UWE-4 CubeSat frequency change request approved

UWE-4 CubeSat frequency change request approved

After two weeks in orbit, UWE-4 is in very good shape. The batteries are fully charged, the temperatures of the batteries, the outside panels and the MCU are all lying in the expected range.

The temperatures of the outside Panels of UWE‑4 on the first day after launch

The temperatures of the outside Panels of UWE‑4 on the first day after launch

UWE-4 battery temperatures and State-of-charge on the first day after launch

UWE-4 battery temperatures and State-of-charge on the first day after launch

It can be seen, that the battery temperatures are slightly rising around 8:45 am, when the downlink of this measurement took place.

After the early orbit phase, we are looking forward to some interesting experiments with the attitude determination sensors and the propulsion system.

UWE-4 LogoUnfortunately, our uplink success rate is very poor, which currently prevents these experiments. In the precursor mission UWE-3, it was found that the reason for this is very likely a substantial noise floor at the used frequency range. For this reason, we filed a request for the change of our radio frequency to 435.600 MHz with IARU, which has already been approved.

Today, we will start the procedure to change the frequency of UWE‑4. So if you want to track UWE-4, please adjust your center frequency accordingly. We already started the procedure to change the frequency on UWE‑4, so during the next days it may happen that you can also still receive a signal on our old frequency. Additionally, we have been assigned NORAD ID 43880 in the meantime.

A tool in order to upload the received UWE-4 telemetry directly into our groundstation database is at the moment work in progress and will be shared with you as soon as we have tested it thoroughly. Until then, we would be very grateful, if you’d forward your UWE-4 telemetry files to uwe4@informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de.

Kind regards,

The UWE‑4 Team

Get The Details…

m5aka

AMSAT-UK

AMSAT SA 2 m / 70 cm dual-band Yagi antenna is now available

AMSAT SA 2 m / 70 cm dual-band Yagi antenna is now available

AMSAT-SA Dual-band 145/435 MHz Yagi

AMSAT-SA Dual-band 145/435 MHz Yagi

AMSAT SA have made available a new dual-band 145/435 MHz Yagi antenna for amateur satellite operation.

The Yagi has a unique element called an ‘Open Sleeve’ which is a director very close to the driven element. The driven element is sized for 2 metres. When operating on 70 cm the ‘Open Sleeve’ acts as part of the driven element on 70 cm (Third harmonic of 2 m).

The AMSAT SA version is based on a design by Martin Steyer, DK7ZB with modifications by the late Larry Brown, WB5CXC. The first South African version was a collaboration between Guy Eales, ZS6GUY and Gary Immelman, ZS6YI. It was developed for YOTA 2018 where young people successfully used the antenna operating satellites using hand-held transceivers.

The mechanical structure of the AMSAT SA version was redesigned by Gary, ZS6YI. A choke around the boom was added to isolate the antenna from the coax and reduce the effect human contact has on the antenna. A handle was added on the boom end which makes it more comfortable to hold and further isolates the antenna from the handler.

The antenna is plug and play. No tools are needed except for soldering on a connector to suit the application. It comes complete in a carry bag with full instructions. This antenna can be assembled and dissembled in minutes. For more details and how to order, visit http://www.amsatsa.org.za/

SARL and AMSAT SA members get a discount.

Source SARL News

Get The Details…

m5aka

AMSAT-UK

Dramatic power reduction on 23cm for Belgium radio hams

Dramatic power reduction on 23cm for Belgium radio hams

A Galileo satellite - image credit ESA

A Galileo satellite – image credit ESA

The Belgium regulator BIPT has proposed cutting to just 20 watts the permitted power level for the Amateur and Amateur-Satellite allocations in 1260-1300 MHz which is to be used by the Galileo GNSS / GPS constellation.

A Google translation of the UBA post reads:

On December 18, the BIPT website provides BIPT consultation on the Frequencies, Power and Transmission modes that may be used by radio amateurs.

This consultation was already announced at the BIPT meeting with the recognized associations of September 28 and should provide a framework for the introduction of the CEPT Novice license in Belgium.

The most important part is the Appendix 1 which establishes the Frequency bands and technical characteristics allowed for the different categories of radio amateur licenses.

For holders of a HAREC license (class A operating certificate), there are only changes to the transmission power (usually in our favor):

• On most bands between 1.81 MHz and 440 MHz, the permitted power is 1500 W. Exceptions are 1.85-2.00 MHz (10 W), 5.3515-5.3665 MHz (15 W EIRP), 50-52 MHz (200 W), 69.95 MHz (10 W). EIRP), 70.1125-70.4125 MHz (50W) and 433.05-434.79 MHz (200W EIRP for (D-) ATV, 200W transmit power for other modes). On the bands above 1 GHz the permissible power is increased to 200 W, with the exception of 1260-1300 MHz (20 W). The special license for higher capital expires, but to perform exceptional experiments one can still submit a motivated request to temporarily use a larger capital. It is allowed to own devices that are capable of supplying a power up to twice the permitted maximum power.

The holders of the newly introduced CEPT Novice license (class B operating license) have access to almost all bands between 1.81 MHz and 440 MHz (except 5.3515-5.3665 MHz, 69.95 MHz and 70.1125-70.4125 MHz). The permitted transmission power is 100W at HF ​​and 6 meters and 50 W at 2 m and 70 cm. All classes of broadcast (modes) are allowed with the exception of D-ATV.
For the holders of a basic license (class C operating license) the changes are greater:

• The permissible transmission power is limited to 10 W, but the use of devices up to 100 W transmission power remains permitted (provided that the power is limited to 10 W). The use of external power amplifiers is not permitted.
• The use of the 17 m band (now 18.080-18.168 MHz), 12 m band (now 24.900-24.990 MHz) and 6 m band (now 50.125-52.000 MHz) is no longer allowed.
• The 20 m band is expanded (14,000-14,150 and 14,250-14,350 MHz), this is 65 kHz extra (14,080-140150 MHz).
• The 15 m band is expanded (21,000-21,150 and 21,320-21,450 MHz), this is 90 kHz extra (21,000-21,040 and 21,100-21,150 MHz).
• The 10 m band is expanded (28,000-29,700 MHz), this is 40 kHz extra (28,000-28,040 MHz).
• The permitted classes of broadcast (modes) do not change, everything modes except (D-) ATV remain allowed.

The full text of this consultation can be found on
https://www.ibpt.be/public/files/nl/22691/Raadpleging_RAM_2018-12-18.pdf

Everyone has the right to respond to the content of this consultation until January 18 and to propose changes.

The UBA will certainly do this and invites all members to send their comments and proposals for January 5 to ON7YD ( ( on7yd [at] uba [dot] be ) ). Anyone who wants to respond in their own name can find the procedure for this at
https://www.ibpt.be/nl/consumenten/radio/radioamateurs/raadpleging-op-verzoek-van-de-raad-van-het-bipt-met-betrekking-tot-het-ontwerp-van-besluit-van-de-raad-van-het-bipt-betreffende-de-frequenties-vermogens-en-transmissiemodi-die-mogen-worden-gebruikt-door-de-radioamateurs

UBA in Google English https://tinyurl.com/BelgiumUBA

2006 article Potential Interference To Galileo From 23cm Band Operations by Peter Blair G3LTF.
The Galileo constellation is expected to be fully operational by 2020.
http://www.southgatearc.org/articles/galileo.htm

Get The Details…

m5aka

AMSAT-UK

UWE-4 satellite ready to launch

UWE-4 satellite ready to launch

UWE-4 in the launch deployer

UWE-4 in the launch deployer

Last week our Team returned from the Vostochny Launch Site (Russia) where we performed the last check out tests of UWE-4 before launch on December 27, 2018.

The satellite will be launched through the German integrator ECM Space on a Soyuz-2 mission using a Fregat upper stage on December 27, 2018 at 02:07:18 UTC.

UWE-4 transportation to Far East of Russia was very smooth, so only a last software update and recharging of the batteries needed to be performed. By now, UWE-4 has been successfully integrated into the launch deployer followed by the integration with the upper stage, the fairing encapsulation will occur Thursday December 20.

UWE-4 LogoIn the meantime we updated our website to provide more detailed information about the orbit and the communication parameter including the beacon decoding information.

You can find all these and some more details here:
http://www7.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de/forschung/space-exploration/projects/uwe-4/

As soon as we can provide the TLE, you will find them also on our website.

Kind regards,

The UWE‑4 Team

Get The Details…

m5aka

AMSAT-UK

Winter issue of OSCAR News now available for download

Winter issue of OSCAR News now available for download

Oscar News issue 224 December 2018

Oscar News issue 224 December 2018

E-members of AMSAT-UK can now download the Winter 2018 edition of OSCAR News here.

The paper edition should be sent to postal members in 2-3 weeks.

In this issue:
• From the Secretary’s Keyboard
• New Editor’s Welcome
• 2018 Meetings & Events calendar
• AMSAT-UK 2018 Colloquium
• JY1Sat First Packet Received
• Meteorwatch
• Things that fall from the sky – 2
• Es’Hail-2 Report
• My Radio Life – part 2
• AO85 back in Operation
• SSO-A Objects
• Using the NO-84 (PSAT) PSK Transponder
• AMSAT-UK Construction Contest 2018
• From Cape Canaveral to a geostationary orbit using the example of Korea-5A
• Minutes of the Annual General Meeting
• Joe Spier, K6WAO visits the RSGB National Radio Centre
• The FUNcube Project – five years since launch
• IARU Frequency Coordination
• Smallsat Express LEOPs report
• We were there at the launch of the Es’Hail-2 satellite!
• The story behind Es’hail-2
• ARISS Joins NASA On-The-Air for a Special SSTV Event

AMSAT-UK FUNcube Mission Patch

AMSAT-UK FUNcube Mission Patch

Membership of AMSAT-UK is open to anyone who has an interest in amateur radio satellites or space activities, including the International Space Station (ISS).

E-members of AMSAT-UK are able to download OSCAR News as a convenient PDF that can be read on laptops, tablets or smartphones anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Join as an E-member at Electronic (PDF) E-membership

PDF sample copy of “Oscar News” here.

Join AMSAT-UK using PayPal, Debit or Credit card at
http://shop.amsat-uk.org/

E-members can download their copies of OSCAR News here.

Get The Details…

m5aka

AMSAT-UK