SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-072.01 AMSAT-NA OPERATIONS NET SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 072.01 FROM KD2BD WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ MARCH 13, 1993 BID: $ANS-072.01 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 AO-13 on a downlink frequency of 145.950 MHz and Mode J/L on a downlink of 435.970 MHz. Date UTC Mode Phs NCS Alt 21-Mar-93 0100 J 135 W5IU WA5ZIB 28-Mar-93 0100 B 51 WJ9F VE2LVC 03-Apr-93 2130 B 150 VE2LVC W9ODI Any stations with information on current events would be most welcome. In the unlikely event that either the NCS or the alternate do not call on frequency, any participant is invited to act as net control. ************************************** Slow Scan Television on Oscar 13 SSTV sessions will be held on UTC Saturdays and Sundays: Mode J downlink 435.980 Mode B after J downlink 145.960 OPSNETS will take priority, look for sstv activity immediately after the net. SSTVer's are invited to join the net to make schedules at other times if desired. [The AMSAT News Service would like to thank Dave Guimont for this news item.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-072.02 STS-55 LAUNCH AND SAREX UPDATE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 072.02 FROM KD2BD WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ MARCH 13, 1993 BID: $ANS-072.02 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT The following is a message from the SAREX working group: The launch of the STS-55 Space Shuttle Columbia mission, carrying the SAREX payload, has been delayed until no earlier than March 19,1993. Since this launch date is still tentative, a new Keplerian Element set has not been generated. The SAREX Working group would like to remind all radio amateurs that Official SAREX Keplerian elements are provided primarily by 2 SAREX team members: Gil Carman, WA5NOM, at the Johnson Space Center (JSC) and Ron Parise, WA4SIR, at the Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). To ensure accurate Shuttle orbit data only rely on SAREX Keplerian Elements generated by one of these two individuals. /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-072.03 ZRO TEST SCHEDULE HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 072.03 FROM KD2BD WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ MARCH 13, 1993 BID: $ANS-072.03 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT The ZRO Memorial Technical Achievement Award Program, or just "ZRO Test" has a new schedule for March, April and May, 1993, via AMSAT-OSCAR-13. This activity is a test of operating skill and equipment performance. During a typical ZRO run, a control station will send numeric code groups using CW at 10 words-per-minute. At the beginning of the run, uplink power from the control station is set to match the general beacon downlink strength. This is level "zero". The control operator will send and repeat a random five-digit number, then lower his uplink power by 3 dB (half power) and repeat the procedure with a new random number. This will continue to a level 27 dB below the beacon (level "nine"). A participating listener monitors the downlink signals till he can no longer copy the numbers. Those who can hear the beacon will qualify for the basic award by copying the code group heard at level "zero". The challenge is to improve home-station performance to a point where the lower-level downlink signals can be copied (levels 6 through 9). 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" tests on 435.945 MHz. Ed N5EM will run the "JL" tests while Andy WA5ZIB will continue with "B" runs. Saturday Mar. 20, 1993 at 0210 UTC "JL" Saturday Mar. 20, 1993 at 2330 UTC "B" Monday Mar. 29, 1993 at 0340 UTC "JL" Saturday Apr. 3, 1993 at 1930 UTC "B" Monday Apr. 19, 1993 at 0310 UTC "JL" Saturday Apr. 24, 1993 at 1900 UTC "B" Saturday May 1, 1993 at 0115 UTC "JL" Saturday May 1, 1993 at 2245 UTC "B" Note that the dates and days are shown in "UTC", thus all the "JL" tests occur in the late evening hours for those in North America. For example, the March 20th UTC "JL" test is at 9:10 PM EST Friday night (the 19th). 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. New brochures were not made for tests conducted in October, November and December, 1992. Those with S.A.S.E.'s on file will get a copy of the new brochure. 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. [The AMSAT News Setvice would like to thank Andy MacAllister, WA5ZIB for this bulletin item.] /EX SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-072.04 DoHop TEAM TEST RESULTS HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 072.04 FROM KD2BD WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ MARCH 13, 1993 BID: $ANS-072.04 TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT On 3rd March 1993 the DoHop team consisting of G4CUO, G4ZHG, G0NKA, G6HMS and G7MUB successfully conducted a trans-satellite qso through RS-14/O21 to Fuji/OSCAR-20. The predictions for the experiment were as follows : LOCAL TCA RS-14 to FO-20 ================= =============================================== AOS LOS LAT LON LOC RANGE SEPARATION FO-20 2225:39 2249:32 049.8N 011.7W JN59UT 1990kms 773kms approx. RS-14 2231:48 2250:29 049.8N 002.4W JN19ET 1078kms FREQS USED: U/Link X/Link D/Link ======== ========== ========== 435.016 MHz 145.983 MHz 435.817 MHz The Uplink remained fixed while the X/Link and D/Link were subject to doppler shift which was measured by G4CUO for further analysis. The mode used was F3e which transponded well through FO-20. G6HMS's TX was RXed by G4CUO at 55 well after satellite TCA but the tape recording has yet to be related to time. Other stations using RS-14 were also heard, and the digitally systhesized voice message from Junior Torres de Castro PY2BJO was RXed at 57 via FO-20. DoHop 2 using RS-14 > RS-10 planned for 28th March 1993. [The AMSAT News Service would like to thank Ian, G0NKA for this bulletin item.] /EX