AMSAT-UK

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Raspberry Pi could generate ISS HamTV video

Posted: 24 Oct 2016 12:53 PM PDT
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/10/24/raspberry-pi-iss-hamtv/

International Space Station Image Credit NASA

The ARISS meeting minutes for August 16, 2016 cover the discussion about
using a Raspberry Pi computer board to generate video to feed the ISS
Digital ATV transmitter.

An idea was proposed by Jean-Pierre Courjaud F6DZP for using Raspberry Pi
at the transmitting ground stations for generating a H264 video stream that
modulates a DVB-S or DVB-52 carrier. His report was distributed to the
ARISS team on August 12, 2016.

Discussion:Â* Jean-Pierre Courjaud had brought this idea to a Ham TV
Technical (HTT) meeting for using Raspberry Pi to generate a H264 video
stream. Raspberry Pi is used in the United Kingdom for DATV on 2 meters.

Gaston Bertels ON4WF termed this a cost effective solution, probably easy
to work on, many people and schools would be able to receive video from the
ISS, and he inquired if this idea was proposed for the Paolo Nespoli IZ0JPA
flight next year. Jean-Pierre Courjaud related that Paolo Nespoli had asked
about it, and the team hopes he could use it if the idea is presented for
review to the ARISS-International Technical Evaluation & Support Committee
and approved by ARISS Delegates.

Jean-Pierre Courjaud explained that Raspberry Pi could be a solution for
two things—first, the webcam could be used instead of the onboard ISS
camera, and second, signals received by schools could be transmitted back
to the crew.Â* Frank Bauer KA3HDO felt the astronauts would like this.Â* Dave
Taylor W8AAS asked about the type of receiver schools would need and how
signals would be uplinked.Â* Jean-Pierre Courjaud clarified that schools
would have a narrowband ATV receiver that uses a USB dongle; this would
bring the signal to the Surface Pro computer that Paolo Nespoli plans to
fly on ISS, and modified mini-tutioune software would decode the uplink
signal received from the L-band antenna.

Dave Taylor inquired what new hardware would have to be tested and
certified for flight.Â* Jean-Pierre Courjaud said that Nespoli plans to take
the Surface Pro, and to be tested and launched would be the USB interface
that would work with the L-band antenna and serve as an L-band receiver
with the Surface Pro. During Nespoli’s mission the mini-tutioune software
could be uploaded to his Surface Pro.Â* Oliver Amend DG6BCE planned to share
the meeting discussion with Emanuele D’Andria I0ELE and ask him and the
committee, because the project originated with AMSAT-Italia, to give the
plan, including what must be tested and launched, to Mark Steiner K3MS,
chair of the ARISS-International Technical Evaluation & Support Committee.

Read the full ARISS Meeting Minutes August 16, 2016 at

http://www.ariss.org/meeting-minutes/august-2016

ARISS Meeting Minutes http://www.ariss.org/meeting-minutes/

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IARU issue Amateur-Satellite Service spectrum requirements

Posted: 24 Oct 2016 04:12 AM PDT
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/10/24/iaru...lite-spectrum/


The IARU has released a revised edition of Spectrum Requirements for the
Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Services.

The document mentions the need for the expansion of the 20m band from
14000-14350 kHz to 14000-14400 kHz which was the spectrum originally
allocated to amateurs at the 1927 Washington Conference. No expansion to
the 14 MHz Amateur-Satellite allocation is planned.

The IARU seeks expansion to 250 kHz of the Amateur-Satellite Service
allocations at both 18 and 24 MHz.

A harmonized allocation for the Amateur-Satellite Service is sought at
50-54 MHz, to bridge the gap between 28 MHz and 144 MHz but it should be
noted the IARU plans for a harmonized 50 MHz band at WRC-18 are for the
Amateur Service only not Amateur Satellites.

The document notes that because of the crowding of the existing band
435-438 MHz with uncrewed amateur satellites and crewed space stations, it
is desirable to study expansion of the band. This is exactly what the IARU
were saying over 8 years ago, as yet they do not appear to have actually
studied band expansion. See the 2008 IARU Spectrum Requirements document.

Regarding the existing 1260-1270 MHz Amateur-Satellite Service allocation
the IARU say they seek the deletion of the Earth-to-space only restriction.
They note that WRC-2000 allocated the band 1240-1300 MHz to the
radiodetermination-satellite service for space-to-space use. In addition,
WRC-2000 allocated the band 1260-1300 MHz to the
radiodetermination-satellite service for space-to-Earth use such as for the
European Galileo positioning system. These actions do not change the
Amateur and Amateur-Satellite Service allocations but present new sharing
situations and potential operating restrictions.

Due to the high level of interference from license exempt devices
substitute spectrum for the Amateur-Satellite Service 2400-2450 MHz
allocation is sought.

It seems the IARU no longer any intends to seek a global Amateur-Satellite
Service allocation at 3400-3410 MHz.

There are no plans to improve the status of Amateur-Satellite allocations
at 5 or 10 GHz.

Download the Spectrum Requirements document from

http://www.iaru.org/spectrum-requirements.html

Download the Summary Record of the IARU Administrative Council meeting held
in Viña del Mar, Chile, October 7-8, 2016
http://www.iaru.org/administrative-c...-meetings.html