AMSAT-LU PicoBalloons travel the around the globe

AMSAT-LU PicoBalloons travel the around the globe

AMSAT-LU Picoballoon PayloadAMSAT-LU Picoballoon Payload

The WSPR Picoballoon on 14.0956 USB released August 31 is about to complete its first circumnavigation of the globe after traveling 33,000 km in 12 days.

AMSAT-LU appreciate any WSPR stations that help to receive it, AMSAT-LU will recognize with a certificate to stations that capture its 25 mW beacon.

Trajectory at http://lu7aa.org.ar/wspr.asp
(slow access but with lot of information)

Info: http://amsat.org.ar?f=buoy

WSPR program at http://amsat.org.ar/wspr.exe

Also the APRS PicoBalloon (145.825 via Sat 1W) will be returning this Friday to S.America
http://aprs.fi?call=lu7aa-11

73, LU7AA, AMSAT Argentina

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m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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CEPT CPG decides position on 144, 50 and 1240-1300 MHz

CEPT CPG decides position on 144, 50 and 1240-1300 MHz

CEPT Logo“At the insistence of the European Commission, a WRC-23 agenda item was considered necessary to address the world-wide protection of Regional Navigational Satellite Systems from amateur emissions in the band 1240-1300 MHz.”

The CEPT ECC CPG met in Ankara during August 26-30 to finalise their position ahead of the ITU World Radiocommunication Conference 2019 (WRC-19) to be held in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, October 28 to November 22. This conference will define the Agenda Items for WRC-23.

RSGB volunteers along with other radio amateurs in IARU Region 1 countries put in a considerable amount of work to defend the amateur radio allocations. Their hard work ensured the removal of 144-146 MHz from a study of additional spectrum for aeronautical applications and an agreement on a European Common Proposal for 50-52 MHz.

IARU Region 1 have released this report on the meeting:

The CEPT Conference Preparatory Group met this week in Ankara, Turkey. Items of interest to the amateur service which were finalised were:

– Agreement to a European Common Proposal (ECP) on allocating 50-52 MHz to the amateur service in Region 1 on a secondary basis with a footnote listing those countries where the amateur service will have a primary allocation in the band 50-50.5 MHz (WRC Agenda Item 1.1)

– Agreement to an ECP on spectrum to be considered for International Mobile Telecommunications, which does not now include the primary amateur band at 47-47.2 GHz (WRC Agenda Item 1.13)

– Agreement to an ECP that retains the current regulatory position in the 5725-5850 MHz frequency band which includes secondary allocations to the amateur service and the amateur-satellite service (WRC Agenda Item 1.16)

– Removal of 144-146 MHz from a French proposal for study of additional spectrum for aeronautical applications. (WRC Agenda Item 10)

– At the insistence of the European Commission, a WRC-23 agenda item was considered necessary to address the world-wide protection of Regional Navigational Satellite Systems from amateur emissions in the band 1240-1300 MHz. A draft WRC Resolution was agreed which underlines the importance of this frequency band to the amateur service and explicitly excludes the removal of existing allocations as part of the proposed agenda item. (WRC Agenda Item 10)

– There was no change to the already agreed CEPT position on Wireless Power Transmission (WRC Agenda item 9.1.6). This states that no change is needed in the Radio Regulations to address the question of operating frequency for WPT-EV, but leaves open the question of spurious emissions from WPT-EV.

Commenting on the outcome of CPG, IARU Region 1 President Don Beattie, G3BJ, said that the IARU team at Ankara (the only representatives of the amateur service at the meeting) had presented clear and convincing arguments for the amateur service position and he was pleased that regulators had recognised the strength of the amateur case. He expressed his thanks to everyone who had contributed to the outcome at CPG.

The issues now move to WRC in Egypt in November for final resolution. IARU will be there.

IARU Region 1 https://iaru-r1.org/

Note: Although the CEPT position includes a Primary allocation at 50.0 to 50.5 MHz it is for the Amateur Service only – the Amateur Satellite Service is excluded.

CEPT ECC CPG19-9 Ankara Meeting Minutes and Annexes are available for download at
https://cept.org/ecc/groups/ecc/cpg/client/meeting-documents/?flid=10064

Background to 1240-1300 MHz https://amsat-uk.org/2019/08/19/threat-to-amateur-radio-23cm-band/

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m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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Talks by radio amateurs at UKHAS Conference London Sept 7

Talks by radio amateurs at UKHAS Conference London Sept 7

SSDV picture from a PIE balloon - Image credit Dave Akerman M0RPISSDV picture from a PIE balloon – Image credit Dave Akerman M0RPI

The 2019 UK High Altitude Society Conference is taking place in White City, London on Saturday, September 7. Ticket sales close August 31.

The conference takes place at The Invention Rooms, 68 Wood Lane, White City, London, W12 7TA, and attracts those interested in learning about building and flying High Altitude Balloons or in tracking their 434 MHz signals.

Some of the radio amateurs giving talks on high altitude balloon communications are:

• AutoRX by Mark Jessop VK5QI

• Citizen space exploration & inflatable spacecraft by Michael Johnson M0MJJ

• The Apollo Flight – model-making and tech behind the dashboard by Dave Akerman M0RPI

• Insurance & UKHAS Server Support by Steve Randall G8KHW

• Recovering, Reprogramming and Re-flying Radiosondes by Andrew Mulholland MI0BPB

• Hwoyee NSL-45 Experiences by Dave Akerman M0RPI and Steve Randall G8KHW

There will be helium and foil balloons available for the pico launch at the end of the conference.

UKHAS conference information is at https://ukhas.org.uk/general:ukhasconference2019

Tickets are at https://www.imperialcollegeunion.org/shop/club-society-project-products/space-society–products/27226/uk-high-altitude-society-conference-ticket

Get The Details…

m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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New French CEPT paper still seeks 144-146 MHz for Aeronautical

New French CEPT paper still seeks 144-146 MHz for Aeronautical

CEPT LogoThe French administration has renewed its attack on the Amateur Radio 144-146 MHz band ahead of a key CEPT ECC CPG meeting in Ankara, August 26-30.

In a paper to be considered at the conference the French Administration says it is not at this time seeking Primary status for the Aeronautical Mobile Service in 144-146, however, their intent is still that the Aeronautical Mobile Service should share the amateur 2m band.

It is clear where such sharing would inevitably lead, amateur operation in the band would only be tolerated if there were no interference to Aeronautical Mobile. Radio Amateurs might be subject to heavy restriction and low EIRP limits.

We can get on idea of France’s long term intent for 144 MHz from their attitude to the 1240-1300 MHz band. It was initially said the Galileo constellation could amicably share this allocation and amateur operation could continue but now France says “unregulated use of the band 1240-1300 MHz by the amateur service is a serious source of harmful interference to RNSS receivers.”
See https://amsat-uk.org/2019/08/19/threat-to-amateur-radio-23cm-band/

The French paper CPG(19)137 F – AI10 – Non safety AMS-background information is at
https://www.cept.org/Documents/cpg/53024/cpg-19-137_f-ai10-non-safety-ams-backgroud-information

Read the IARU paper – CPG(19)115_IARU – AI10 – View on 144-146 MHz under B10-2
https://www.cept.org/Documents/cpg/52931/cpg-19-115_iaru-ai10-view-on-144-146-mhz-under-b10-2

Read the Save 2 Meter story – French administration strikes back at IARU at
https://www.save2m.org/2019/08/french-administration-strikes-back-at-iaru/

Follow Save 2 Meter at https://twitter.com/Save2Meter

Other Ankara meeting documents are at
https://cept.org/ecc/groups/ecc/cpg/client/meeting-documents/?flid=10031

Get The Details…

m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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144-146 MHz WebSDR at Goonhilly now available

144-146 MHz WebSDR at Goonhilly now available

Goonhilly 144 MHz WebSDRGoonhilly 144 MHz WebSDR

AMSAT-UK and BATC have announced the availability of a new 144-146 MHz Web-based Software Defined Radio installation at Goonhilly.

WebSDR Antenna top rightWebSDR Antenna top right

This is being provided in collaboration with Goonhilly Earth Station where it is kindly hosted alongside the existing receiving equipment for the amateur radio transponders on the Qatar-Oscar-100 (QO-100 / Es’hail-2) geostationary satellite.

It shares the same Turnstile antenna that is used for the reception of the AO73, EO88 & JO97 CubeSats.

Being located in the far South West of the UK, it is anticipated the SDR will be useful for early Acquisition of Signal (AOS) of 144 MHz downlinks from amateur satellites and the International Space Station (ISS). Additionally it can be used for reception of tropospheric signals from the south – the Spanish beacon ED1ZAG on 144.403 MHz has been already been heard on the system.

The new 144 MHz band WebSDR is available at https://vhf-goonhilly.batc.org.uk/

The AMSAT-UK / BATC 10 GHz WebSDR for QO-100 is still available at https://eshail.batc.org.uk/

AMSAT-UK: https://amsat-uk.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmsatUK
Facebook: https://facebook.com/AmsatUK
YouTube: https://youtube.com/AmsatUK

BATC: https://batc.org.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/batconline
Live event streaming: https://batc.org.uk/live/

Get The Details…

m5aka

AMSAT-UK

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