[K3PZN-List] FD Satellite Station K3PZN

Fri, 27 Jun 2003 13:39:51 -0400

A little news on the club satellite station.  

The satellite setup will be an "experimental" station.  That 
is, we have the opportunity to set up under our club banner an 
official AMSAT-NA new ground station slated for use on ARISS 
(Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) and the 
AO-40 satellite.  Once it is "broken in" for the first time it 
will be turned over to AMSAT to talk with the astronauts on a 
regular basis and be used on behalf of schools everywhere.  But 
it is a complicated station and all the bugs are not yet worked 
out.  Thus, there is a chance that the club might want to claim 
an additional transmitter separate from the VHF station ("11 
Alpha Maryland"?) and the QSO count rate could be low.  I think 
it is a good gamble because of the potential benefits, namely 
the publicity and all the lessons we will learn in the process.  
Chairman John, W3JJH, agrees!  

In the club original planning sessions, the VHF and satellite 
stations were to be combined in one.  Looks like this may 
change, even though I'll still help out around the VHF 
station as conditions warrant.  

The satellite station will be in the rear of the park, in the 
parking lot within line of sight of the big generator.  This 
last minute change came about because AO-40 is predicted to be 
in the "worst case senario" of our planning positions: low in 
the southwest sky, behind trees as seen from last year's VHF 
station.  Note: VHF signals can see through trees and 
precipitation.  S-band signals can NOT.  

Last Sunday coordinating with Mike, N3VOP, the VHF station will 
be in the same place as last year, across the road from the 
pavilion (unless Mike and others decide to migrate over with 
to the this-morning-revised satellite station location).  

I will have two friends from AMSAT who are looking forward to 
meeting members and operating with the club: David Bern, W2LNX, 
and Rick Hambley, W2GPS.  

Do stop by to visit the VHF and satellite station(s)!  

Sincerely,

Pat N8PK

Pat Kilroy
[email protected]

Laurie Kilroy
[email protected]
Phone 410-552-6530