Digital Satellite Ops reference

It has not been recently that I have posted anything particularly relevant to ham radio. I don’t find as much time lately to play with the radios either.
I do however, try to follow several special-interest groups that have internet email distribution lists. Overnight I received an email item from VE6MVP, referencing a research project I have not heard of : Shadow-beacon. In particular, Tony was looking for additional reference on digital operations via satellite. The Shadow-beacon project intends to utilize the APRS infrastructure that is already in place and operational on the International Space Station (as well all over the planet surface via the Internet).

With this in mind I thought I would create a simple page, that provides linkage to several resources that I use on a regular basis. There are surely lots of additional pages that are just as relevant, perhaps you will post some of your favorites in the comment section below. Aside from having equipment setup to operate APRS digital, we need to know what satellites are available, and when and where to listen. Hopefully these links will help answer some questions you may have.
AMSAT
http://amsat.org
(Radio Amateur Satellite NA home)

Heavens-Above
http://www.heavens-above.com/
(live satellite/astronomy positions)

ARISS / PCsat
http://ariss.net/ (APRS via ISS : real-time) http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/ariss/index.cgi  (basically same as the one above)
http://www.findu.com/cgi-bin/pcsat.cgi
(APRS via Pcsat : real-time)

ISSfanclub
http://issfanclub.com
(ARISS status)
Orbitron
http://www.stoff.pl/
(tracking software)

UISS
http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/sat-info.htm
(UISS software)

DK3WN
http://www.dk3wn.info/p/ (Sat Blog) http://www.dk3wn.info/satellites.shtml
(Satellite info)

KD5QGR
http://oscar.dcarr.org/index.php
(multi-satellite status)

Shadow-beacon
http://knts.tsniimash.ru/shadow/en/Default.aspx
(‘space plasma shadow’ experiment)Enjoy  – -|||   |||- -
/;^)

P.S. Please submit additional relevant links via the comment section below….

PARI

Hidden Treasure

When I first heard of this place, I thought Mike (N4OFA) had been in a closed room with his paint fumes for too long… An old spy-satellite station up in the mountains ? Huge radio telescope dishes ? And they let him pull cables and work on stuff ? Had to be the paint fumes. Over the years tho, I have come to learn more of the history of the old Rosman Tracking Station.
And more importantly, some of what is going on up there these days.
Visit PARI.EDU on-line to find more detail….

So – I introduced myself to PARI and some of the folks there, and have been to visit a few times. On this most recent trip I became an official volunteer, and will be helping to establish more functionality into their Information System Infrastructure management activites, and to further document the networks and the systems that support the PARI mission & operations.

Recently PARI has installed the upgraded feedboxes for both of the 26m dish antennas, and expect to be testing, calibrating, and all that other magic stuff to integrate this into a world-class interferometer. These are certainly exciting times up on the hilltop in Western North Carolina. Hidden Treasure indeed.

I’ll be back to this blog from time to time, with more pictures and stories to tell.
Thanks  /;^)

ARISSat-1/KEDR On-Air Test

A test of the system will be conducted on the ISS from 1915 UTC July 30 to 1430 UTC July 31. The standard ARISSat-1/KEDR 2m downlink band plan should be transmitted. The satellite FM signal will also be downlinked on 437.55 MHz. ( borrowed from the details at www.AMSAT.org – go read more !)
Here is the posted frequency chart. Testing is about to start .!.!.

2011_ARISSat-1_Frequency_Chart

Dark Skies without lights

One of the more enjoyable features of our extended power outage after the tornado events in April, stars…   Stars like you never saw anywhere.

Looking south east towards Huntsville

You can click these images for a larger one. Typically this view is mostly illuminated haze from all the lights to the east towards Huntsville. This is a time-exposure, with the shutter held open for about 30 seconds.

Shoot, in the summer – we often don’t even get a dozen stars bright enough to make it thru the humidity and the haze of humanity. This was a treat. I usually have to go to North Carolina, up on the Blue Ridge Parkway to see this many stars, especially with such clarity.

For a day or so after the tornadoes, the humidity was very low – and with no power to flood the sky with lights – we had a magnificent view of the heavens.

Looking south west towards the airport

The airport has generator power and was open. This glow was from those lights about five miles away. After a few days tho, the neighbors were also running generators and aside from the lights, the noise was enough to keep me inside when I was home at night. I’m glad I caught these pics when I did, as it wasn’t long before the humidity shot back up, and the lights and noise took over again.

Sure was nice while it lasted.

I tried to get some pictures that didn’t reflect only the damage and destruction. I’ll try to get those posted here as well; as even in the chaos, there is always beauty in nature – if you seek it out and preserve it. Photos are great for that. These are two such photos, barely 48 hr after such a disaster ..

Thanks to everyone who has offered support and solstice in my wrestle with the flooding emotions that seemed to haunt me in the weeks after these storms. Also thanks to everyone who has helped and continues to support the on-going recovery effort for our neighbors here and across the US. I was really surprised that this has affected me so deeply. I do understand that talking & writing like this is helpful in my recovery, and I am mostly beyond the challenging parts.
I let myself get very close to this. That is not always a good thing.
I will never be the same, as I still feel that some of the most significant work I have ever done, was in this response. Anything else I do here on out is just the icing on that cake.
Hope I never need to, but I’d gladly do it all over again.

But – it is not about me. Continue to do the good work, and go the extra miles for your friends and neighbors. Your reward is in the pride and joy of helping….
Trust me – it is well worth the effort. Try it – you will like it ..!..

Thanks  /;^)