2013 Candidates for the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors announced

This year there are eight candidates running for the AMSAT-NA Board of Directors. The four candidates receiving the highest number of votes will be seated as voting Board Members with two year terms. The two candidates receiving the next highest number of votes will be non-voting Alternate Board Members with terms of one year. Please vote for no more than four candidates.

Ballots will be mailed to members in good standing by July 15th, and must be returned to the AMSAT-NA office no later than the close of business on September 15th, 2013. If you have not received your ballot by August 1st, please contact the AMSAT Office. Ballots sent to members outside North America are automatically sent via air mail. It is suggested that they be returned the same way.

AMSAT-NA Board candidates in alphabetical order by last name:

Barry Baines, WD4ASW
Alan Biddle, WA4SCA
Steve Coy, K8UD
Frank Griffin, K4FEG
Mark Hammond, N8MH
Brian Klofas, KF6ZEO
JoAnne Maenpaa, K9JKM
Tony Monteiro, AA2TX

HAM Video DATV for the ISS Announced by ARISS

ARISS-Europe Chairman Gaston Bertels, ON4WF has drafted an overview of a new “Ham Video” DATV downlink system on S-Band being developed for placement on the International Space Station later this year. The equipment is being developed by Kayser Italia under contract with the European Space Agency using a Canon XF-305 camera provided by NASA. The equipment is currently slated for deployment to the ISS on Japan Space Agency’s HTV-4 in August 2013. HTV is Japan’s H-II Transfer Vehicle for resupplying the International Space Station.

Gaston’s paper provides an overview of both the equipment that is being placed on the ISS as well as discusses ground station requirements. The ESA contract calls for Kayser Italia to provide five ground stations for placement in Europe that will be “chained” to provide overlapping video reception coverage, with the British Amateur Television Club (BATC) serving as a central server site for receiving video from these ground stations and making it freely available to others via the internet. It is hoped that amateurs will support other ground station “chains” in other countries as multiple stations are needed to provide up to 15 minutes of video in support of school contacts.

ISS DATV

ANS thanks Gaston Bartels, ON4WF for this information

AMSAT Field Day 2013

Satellite tent at the United Amateur Radio Club, K6AA site in 2012. (Click to enlarge)

Every year AMSAT promotes a satellite version of Field Day during the ARRL annual operating event which is held on the 4^th weekend in June. This year Field Day will take place from 1800 UTC on Saturday June 22, 2013 through 2100 UTC on Sunday June 23, 2013.

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Barry Baines, WD4ASW Interview with Amateur Radio Newsline

(L-R) AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, ARRL CEO Dave Sumner, K1ZZ, and AMSAT Vice President Engineering Tony Monteiro, AA2TX with the Fox-1 engineering model at the 2013 Dayton Hamvention. (KB1SF photo) Click on image to enlarge.

The weekly broadcast of the Amateur Radio Newsline interviewed AMSAT President Barry Baines, WD4ASW at the Dayton Hamvention about the Fox-1 cubesat and the current situation in working with ITAR regulations. This is included in Amateur Radio Newsline Report 1868, dated May 31 2013 and carried on-the-air during many nets and amateur radio news reports. Here is a transcript of the interview with Barry, titled, “HAMVENTION 2013: PART 2 – WRAPPING IT UP”, by Amateur Radio Newsline’s Stephan Kinford, N8WB:

“While most tend to report on the Dayton Hamvention based on number of attendees and new equipment released or at least previewed, there is a lot more to this annual gathering. This is also a place where breaking news is first reported and according to AMSAT North America President Barry Baines, WD4ASW, hams involved in space communications had at least two things to smile about. The first was the announcement of a launch commitment for one of the group’s newest birds.
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May/June 2013 AMSAT Journal is Ready

The May/June 2013 AMSAT Journal is complete and at the print shop now. Look for your issue to arrive in the mail soon!

Here is a sample of what you will find in this issue:

AMSAT Announcements
Apogee View by Barry Baines, WD4ASW
Amateur Radio in Space Triggers Young Visitor by Maurice-André Vigneault, VE3VIG
AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Meeting Minutes by Alan Biddle, Corporate Secretary, WA4SCA
AMSAT Field Day by Bruce Paige, KK5DO
Working Earth-Moon-Earth with MAP65 and the FUNcube Dongle Pro+ by David A. Palmer, KB5WIA
AMSAT-NA Board of Directors Nominations
Interlock Timer Circuit Protects Your Preamps by Ronald G. Parsons, W5RKN
AMSAT Fox-2 MPPT Collaboration with EE Students at R.I.T
AMSAT-NA 2013 Space Symposium and Annual General Meeting Announcement
Oscar Zero News by Bob DeVarney, W1ICW
Cheap and Easy 2.2 to 2.3 GHz Bandpass Filter by John M. Franke, WA4WDL
April/May Cubesat Launches Summary
NASA Announces AMSAT Fox-1 Launch Date
AMSAT Shows Fox-1 at Dayton Hamvention

Joe Spier K6WAO Joins ANS Editorial Staff

Joe Spier, W6WAO (left) conducting the ARISS contact during Pacificon 2012

Joe Spier K6WAO, of Weimar, CA has joined the AMSAT News Service as a rotating editor. Joe also serves AMSAT as Associate Director for Education. He was the contact liaison for the AMSAT sponsored Pacificon ARISS contact, last Fall. Look for Joe’s first ANS Bulletin, scheduled for release on June 9 as ANS 160. AMSAT welcomes Joe and thanks him for volunteering his time to the AMSAT News Service. Please send any news related to amateur radio in space to the ANS Editor mailbox at ans-editor@amsat.org..

Fox-1 has a Launch Date!

NASA announced Monday that AMSAT’s Fox-1 spacecraft has been assigned a launch in 2014. For details on the launch vehicle, targeted launch date, orbit specifics, and more, please attend the AMSAT Forum and visit the AMSAT booth at the Dayton Hamvention this weekend. Watch www.amsat.org and the AMSAT News Service for more details to follow as they become available.

AMSAT to Debut Fox-1 Model at Dayton

Through the dedicated work of Stefan Wagener, VE4NSA, AMSAT-NA will debut its new 1:1 scale cardboard model of the Fox-1 CubeSat at Hamvention 2013. We will have a complete display at the AMSAT booth. It is life size, and based on the latest Fox-1 engineering drawings for highest fidelity in design and appearance. The model is printed in color on heavy stock paper, includes all components and the instructions are carefully prepared to allow for easy assembly requiring scissors, glue etc. Depending on experience, assembly will take approximately 10+ hours. The complete model will be a perfect addition to any satellite operator’s shack, and a chance to show visitors what is being done by AMSAT today. We will have finished models at the AMSAT booth for display and printed models for sale.

Fox-1 Model

They will be available at the AMSAT booth for a recommended donation of $25. All proceeds will go to supporting the Fox Project.

Updated AMSAT LVB Tracker to be Shown at Dayton

AMSAT has sold the popular G6LVB Tracker for several years. This year we will have a new version which replaces the amber LCD display with an OLED (Organic Light Emitting Diode) display. The new display offers a high visibility contrast with a wide angle of view. It will be available in blue, green and amber. LVB Trackers will be available with the recommended serial (RS-232) I/O. The recommended minimum donation will remain $200. An FTDI USB/Serial module is available as an option for an additional $25.

Comparison of new OLED (top) and old LCD (bottom) displays

Current LVB Tracker owners may update their own units. The OLED displays used are manufactured by Newhaven, NHD-0216KZW series, and are available from Mouser and other online parts suppliers. The OLED displays have less depth so the PEM fasteners need to be shortened for correct fit and viewing thru the front of the case. The LVB Tracker firmware will also require updating. Current owners may send their LVB Tracker to WB8CXO for retrofit if they don’t wish to do the modifications themselves. Upgrading existing trackers will be $50 + shipping. Contact WB8CXO for upgrade details.

AMSAT would like to acknowledge the many contributors to this effort. Mike Young, WB8CXO for his vision and initiative to develop this update. John Drago, W8FAA modified the LVB Tracker firmware to support the OLED display. Ken Baker from Ridge Machine manufactured the PEM fastener cutting jig. Steve Belter, N9IP, Mark Hammond, N8MH and John Papay, K8YSE did beta testing. And finally Gould Smith, WA4SXM, LVB Tracker project manager for his continuous guidance and support.

Details on the Tracker may be found at www.lvbtracker.com.

Dayton AMSAT/TAPR Banquet Reservations Close Tuesday, May 14th!

If you have not yet made your reservations for the AMSAT/TAPR Banquet, please make them by Tuesday, May 14th, 1800 EDT. Because of the requirement that the caterer have a final count, no more reservations will be accepted afterwards, either on the AMSAT Store or at Dayton. This is a great opportunity to mingle with your fellow techies, as well as hear a fascinating speaker!

Information on this and other AMSAT social activities at Dayton can be found at:

AMSAT Dayton Social Activities