSAT Dayton Demo Station in 2014
Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, and Keith Pugh, W5IU, at the AMSAT Dayton Demo Station in 2014

AMSAT DAYTON HAMVENTION DEMOS – 2016

TZ = UTC

N 39.820328 W 84.255224 ELEV. 296 M

MIN PEAK ELEV. = 10 DEG

GRID = EM79ut

* = Listen Only Pass – Telemetry, Doppler, Ant. Perf, etc.

WinAos QTH: -84.3/39.8 T#: 14019 Sat.: 12 [Standard]
———————————————————-
Day Objects AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ
———————————————————-
20.05.2016 XW-2A 12:17 12:26 09 62 016 – 187
20.05.2016 ISS * 12:28 12:37 09 40 300 – 143
20.05.2016 NO-84 * 12:28 12:38 10 21 294 – 168
20.05.2016 AO-85 12:45 12:59 14 62 200 – 036
20.05.2016 XW-2F 12:52 13:01 09 19 351 – 224
20.05.2016 AO-85 14:26 14:40 14 23 249 – 025
20.05.2016 AO-73 14:51 15:02 11 56 018 – 185
20.05.2016 EO-79 * 15:04 15:14 10 14 119 – 004
20.05.2016 SO-50 15:53 16:06 13 50 332 – 137
20.05.2016 FO-29 16:01 16:17 16 18 111 – 358
20.05.2016 AO-73 16:28 16:36 08 11 343 – 242
20.05.2016 EO-79 * 16:39 16:50 11 49 180 – 343
20.05.2016 SPROUT * 16:50 16:59 09 14 039 – 152
20.05.2016 UKUBE-1 * 16:57 17:08 11 30 025 – 171
20.05.2016 SO-50 17:34 17:45 11 17 309 – 187
20.05.2016 FO-29 17:43 18:02 19 88 163 – 348
20.05.2016 AO-07 18:12 18:28 16 15 099 – 356
20.05.2016 SPROUT * 18:25 18:36 11 44 004 – 209
20.05.2016 UKUBE-1 * 18:33 18:44 11 22 357 – 225
20.05.2016 FO-29 19:31 19:46 15 16 219 – 331
20.05.2016 AO-07 20:01 20:22 21 67 150 – 346

WinAos QTH: -84.3/39.8 T#: 14020 Sat.: 12 [Standard]
———————————————————-
Day Objects AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ
———————————————————-
21.05.2016 NO-84 * 12:04 12:14 10 22 295 – 167
21.05.2016 XW-2F 12:39 12:49 10 26 358 – 217
21.05.2016 AO-85 13:11 13:25 14 59 222 – 030
21.05.2016 XW-2C 13:12 13:20 08 11 345 – 238
21.05.2016 XW-2A 13:17 13:26 09 19 353 – 223
21.05.2016 SO-50 14:38 14:50 12 17 340 – 108
21.05.2016 AO-85 14:54 15:05 11 12 274 – 021
21.05.2016 AO-73 15:10 15:21 11 80 011 – 196
21.05.2016 EO-79 * 15:16 15:26 10 18 127 – 004
21.05.2016 SO-50 16:19 16:31 12 61 324 – 157
21.05.2016 FO-29 16:49 17:08 19 39 137 – 353
21.05.2016 EO-79 * 16:51 17:02 11 36 187 – 339
21.05.2016 SPROUT * 17:04 17:15 11 21 029 – 163
21.05.2016 UKUBE-1 * 17:14 17:26 12 45 020 – 182
21.05.2016 FO-29 18:34 18:53 19 42 189 – 342
21.05.2016 SPROUT * 18:40 18:51 11 30 360 – 217
21.05.2016 UKUBE-1 * 18:51 19:00 09 15 349 – 237
21.05.2016 AO-07 19:03 19:22 19 31 122 – 351
21.05.2016 AO-85 20:04 20:14 10 15 345 – 100
21.05.2016 AO-07 20:54 21:15 21 61 173 – 341

WinAos QTH: -84.3/39.8 T#: 14021 Sat.: 12 [Standard]
———————————————————-
Day Objects AOS (U) LOS Period maxEl AZ
———————————————————-
22.05.2016 ISS * 12:19 12:27 08 17 288 – 162
22.05.2016 XW-2F 12:27 12:37 10 36 001 – 210
22.05.2016 XW-2A 12:44 12:54 10 47 006 – 203
22.05.2016 XW-2C 13:00 13:09 09 16 350 – 229
22.05.2016 AO-85 13:37 13:51 14 29 242 – 026
22.05.2016 AO-73 13:53 14:02 09 12 037 – 147
22.05.2016 SO-50 15:04 15:16 12 35 337 – 128
22.05.2016 EO-79 * 15:28 15:39 11 24 135 – 359
22.05.2016 AO-73 15:29 15:40 11 48 005 – 206
22.05.2016 FO-29 15:56 16:12 16 17 110 – 359

Fox-1 Development, Launch, and Frequency Coordination Status at Dayton

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During the Dayton Hamvention, AMSAT Vice President Operations, Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, and AMSAT Vice President – Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, provided more information about the Fox-1 satellites under development. Buxton, N0JY, says Fox-1A has passed all environmental testing and is integrated into the P-POD deployment canister. “The ‘remove before flight pin’ has been pulled, the doors closed on the P-POD, and everything is aboard the shipping container now en route to Vandenberg Air Force Base in California for launch”, said Buxton.

Previously Buxton had announced plans to incorporate an L band receiver in Fox-1C and Fox-1D. The addition will allow ground commanded selection of the U/v (normal Fox-1 bands) or the new L/v 1.2 GHz (23 cm) mode. Both bands will operate as FM single channel. (See: http://www.amsat.org/wordpress/?p=4000)

During the satellite operations segment of the AMSAT Forum Glasbrenner provided the details of the uplink and downlink frequencies for the Fox-1 FM cubesat fleet.

Fox-1 Frequencies

                                            Uplink FM (67 Hz tone)     Downlink FM

Fox-1A                                 435.180 MHz                     145.980 MHz

RadFxSat/Fox-1B*              435.250 MHz                     145.960 MHz

Fox-1C*                               435.300 MHz                     145.920 MHz

       1267.300 MHz **               145.920 MHz

Fox-1D*                                435.350 MHz                    145.880 MHz

        1267.350 MHz **              145.880 MHz

* Pending IARU Coordination, If needed, changes will be announced

** U/v and L/v operations switchable by command station,
not operational simultaneously

According to Buxton, the team is planning to have an affordable L band uplink ground station available to amateurs by the time Fox-1C is on orbit.

+ Fox-1A will launch on a NASA ELaNa flight scheduled during the third quarter, 2015 from Vandenberg AFB. Fox-1A is a passenger aboard this launch driven by the schedule of the primary payload. When updates are available with firm dates they will be announced via the ANS bulletins, on the AMSAT web, and in the AMSAT Journal.

+ Fox-1B will fly with the Vanderbilt University radiation experiments expected in 2016.

+ Fox-1C will launch on Spaceflight’s maiden mission of the SHERPA multi-cubesat deployer on a SpaceX Falcon 9 flight planned for late 2015.

+ Fox-1D is a flight spare for Fox-1C. If not needed as a spare it will fly with the University of Iowa HERCI radiation mapping experiment.

+ Fox-1E “Evolution” will carry a Mode J linear transponder. The transponder is planned to be 30 kHz wide and will also have a 1200 bps BPSK telemetry beacon. Launch opportunities are being developed, to be announced at a later date.

Visit the Station and Operating Hints page (http://www.amsat.org/wordpress/?page_id=2144) for a copy of the Fox-1 Operating Guide which premiered at Dayton.

AMSAT has an immediate need to raise funds to cover both the launch contract and additional materials for construction and testing for Fox-1C. Please help us to continue to keep amateur radio in space. Donations may be made via the:

+ Paypal and credit card payment on the AMSAT website at http://www.amsat.org/wordpress

+ Donation link in the AMSAT store: http://store.amsat.org/catalog/

+ Call the AMSAT office at (888) 322-6728

AMSAT videos from Dayton 2014

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Tom, K3IO, was the speaker at the AMSAT/TAPR Banquet at the Dayton Hamvention. In his talk, he remembers the many Elmers that helped him with his hobby and career.

Barry, WD4ASW and AMSAT President, gives an update on AMSAT, including changes to the BoD roster, regulatory issues, membership and finances.

As AMSAT’s new VP of Engineering and Fox satellite team leader, Jerry gives an update on the Fox-1 satellite, its design, milestones, and launch opportunities. He also looks ahead to Fox-1B, Fox-1C, Fox-1D, and Fox-2.

Howard, G6LVB, gives a fascinating look into the launch and operation of the FUNcube-1 satellite, and a tentative calendar of the next three FUNcube satellites.

Drew, KO4MA, reviews six operational amateur satellites, then previews another dozen amateur satellites that will be launched soon, or should be turned over to amateur use when their primary mission is completed.

Frank, KA3HDO, gives an update on Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, including the radios and antennas on board, the impact of funding changes at NASA, and the new Ham TV system.

EMike, KC8YLD, explains how K-16 education is key to the launches of future amateur radio satellites, and discusses the joint work of AMSAT, ARRL, and NASA.

In this brief video, Spence, WA8SME, shows the next version of the WRAPS rotor with circularly polarized antennas and discusses an updated broadband preamp that now includes an antenna polarity switch.

Older AMSAT videos can be found at https://www.youtube.com/user/AMSATNA/videos

Special Thanks to Steve Belter, N9IP for recording and editing the videos from the Dayton Hamvention, making them available for those who couldn’t attend in person!