Echo satellite reopens for normal FM repeater, digital use
The Echo (AO-51) command team says that because no tsunami relief-related
emergency message traffic has been seen on the AO-51 Packsat Broadcast Protocol
BBS (PBBS), it's configured the satellite to permit normal FM repeater and 9k6
digital operation. "The plan is to run in this mode until the end of January,
unless word is received from the disaster area that a different setup would be
useful," said the AO-51 command team's Mike Kingery, KE4AZN. "Anyone who can
help contact those in the disaster area and inform them of the satellite
resource is encouraged to do so." Kingery says that if another AO-51
configuration can benefit the disaster relief effort, AMSAT will adjust the
satellite's operating mode accordingly. Because the switch to solely digital
store-and-forward operation pre-empted the satellite's use in FM repeater mode
for Kid's Day January 2, AMSAT now plans to reschedule its Kid's Day activity on
the satellite for an as-yet-unannounced Saturday in February. The AO-51 FM voice
uplink is 145.920 MHz (with 67 Hz CTCSS tone required); downlink is 435.300 MHz.
The 96k digital PBBS uplink is 145.860 MHz FM; downlink is 435.150 MHz
FM.--AMSAT News Service
Project OSCAR issues call for West Coast Symposium papers
Project OSCAR, the world's oldest Amateur Radio club devoted exclusively to
amateur satellites, has issued a call for papers for its 2005 West Coast Space
Symposium. Held in partnership with the College of San Mateo Electronics
Department, the symposium is devoted to a broad range of topics ranging from
current satellite construction projects to satellite operations and general
technical discussions. The symposium takes place Saturday, May 7, at the College
of San Mateo in San Mateo, California. Symposium registration, with coffee and
donuts, starts at 8 AM, and presentations start promptly at 9 AM. The program
concludes at 5:30 PM. Registration is $15 ($8 for students), which includes
lunch and parking. The symposium is especially interested in presentations on
software-defined radio, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station
(ARISS), digital (packet) operations, C-Band ground station construction, dish
feed designs, 10 GHz and above, linear transponder design techniques, telemetry
and sensor design, orbital debris mitigation for small satellites, future launch
options and costs, battery and charging technology, the role of Amateur Radio
satellites in emergency communication, youth and amateur satellites, and
improving Field Day satellite operation. There will be room at the campus
facility to erect antennas for live demonstrations. Visit the Symposium Web site
for more information or contact symposium co-chairs Emily Clarke, W0EEC, or Alan
Bowker, WA6DNR.
ARLS001 Useful life of UO-22 satellite appears over
According to AMSAT-UK, the UO-22 satellite is not in good shape and its useful life may be over. The Surrey
Satellite Technology Limited(SSTL) Ground Station control center has tried several times in recent weeks to
reactivate the satellite, AMSAT-UK reports. The satellite did come back to life briefly following one attempt,
but other tries have failed completely. The SSTL ground control station may make further attempts to
reactivate UO-22, ''but it seems unlikely that they will be completely successful.'' The cause of the satellite's
failure is not known for certain, but SSTL believes it may be related either to the spacecraft's batteries or to
the fact that the satellite is very hotdue to orbital precession, which has generally put the spacecraft in full
sunlight. The elevated temperature has been causing problems with the receivers as well as with the
batteries. Launched on July 17, 1991, UO-22 has served for many years as the 9600 baud store-and-forward
satellite for the Amateur Radio packet radio worldwide SatGate service, which linked packet radio networks
in many countries. AMSAT-NA reports UO-22 as ''non-operational.'' For further information on UO-22
contact Jim Heck, G3WGM, email at, g3wgm@amsat.org
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