Mass Amateur Radio Satellite Launch

[G4TUT]

Mass Amateur Radio Satellite Launch – 28th June

13 Amateur Radio Satellites will be launched at 19:39:11 UTC on the 28th June 2006 on a DNEPR-1LV rocket from the Kazakstan Baikonur Cosmodrome in what will be the largest ever deployment of Amateur Radio Satellites.

The satellites will be put into a 500 by 566 km orbit with an inclination of 97 degrees. Each satellite is a 10cm cube weighing just 1kg into which is packed the battery, transmitter and the various experiments.

Twelve of the satellites have downlinks in the Amateur Radio Satellite Service allocation between 435 and 438 MHz and one will operate on 145.950 MHz so they’ll be lots of signals to listen out for after launch.

Further information on the Dnepr Launch 1 can be seen at: http://littonlab.atl.calpoly.edu/


The SEEDS CubeSat - Handle with care!
One of the CubeSats to be launched is known as SEEDS. Built by students at the Nihon-University it contains a CW beacon, Digi-Talker and other experiments.

After launch it will operate a CW beacon on 437.485 MHz using the callsign JQ1YGU. The Digi-Talker experiment will be activated later. The builders say they look forward to receiving reports and data from the satellite from Amateur Radio operators and SWL’s all over the world.

For further information on SEEDS see
http://cubesat.aero.cst.nihon-u.ac.jp/english/seeds_e.html

If you fancy building your own CubeSat check out http://www.cubesatkit.com/

• If you want to know more about the fascinating world of Amateur Radio Satellite communications, why not attend the AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium which runs from the 28th to 30th July at the University of Surrey in Guildford, details at http://www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium/


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[G3SEA]

http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

Great news for our University of Hawaii Cube Sat Team !.

Imua 'Voyager' !

# # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # # #G3SEA/KH6 http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[N9XCR]

Now that is cool! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

I was looking at the cubesat website. Unfortunately it is soooooooooooooooo sloooooooooooooow. That would definitely be something cool to try. How do you go about getting it launched?

Chris
N9XCR

[KC2PFV]

I really want to get into operating satellites. I purchased an Arrow LEO-Satellite Yagi, but I'm having a hard time working the sats. I guess I'll just have to go to a big parking lot with a lot of free space around it to work the birds.

-KC2PFV

[KF0X]

Most people have no idea what Ham Radio is. In fact, most people I encounter think it is CB radio or have no idea at all what the term means. The hobby has so many dimensions it is difficult for the average person to grasp. Just try to answer the question “What is Ham Radio?” and do it in 60 words or less. That is how many words in an average TV commercial. We must be able to explain our hobby in just a few words. People of today have short attention spans. Just say enough to get them interested. The rest will come later. The biggest competitors to Amateur Radio are the Internet, Ipods and video games. Computer "geeks" of today in chat rooms, playing games, listening to music or building their own computers are many of the kids that would have ended up as Hams 10 or 20 years ago.

There is only one way to start to solve this problem and that is ADVERTISING. I am not talking about Public Service Announcements (PSA's), setting up equipment in malls and showing it off. That is all great, but we must appeal to the masses. I am talking about a massive, national paid ad campaign lasting a protracted period of time and maintaining a presence on a permanent basis. This needs to start with the most basic of education explaining what this hobby is all about. IT MUST TARGET YOUNG PEOPLE 12-24 years or so. They are the future of the hobby. By targeting these people, it would spill over into other demographics as kids talk about it with others including parents.

The content of these commercials (TV would be the most ideal) should be about how "cool" amateur radio is. Focus on the digital modes like PSK31 (kind of like a chat room… right?) and things like Echo-Link. Kids can relate to that. Once you draw them in, they can get hooked on HF and other modes. Computers are something they totally understand and relate to. Just watch ads for the Army, Marines and other military branches. They are targeting the same group and they focus on cool, exciting things like fast planes, computers and exotic locations around the world. We should do the same thing. Targeting young males in particular is the most important. You will never get a high percentage of the females no matter what you do. Don't waste time going after them. Advertise on MTV, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, VHI and others. Those are the people you want to reach!

Bite the bullet, spend the money. I am sure companies like Icom, Kenwood, MFJ and many; many others would be willing to help coop this thing. The more hams, the more sales of equipment. This is such a wonderful hobby. The ARRL is a great organization, but they must spread the word on a mass scale. The dividends will be huge. Advertising works... trust me, I know a great deal about it.

To do nothing or not act in a big way and soon will cause the continued decline of the hobby which we may not be able to recover from. Then it won't be long before some of our precious bands are whittled away to some extent. Just look at the average age of today's hams. It is way too high. That is not at all intended as an insult to seasoned Hams, just a fact we must face. There is a gap widening daily between the generations that grew up with this hobby because it was exciting and innovative and today's kids that have likely never even heard of Ham Radio. Everyone and particularly young people are “information overloaded” with so many other things. WE MUST BREAK THROUGH THAT NOISE AND BE HEARD.

Remember, you can't grow the ranks if people don't know about it. We are all (Hams) too close to the forest to see the trees sometimes. We think just because we "live" the hobby, everyone else must at least know about it. That is simply not true. PLEASE do what it takes NOW. I know if done correctly, the number of Amateurs will once again be on the upswing with Tech classes full of wide-eyed Hams of the future.

Randy Malick
KØWLS
Tucson, Arizona

[N9XCR]

I completely agree with you, Randy, but...

Where did that all come from? Maybe I missed something? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Have fun!
Chris
N9XCR

[K0RS]

These satellites appear to have nothing to do with amateur radio. #It seems that they are mostly teaching tools for various educational intitutions. #Other than poaching amateur frequencies and using some off-the-shelf amateur hardware, it seems none are destined to to provide communication opportunities for hams. #The cubesat website seems a bit thin on mission info. #Since when do we donate our frequencies to private industry and educational institutions? #If this is promoted as some great boon for amateur radio, I think it is "boon," as in boondoggle. #Like N9XCR said, am I missing something? #I'm willing to stand corrected...but I don't think so.

[N9XCR]

I was just wondering what sparked all the comments that Randy made in THIS thread, not that he isn't correct. He makes a lot of great points. I think it would really be interesting to see the results.

I don't think we're donating amateur frequencies to non-amateurs for the CubeSat, are we? I certainly hope not. If someone has the knowledge and talent to deploy a CubeSat mission utilizing a transceiver that uses amateur frequencies, then they should also be fully capable of obtaining an amateur radio license.

Now, although the company manufacturing the CubeSat Kit may not be targeting amateur radio operators specifically, the kit certainly does present opportunities for amateur radio. It's a shame, though, that the kit costs $5000+, and that there doesn't seem to be any information regarding how one would go about getting the CubeSat launched.

[N2MMM]

Quote[/b] (K0rs @ May 31 2006,21:13)]These satellites appear to have nothing to do with amateur radio. #It seems that they are mostly teaching tools for various educational intitutions. #Other than poaching amateur frequencies and using some off-the-shelf amateur hardware, it seems none are destined to to provide communication opportunities for hams. #The cubesat website seems a bit thin on mission info. #Since when do we donate our frequencies to private industry and educational institutions? #If this is promoted as some great boon for amateur radio, I think it is "boon," as in boondoggle. #Like N9XCR said, am I missing something? #I'm willing to stand corrected...but I don't think so.
They have EVERYTHING to do with amateur radio. We are a SCIENCE hobby. Until pretty recently, Amateur Radio was the ONLY way for the average Joe to get involved with a space program unless you count paying into the NASA budget on April 15th.

[K0RS]

N2MMM sez:

"They have EVERYTHING to do with amateur radio."

Oh. #Like what? #Which satellite and what frequency can I work you on? #

"We are a SCIENCE hobby."

Please don't condescend to lecture me on what ham radio is or isn't. #Thank you.

People who do research at the bottom of the sea or fly weather balloons (or a million other interesting things) do science too, but that doesn't make it amateur radio.

"...Amateur Radio was the ONLY way for the average Joe to get involved with a space program..."

I don't disagree with that statement. #However, every REAL ham radio satellite program has been covered in the mainstream amateur press, often for YEARS before actual launch. #Input was solicited from the amateur community at large. #AMSAT was involved. #Hams built the damn things! #Most important of all, the satellites were intended for use by us hams! #None of that appears to be the case here. #This is NOT an amateur project intended for amateurs to use. #This has the earmarks of someone taking advantage of our frequencies because it is easy for them to find someone's call to use as a "control operator" allowing them to circumvent a lot of red tape.

Did you read any of the mission statements from the satellite builders? #These guys aren't hams and they aren't launching these birds for the benefit of the ham fraternity in general. #How many private companies are looking at our designated satellite frequencies and thinking, "Gee, look at those conveniently available frequency assignments. #All we need is a callsign..." #The scary thing about this can be summed up in one word...precedent.

Don't be so quick to grant altruistic motives to these folks before you understand what's going on. #Just to say this this has "everything" to do ham radio because we are a "science" hobby is incredibly naive. #I'm not saying these projects aren't educational or useful to the people involved, but that's hardly the point. #Are they intended for use by the amateur community? #Do you wonder why funding was not solicited form the amateur community at large? #

To call these things "amateur satellites" stretches credibility. #They may be satellites built by amateur satellite builders, but they sure don't seem to be built by amateur RADIO operators FOR amateur radio operators. #You know, just listening to downlink telemetry is pretty boring.

All I'm saying is it would be nice to know what the hell is going on here before we give this project rave reviews.

[N0XAS]

Personally, I'd rather see Amsat put up a few Cubesats or something similar that the average ham can use, than another P3D fiasco. Large corporations and governments can afford to lob few tens of millions worth of hardware into orbit and it's no big deal if things go sour; there's plenty more money where that came from. With an operation like Amsat using money donated by hams, it's a pretty bitter pill to swallow when they bet everything on one grandiose do-everything bird and lose. I hope these guys never go to Vegas.

Compared to the years and money spent on one we can't use, the budget for building a few we COULD use looks pretty good. While a few more orbiting beacons aren't exactly what I'd call major news for the ham community, it's pretty obvious that these satellites are not that difficult or expensive to get into orbit. AMSAT leadership should take note.

[KB8MCZ]

Actually, there should be some Ham Radio Commercials put on television. Thats The best way. Why don't Icom with there $10,000.00 radio and Yaesu with there $4,000.00 rig and Kenwood, invest some of there big bucks they make off of us from there big rigs and put some Commercials on TV?

[KO4MA]

A university cubesat is really no different than someones APRS beacon in their car. Most likely they assembled both from parts they bought from someone else, both transmit telemetry, and I can't make a QSO through either of them.

That being said, both are still amateur radio. No where is it written that ham satellites must be 2-way to be "amateur". In spite of this several of the new cubes include digipeaters, and the Delfi triple cubesat will include a transponder.

One of ham radio's purposes (as defined by the FCC and IARU who trump internet know-it-alls) is experimentation. Just as AMSAT experimented with the microsats in the 80's and 90's, colleges and universities are going to the next step with cubes.Give them some time and assistance and you'll start seeing more 2-way systems I'm sure.

73, Drew KO4MA
AMSAT Life Member 2332

[N0XAS]

Quote[/b] (kb8mcz @ June 03 2006,22:55)]Why don't Icom with there $10,000.00 radio and Yaesu with there $4,000.00 rig and Kenwood, invest some of there big bucks they make off of us from there big rigs and put some Commercials on TV?
Probably because they don't make enough profit off all the ham radio sales in the entire US to pay for a decent national advertising campaign, even if they spent 100% of the profits on it. National TV advertising is incredibly expensive. Those companies already have a well defined market, which is already served by a few magazines and web sites. Don't think for a moment that the few large radio vendors haven't looked at TV advertising to see if it would make sense.

I would like to see ARRL or the manufacturers run some ads in magazines that are read by the people who may be potential hams. I'm not talking about People or Good Housekeeping, but more like National Geographic, Popular Science, Boys Life, etc. It has been correctly observed that most people have never heard of ham radio and/or have absolutely no idea what it's about. And I've only seen QST on a magazine rack once in my life.

[N8ARY]

When will the solar-powered repeater on the moon be up and running?

[M5AKA]

The frequencies for the 13 Amateur CubeSats scheduled to be launched at 19:39:11 UTC on the June 28th can be seen at

http://www.southgatearc.org/news/june2006/cubesat_frequencies.htm

The AMSAT-UK International Space Colloquium takes place at the University of Surrey, Guildford, England from July 28 - 30th.
There will be a Beginners Workshop on Friday 28th to help newcomers get started in the exciting world of Amateur Space Communications. The event is open to all Amateurs and SWL's. For more details see

http://www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium/

One of the presentations during the event will be by Achim Vollhardt DH2VA who will describe how Radio Amateurs received signals from Voyager 1 at a distance of 14.7 Billion kilometers, see

http://www.southgatearc.org/news/june2006/receiving_voyager1.htm

73 Trevor M5AKA
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