C3 Mini DXpedition
Finn, OV8FM and Martin, 5P1M will be active as C3/OV8FM and C3/5P1M from 10 to 13 February.
They will be active on 20 and 40 metre bands in SSB, SSTV, RTTY and PSK31.
QSL via OV1A
OV1A Jens Petersen
Reerslevvej 67,
DK-2640 Hedehusene
Denmark
Distress Beacons @ 121.5 & 243 MHz Phased Out
As of February 1, the Cospas-Sarsat (Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking) satellites are no longer monitoring distress beacons at 121.5 and 243 MHz. All mariners, aviators and individuals who use emergency beacons on those frequencies will need to switch to the newer, digital 406 MHz frequency if they want to be detected by the monitoring satellites. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) claims that in 2008, beacons monitored by the Cospas-Sarsat worldwide system were responsible for almost 300 lives saved, including 203 people rescued in 65 in at-sea incidents and 12 people rescued in 7 aviation incidents.
For More Info check: http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2009/02/02/10606/
Nauru DXpedition
Dani, EA4ATI, who is currently active as 9M2TI from Malaysia, is preparing for a DXpedition (with a team of operators) to activate Nauru in the Pacific sometime in May. The callsign will be C21TI.
Travelling through Australia to get to Nauru, tentative dates will be either from May 3-17th (after the cyclone season) or May 16-30th. Dani states, "I am preparing the logistics with a friend from Nauru that I met in Malaysia during a ITU workshop last November, but we will probably stay in the Od'N Aiwo Hotel."
This is the same location that previous DXpeditions to Nauru have used (such as C21BH, C21SX, C21XF, etc).
The composition of the team is not finished yet, but Dani is looking for CW, SSB and RTTY operators. Ruben, C21RK, was mentioned as part of the team.
Activity will be on all HF bands including 60m and 6m.
The suggested frequencies mentioned (as of now) are:
CW - 1825.5, 3505, 7005, 10110, 14025, 18075, 21025, 24895 and 28025
SSB - 1825.5, 3799, 5371.5, 7065, 14195, 18145, 21295, 24945 and 28495 kHz
6m - 50.115 MHz (CW/SSB)
They currently have two transceivers with HF amplifiers and will use a yagi beam antenna for 20/15/10 meters and several dipole antennas (they are looking for additional antennas). Dani mentions that they will have a satphone for data connection. QSL will be via EA4ATI.
A Web page has been created for the DXpedition (still not finished) at: http://c21ti.madrono.net/index.php?
newlang=3Denglish
A study of propagation with a proposed band plan for the DXpedition will be posted on their Web page. This study will be done by the Technical University of Malaysia.
They have not yet estimated a QSO target, but it will not be less than 20,000. The estimated budget for their DXpedition is 14,500 USDs and the team is looking for funding as well as more operators. If interested in helping, see details on the Web page.
Note: You may know Dani, EA4ATI/9M2TI, from the following operations: XT2ATI, XT2TI, HP2PL, Z39A, 6W1EA, 6W1/EA4ATI, HP1/EA4ATI, HI5/EA4ATI, HI3CCP, HI3C, 3XY9B, etc.
Iran Omid Satellite Launch
A video of the launch of the Omid satellite can be seen on YouTube.
It has been reported on the AMSAT Bulletin Board and elsewhere that the satellite may be transmitting on 464.98750 MHz and 465.01250 MHz and Gordon MM3YEQ posted this link to a recording of the sat http://www.gjcp.net/space/2009-0a4-2024.mp3
Omid Keps and Real-Time Satellite Tracking are available on the N2YO website at
http://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=33506
View the YouTube video 'Safir-2 rocket. Iran launched the Omid satellite'
Associated Press - 'Iran says it sent own satellite into orbit'
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/
ALeqM5h4ynWXGgXIWuMo6jcZGbdrhyuZ9AD9644O1O0
Join the AMSAT Bulletin Board AMSAT-BB at
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/maillist/
Plans For UK Satellite Launcher
The BBC reports that Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) and Sir Richard Branson's space travel venture Virgin Galactic want to develop a UK satellite launcher.
Although the United Kingdom is the 5th largest economy in the world it currently lacks its own independent launch facility.
It has been reported that Virgin Galactic have been looking at Moray as a potential UK Spaceport.
According to news reports the system would be capable of launching satellites into a 400 km orbit. This is slightly higher than the International Space Station and satellites put into this orbit would have a limited life span before they burn up in the atmosphere (The ISS has its orbit periodically boosted to prevent re-entry).
The low orbit is not, however, an obstacle to commercial success since many satellite missions are designed for a short life-time, less than a couple of years.
BBC News - 'Plans for UK satellite launcher'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7862827.stm
The Telegraph - 'Virgin Galactic: Two British firms look at developing space rocket'
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/science/
sciencenews/4443532/Virgin-Galactic-Two-British-firms-look-at-developing-space-rocket.html
Virgin Galactic eye up Moray for spaceport
http://www.compare-airport-parking.co.uk/news/1457/
Virgin-Galactic-eye-up-Moray-for-spaceport.html
Virgin Galactic
http://www.virgingalactic.com/
Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL)
http://www.sstl.co.uk/
Alinco Announce 144/430/1240 MHz Handheld
Alinco have announced a new FM Full-Duplex handheld for the Amateur Radio 2 metre, 70cm and 23cm bands.
The new Tri-band handheld puts out 5 watts on 144, 4.5 watts on 430 and 1 watt on 1240 MHz.
It's dimension are 61 (W) x 106 (H) x 38 (D) mm and it weighs 296g
The Alinco announcement with picture can be seen with a Google English translation at http://tinyurl.com/cs99nj
or in the original Japanese at http://www.alinco.co.jp/denshi/03/djg7_f4.html
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