[HCARC] Geostationary Ham Satellite

[Gary Johnson]

I assume then that the satellite can be hit by the British and Europe as well as Africa, or they have done the Africans a great service.  There is never too much information.  I passed this on because I know Hams have been anxiously awaiting geo-stationary sats for a long time.  I make little enough use of our earth bound repeater and have no equipment to hit a satellite although one that stays in place makes it far easier.

I also try to put information on the Reflector in order to stimulate its use.  That more club members (especially newer people) don’t use it is so sad.   They should trust me when I say that if you ask a question on the Reflector, you will likely end up with too much info vs too little being provided.   However you can always ask the Don’s, Dale’s and Kerry’s of the world to add a Gary J “simplified answer” at the end of the tech dissertation.  One of the main things getting my Extra Ticket taught me was how little I really know, but like my college degrees taught, is where to go to find the answer needed and enough knowledge to be able to ask a question.

73,

Gary J
NA3VY

From: w4wj at aol.com 
Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2019 7:17 PM
To: n5baa at hctc.net ; hcarc at mailman.qth.net 
Subject: Re: [HCARC] Geostationary Ham Satellite

Gary...

The URL referenced is a UK site, so I will assume
that this is a British built satellite.  Oh, I see that
AMSAT-DL (Germany_ provided the technical lead.
So, many hands involved in getting this thing on
the road!

Let me correct that.  The Oscar 100 "satellite"
is a "unit" that occupies space on a commercial
broadcast satellite.  It is a "passenger" in all
respects.  So, it is not a "satellite" per se...
it is a "repeater" sharing space on a "tower"
that is in a geostationary orbit.  ;-)

25.9 degrees East, puts the satellite in a stationary 
position approx 22,236 miles above the equator over
the North central part of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  If you look at a map...  The city of Kisangani, 
is located about 0.5 degrees North of the equator and 
at 25.19 degrees East of the prime meridian.

If you looked at the referenced URL, the "bullseye"
on the map is the orbital position of the satellite.
By international regulations, that satellite must
be kept "on station" within a box 50 miles on a side.
This is to avoid any chance of a collision with another
satellite.


So, a ham in Kisangani, would point his antenna, for this
geostationary amateur satellite, STRAIGHT UP!!!

Because the earth is not a perfect sphere, all satellites
"wander" and must be kept under control from their
ground station.  The ground station not only monitors
the "health" of all the on board systems, but also keeps
track of the satellite position...  allowing it to "drift"
from the 25.9 degrees East Longitude and 0 degrees
Latitude, but not beyond the assigned box limits.

Position adjustments are made by "thrusters"on the 
satellite.  The thrusters can emit ions to adjust satellite 
motion to bring it back to the nominal 25.9 by 0 home
plate.


The satellite was launched from Europe's Spaceport
in French Guiana, South America. The 25.9 East
orbital position had been pre-assigned.

I hope this is not TMI Gary!!!

73
Don
W4WJ








 


In a message dated 2/17/2019 4:59:29 PM Central Standard Time, n5baa at hctc.net writes: 

  Who launched it or did it goes astray??

  73,

  Gary J
  NA3VY

  From: w4wj at aol.com
  Sent: Sunday, February 17, 2019 2:00 PM
  To: n5baa at hctc.net ; hcarc at mailman.qth.net
  Subject: Re: [HCARC] Geostationary Ham Satellite

  Unfortunately not visible here.  Way below our horizon.


  73
  Don
  W4WJ


  In a message dated 2/17/2019 9:46:22 AM Central Standard Time, n5baa at hctc.net writes: 

    The first geostationary amateur radio transponder OSCAR-100 (P4-A) is on the air.




    The OSCAR-100 Narrowband WebSDR  https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/   enables you to listen to the OSCAR-100 Narrow band transponder onboard the Es'hail-2 satellite.



    The satellite is in geostationary orbit at 25.9° E.


    73,

    Gary J
    NA3VY


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