The Phase-3D Transponder Frequencies Are Solidified

 SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-359.01

PHASE-3D FREQUENCIES

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.01 FROM AMSAT HQ

SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993

TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

BID: $ANS-359.01

The Phase-3D Transponder Frequencies Are Solidified

During the 3rd Payload Engineering meeting in Garching (near Munchen) the

following frequencies are determined for the P-3D International Satellite:

     1. 21.210 MHz - 21.250 MHz uplink only  (HF band)

        Mode K

     2. 29.330 MHz CAM (Compatible Amplitude Modulation)

        Downlink only. (no transponder)

        Spare Frequencies: 29.310, 29.320, 29.340, and 29.350 MHz

        Mode A

     3. 145.805 MHz - 145.995 MHz  Uplink and Downlink: Mode V

     4. 435.200 - 435.700 MHz Uplink 1

        436.000 - 436.500 MHz Uplink 2

        435.300 - 435.700 MHz Downlink

        Mode U

     5. 1268.5 - 1269.0 MHz Uplink 1

        1269.0 - 1269.5 MHz Uplink 2

        Mode L

     6. 2400.5 - 2400.9 MHz Downlink

        2400.1 - 2400.5 MHz Uplink

        Mode S

     7. 5840 MHz center frequency channel 25 kHz wide

        Downlink only

        Mode C

     8. 10451.0 - 10451.5 MHz Downlink

        Mode X

     9. 24048 MHz downlink channel 25 kHz wide

        Mode Ka

Each frequency passband is 500 KHz wide on the uplink and 400 kHz wide on

the downlink except the Mode V is divided in an analog segment and a

digital segment.  The digital segment is in the lower frequency part of the

band, the analog segment is in the upper frequency part of the band.  The

uplink segments are of equal width for both analog and digital modes.  The

down-link segment for digital modes is 150 kHz wide analog modes downlink

is 250 KHz wide.  The exact position of the beacons will be determined as

soon as all relevant information is available.

These frequencies are FINAL and can only be changed for VERY good reasons.

Note that with the P-3D, the mode designations are changed according to

Dick Janson WD4FAB designations:

            Old Mode B = Mode UV

            Old Mode J = Mode VU

To avoid confusion especially for newcomers, it is recommended that the new

tranponder mode designations be used for all satellites.

[The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank Freddy de Guchteneire

(ON6UG), IARU Satellite Coordinator, for this bulletin item.]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-359.02

AO-21 GOES MULTIMEDIA!

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.02 FROM AMSAT HQ

SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993

TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

BID: $ANS-359.02

RUDAK/AO-21 Goes Multimedia!

The RUDAK group of AMSAT-DL achieved another milestone with the development

of more sophisticated software for the OSCAR-21/RUDAK satellite.

Although some key members are already very busy with P-3D activities, much

time has been invested to implement new and attractive modes on AO-21.

Beside the Voice Broadcast which was successfully used throughout the last

year with several greeting messages in different languages, RUDAK is now

capable to transmit picture files in WEFAX compatible format.  Unfortunate-

ly there is no CCD camera onboard AO-21, so the pictures have to be up-

loaded first by the AO-21 command station.  But not only is RUDAK now

capable of transmiting FAX pictures, the pictures themselves are uploaded

and stored in JPEG format!  They are also converted online by the RTX-2000

RISC processor from JPEG into WEFAX during transmission, so not alot of

memory is needed.

JPEG compression gives an enormous reduction in file size compared to GIF

picture format, without to much quality losses.  This saves a lot of space

in the 1MB ramdisk and will also speed-up the upload time drastically.

RUDAK is also capable to hold several picture and voice broadcast files in

the ramdisk at the same time.  They can be transmitted on a schedule mixed

with FM-Mode and 1200 baud AX.25 Telemetry.

The "Multimedia" satellite premiere will be activated for the first time on

December 24 and some special season greeting in voice and picture will be

transmitted.

Stay tuned to AMSAT OSCAR-21 for some more surprises!

The RUDAK downlink mid-frequency is 145.987 MHz, Uplink for FM-Mode is

435.014 MHz.  The WEFAX format is like METEOSAT WEFAX Specification (MGCS):

FM, 2400 Hz Subcarrier frequency with double sideband AM modulation,

300 Hz start signal for 3 seconds, 450 Hz stop signal for 5 seconds,

800 x 800 Pixel Image format with 256 grey levels, 4 Lines/sec.

  *MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR*

  AMSAT-DL, Germany and AMSAT-U, Russia

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-359.03

SKN IS COMING!

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.02 FROM AMSAT HQ

SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993

TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

BID: $ANS-359.03

YOU'RE INVITED TO THE 22ND ANNUAL "STRAIGHT KEY NIGHT ON OSCAR"

As you know, ARRL has for many years sponsored Straight Key Night (SKN) on

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day; it is expected to do so again in 1994.

On New Year's Eve, 1972 (January 1, 1973 UTC), a few of us from the AMSAT

75-meter Net decided that we would try to combine the best of the old and

the new in Amateur Radio by operating in Straight Key Night on what was

then the brand-new communications satellite, AMSAT-OSCAR 6.  Since then,

proud "brasspounders" have kept the tradition going by operating CW on

OSCAR using straight keys for at least a little while on every New Year's

Day (UTC) when there's been an OSCAR to work.

You're most cordially invited to join in the 22nd annual celebration.

It's entirely informal and unofficial; there are no rules, no scoring and

no need to send in a log.  Just call CQ SKN in the CW passband segment of

any OSCAR satellite between 00:00 and 23:59 UTC on January 1, 1994, or

answer a CQ SKN call from another station.  This year, we're changing

things a little: we'll also count QSOs made via the oldest, largest and

most reliable communications satellite, OSCAR Zero, otherwise known as the

moon.  AMSAT didn't build it, but we can adopt it!  Of course, all SKN

operating must be done with a straight hand key.

Just as in the ARRL HF version of this event, we're conducting a search

for the OSCAR SKN operator with the "best fist."  Please send in a nomin-

ation of someone you worked; we'll announce the winner or winners via

packet bulletin.  Last year's winners were KB6A, W6HDO and W8JAQ.

Nominations may be sent to Ray Soifer via packet to W2RS @ WA2SNA.NJ. USA.

NA, from Europe to W2RS @ GB7HSN.#32.GBR.EU, via Internet to w2rs@amsat.

org, or by mail via his Callbook address.

[The AMSAT News Service (ANS) wold like to thank Ray Soifer (W2RS) for this

 bulletin item.]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-359.04

W3XO & AO-21 SEND XMAS GREETINGS

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.04 FROM AMSAT HQ

SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993

TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

BID: $ANS-359.04

AO-21 Sends Chrismas Greetings To All Radio Amateurs!

"Surprise is hardly the word for it", says AMSAT-NA President Bill Tynan

(W3XO).  Bill caught an AO-21 pass Thursday evening immediately after

reading DB2OS's message about the Holiday activity on this versatile

satellite.  He was pleased, of course, to hear the Christmas carol, "Silent

Night", coming from his speaker while tuned to AO-21's 145.983 FM downlink.

His first thought, probably like that of many others, on hearing any form

of music on amateur frequencies was; "They can't do that!"  Upon further

reflection, he realized that, the prohibition against the transmission of

music on Amateur Radio is a U.S. rule, not necessarily reflected by every

other country.  Since AO-21 was licensed by the Soviet Union and now by

Russia, sending this form of Holiday greeting is subject to their rules.

So, Bill advises, just listen and enjoy.  Please do not complain, about

music on the ham bands to the FCC, the ARRL or AMSAT.  But also, just

because you heard it on an amateur frequency, don't relay it to you your

friends via Amateur Radio.

On behalf of the organization, AMSAT-NA President Bill Tynan (W3XO) wishes

satellite enthusiasts and all hams everywhere, season's greetings and the

best of DX and good fortune in 1994.

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-359.05

AMSAT OPS NET SCHEDULE

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.05 FROM AMSAT HQ

SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993

TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

BID: $ANS-359.05

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

 3-Jan-94       0200   B       160      WA5ZIB  N7NQM

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 NCS 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-359.06

FO-21 GOES MULTIMEDIA!

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.06 FROM AMSAT HQ

SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993

TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

BID: $ANS-359.06

First FO-20 Color Fax

With the Japanese FO-20 satellite placed into analog mode for the week

1st to 8th of December 1993, Ted G6HMS and Ian G0NKA employed daily 16:00-

24:00 UTC passes experimenting at passing FAX pictures through the JA Mode

transponder.  Once the fine technique of holding the picture by following

the Doppler movement on the downlink was overcome, the methodology worked

well.  Unlike voice transmissions where the ear can compensate for tonal

frequency shift, computers decoding Fax signals are far more critical.

By Monday 6th December Ian and Ted had the best yet black and white

picture throughput.  They then followed this with a full color transmission

that produced a 50% success rate.  On Tuesday 7th December between 19:59

and 20:03 UTC, transmitting using JV-Fax 6.0 and receiving on the shareware

version of Microfax, they succeeded in producing full colour throughput

with better than 90% resolution.

On all experiments the LSB uplink used is 145.980 MHz.  The downlink USB

frequency produced is 435.820 MHz +/- Doppler.  The uplink frequency is

maintained throughout the pass and the downlink is tuned to compensate for

the change of doppler shift.

Ian and Ted will be trying again between December 15th to Feb '94 whenever

FO-20 is scheduled to be in analog mode.  Please join them if you can.

They look forward to seeing your pictures. Reports would be very welcome.

For schedules, Ian may be contacted via PACKET as G0NKA @ GB7DTX.GBR.EU.

[The AMSAT News Service (ANS) would like to thank G3IOR for this bulletin

 item.  G3IOR can be reached at G3IOR @GB7VLS]

/EX

SB SAT @ AMSAT   $ANS-359.07

WEEKLY OSCAR STATUS REPORTS

HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 359.07 FROM AMSAT HQ

SILVER SPRING, MD DECEMBER 26, 1993

TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT

BID: $ANS-359.07

Weekly OSCAR Status Reports: 26-DEC-93

AO-13: Current Transponder Operating Schedule:

L QST *** AO-13 TRANSPONDER SCHEDULE ***  1993 Nov 15-Jan 31

Mode-B  : MA   0 to MA  95 !

Mode-B  : MA  95 to MA 180 !

Mode-B  : MA 180 to MA 218 !

Mode-S  : MA 218 to MA 220 !<- S Beacon only

Mode-S  : MA 220 to MA 230 !<- S Transponder; B trsp. is OFF

Mode-BS : MA 230 to MA 256 !        Blon/Blat 240/-5

Omnis   : MA 250 to MA 150 !  Move to attitude 180/0, Jan 31

[G3RUH/DB2OS/VK5AGR]

FO-20: The following is the current FO-20 operating schedule:

       From December '93 thru February '94, the analog mode and the

       digital mode will be on alternately for a week at a time.

       ANALOG MODE:

              29-DEC-93 8:30 -TO- 05-JAN-94 8:50 UTC

              12-JAN-94 7:30 -TO- 19-JAN-94 7:50 UTC

              26-JAN-94 8:20 -TO- 02-FEB-94 6:50 UTC

                09-FEB-94 7:15 -TO- 16-FEB-94 7:40 UTC

       DIGITAL MODE: Unless otherwise noted above.  [JJ1WTK]

DOVE: At 05:30 UTC, 24-DEC-93, WD0E put DOVE back into the state where it

      is sending telemetry every 20 seconds.  The RF output transmitter

      power is back up to about 3 watts.  Also, in response to several

      inquries, the S-band transmitter is back on.  There is also a

      season's greetings message in the text broadcast.  [WD0E]

MIR:  MIR has indeed been on voice recently!  KB9BNR read that MIR has

      been QRT on voice for a long time.  KB9BNR states it this has not

      been case.  N9OUU worked Alexander Serebrov (R0MIR) two weeks ago

      as it passed over Davenport, IA.  KB9BNR know this because

      everytime N9OUU works MIR, N9OUU calls him!  Checkout KB9BNR's new

      landline BBS at (309) 797-3827.  He has lots of AMSAT information.

      [KB9BNR AMSAT Area Coordinator]

RS-12: The major solar event and Kp7 prediction produced some remarkable

       long distance sub-horizon paths for the RS-12 Mode 'K' satellite on

       December 1st.  GM4IHJ alerted G3IOR that he had been copying the

       29.407 MHz beacon long before his calculated horizon AOS.  G3IOR

       took the pass that showed a AOS of 13:15 UTC, but had excellent copy

       of the downlink and beacon from 1300 when the satellite was passing

       over Mexico right up the central United States, in line of sight

       range of all US and VE call areas.  The extension continued until

       the satellite was over UA9, within range of UA0 and JA.  Sadly

       (apart from G3IOR) there were no stations active on RS-12 over the

       period of study.  It would appear that such conditions are produced

       just before solar storms, and as GM4IHJ and NM7M forecast, when the

       interplanetary field is reversed.  In a follow-up status report on

       this event, G3IOR says the extended northerly polar subhorizon paths

       for RS-12 seem to have disappeared this past week, to be replaced by

       extensions to the normal LOS by up to eight minutes on passes going

       out between 180 and 240 degrees azimuth.  G3IOR worked K1FX (SSB)

       and N4ZC (CW) plus several Europeans mutual sub-horizon.  Heard but

       got away included KN4UI and VE3CRG.  Within mutual horizon QSO's

       inluded GW3NXR, EI7AF, UA9WE, UA1AP, UB5OA, EA7CEZ, LA1IC, UA1ADY,

       DJ6EA, G3FBN, SP4DCA, ER1RR and OZ4ZO.  [G3IOR]

PoSAT: G3AAJ reports that PoSAT will place it's amateur radio section on

       (38.4 KBauds?) on January 6, 1994.  No OSCAR enumeration has yet

       been given (or sought?) for PoSAT.  [G3IOR]

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