AMSAT-UK

///////////////////////////////////////////
BY70-1 FM transponder contact video

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 01:56 PM PST
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/12/30/by70...onder-contact/


Christian Jacobs 2E0ICL has released a video of his recent contact with
Peter Goodhall 2E0SQL via the new amateur radio FM satellite BY70-1.

The satellite was launched into orbit on December 28, 2016. This is orbit
#27.
Watch New FM transponder satellite BY70-1



BY70-1 information
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/12/27/by70...der-satellite/

Christian Jacobs 2E0ICL has also released a video of his recent FM contact
via the SO-50 satellite during a recent Summits On The Air (SOTA)
activation at Walbury Hill (summit identifier G/SE-001).

A total of 13 contacts were made, mostly on 2m SSB, including some FM
satellite working via SO50 with 10 watts to an Arrow dual-band antenna.
Watch Summits on the Air: G/SE-001, Walbury Hill



SO-50 satellite
https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/comm...audi-oscar-50/

Arrow 2m/70cm dual-band antenna

http://shop.amsat-uk.org/Arrow_2m70c..._16665431.aspx

///////////////////////////////////////////
Making contacts through the ISS APRS UHF Digipeater

Posted: 30 Dec 2016 09:49 AM PST
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/12/30/iss-...hf-digipeater/

International Space Station Image Credit NASA

John Brier KG4AKV has released a video showing his contact through the
International Space Station packet radio digipeater on 437.550 MHz FM
(+/-10 kHz Doppler shift).

This was my second contact through the ISS digipeater. I actually contacted
the same station I contacted in this video, W8LR, three days before, but I
wasnt recording any video.

For this video I recorded the audio from my Kenwood TH-D72a and later
played it back to Soundmodem+UISS. Soundmodem decodes many more packets
than my radio does. I made a screen capture of UISS and its map so you can
see the complete details of every received packet.

Another thing this video shows is how hard it can be to track a near
overhead pass (close to 90 degrees elevation). When I was beginning in
satellites I only tried to work overhead passes because I knew the signal
would be strongest when the satellite was closest to me. While that is
true, the closer the satellite is to you the faster its relative speed is.
When it passes overhead it switches from coming towards you to going away
from you very fast, and drops 10s of degrees in seconds. That makes the
satellite very easy to lose track of.

In this video I got distracted while changing settings on my radio and lost
the ISS after it went overhead. It didnt help that I was using a tripod for
the first time. I prefer to hold the antenna in my hand precisely because I
find its easier to track, as I can make quick adjustments and listen for
the signal going up and down. To control the radio for packet, it helps to
have two hands.
Watch I made CONTACT! UHF ISS Digipeater



You can subscribe to Johns Space Comms YouTube Channel at

https://www.youtube.com/SpaceComms1?sub_confirmation=1