Tag Archives: AMSAT

AMSAT-VK National Net December 2016

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The last AMSAT-VK national radio net was held tonight with VK7LXX and VK7BEN participating via Echolink. They were greeted by regulars Judy VK2TJU, Bob VK2AOR and George VK2WEL.

Tonight’s net saw discussion about the new Chinese satellite being launched on December 26 with the designation BY70-1. The 2U Cubesat will have a V/U FM transponder with an uplink frequency of 145.920 MHz and a downlink frequency of 436.200 MHz. Further information can be found on the AMSAT NA Website.

Additional activity discussion centred around SO-50 operation and techniques to access it. Scott filled the group in with his progress in making a SatNOG base station and Ben discussing the recent attempts being made at the REAST clubrooms by Justin VK7TW and Danny VK7HDM.

Thanks to Judy for hosting the national net, and we will do it all again in February 2017!

Interest in Satellites is Blasting Off!

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20161124004318-5ff90c6cIn recent months an interesting phenomena has been occurring on Wednesday evenings at the REAST clubrooms. More and more you see one or more members huddled around a radios while pointing Yagi antennas at the sky and gently bobbing the antennas around as if they were fly fishing. Irrespective of the mean comments that these members may have gone a bit batty, there is indeed increased interest in making contacts via a number of orbiting satellites as they orbit the Earth.

Interest started growing around August with Larry VK7WLH bringing allow his hand held Arrow Antenna for Low Earth Orbit (LEO). This piqued the interest of several members and soon saw the purchase of more LEO type Yagis to work the Satellites. Wednesday nights have been largely spent trying to work out the optimum passes for the most well known satellites and then trying to hear the Beacon, or more recently establish a 2-way contact with other operators through the satellite. Below we have a video of Justin VK7TW listening for satellite beacons:

Are you interested is working the ‘birds? got to get some satellite satisfaction? Why not come up to one of our Wednesday night meetings to find out more, or visit the AMSAT Australia website for even more information and signing up to their mail list.