Wednesday, June 12, 2013

HAMTV from the International Space Station (ISS)

The frequencies of 2422.0 MHz and 2437.0 MHz have been announced for a new ham radio Digital TV transmitter that will operate as an educational adjunct from the International Space Station.

The main mission of what’s being called Ham TV is to perform school contacts between the astronauts on board ISS and educational institutions on the ground. This by providing space station to ground video within ARISS program.

To accomplish this, the ISS will host a new S-Band video transmitting station in addition to the existing VHF FM ham band transceiver. The new equipment will have the ability to transmit images from orbit during the school contacts. It will also be able to broadcast other pre-recorded video images up to 24 hours a day to allow ground stations tuning. More information on this new on-orbit service is on the Web at tinyurl.com/iss-dtv. (IRTS)

Fox-1 Ham Radio CubeSat Frequencies Announced

The International Amateur Radio Union Frequency Coordination Panel has announced coordinated frequencies for the AMSAT-NA Fox-1CubeSat. The uplink will be on 435.180 MHz for FM voice and the downlink on145.980 MHz with FM voice and an optional sub audible FSK digital carrier channel.
Fox-1a is a one unit cubesat that will serve as a communications relay for radio amateurs worldwide via the onboard FM repeater system. It will also carry an experiment consisting of a 3-axis gyro developed by Penn State University. The communications and scientific experiment missions will run concurrently. (AMSAT)

More 6m Bandspace in Germany

Radio amateurs in Germany have had their 6 meter band extended until at least the end of the year. The latest allocation is from 50.03 to 51MHz and the bottom 30 kHz ties up with where the new 6 meter Synchronized Propagation or Synced Beacons are planned. German radio amateurs may use all modes with a bandwidth up to 12 kHz but must not cause interference to the primary user of the band which is the German the military. (GB2RS)

Amateur Radio Ops; SPAIN GRANTED NEW BANDSPACE

Hams in Spain have been granted an extension of the 160 meter band along with a new 630 meter allocation. This with word that Spanish radio amateurs have been authorized to use a new segment from 1810 to 1830 kHz on secondary basis. The new frequencies are in addition to their primary allocation of 1830 to 1850 kHz. Spanish radio amateurs are also now allowed to use the band of 472 to 479 kHz also on secondary basis. (EA7SB, Southgate)

My Stamp Collecting Blog

Counter Added January 1, 2011

free counters

HOW TO READ PROPAGATION NUMBERS

The A index [ LOW is GOOD ]

  • 1 to 6 is BEST
  • 7 to 9 is OK
  • 11 or more is BAD

Represents the overall geomagnetic condition of the ionosphere ("Ap" if averaged from the Kp-Index) (an average of the eight 3-hour K-Indices) ('A' referring to amplitude) over a given 24 hour period, ranging (linearly) typically from 1-100 but theoretically up to 400.

A lower A-Index generally suggests better propagation on the 10, 12, 15, 17, & 20 Meter Bands; a low & steady Ap-Index generally suggest good propagation on the 30, 40, 60, 80, & 160 Meter Bands.

SFI index [ HIGH is GOOD ]

  • 70 NOT GOOD
  • 80 GOOD
  • 90 BETTER
  • 100+ BEST

The measure of total radio emissions from the sun at 10.7cm (2800 MHz), on a scale of 60 (no sunspots) to 300, generally corresponding to the sunspot level, but being too low in energy to cause ionization, not related to the ionization level of the Ionosphere.

Higher Solar Flux generally suggests better propagation on the 10, 12, 15, 17, & 20 Meter Bands; Solar Flux rarely affects the 30, 40, 60, 80, & 160 Meter Bands.

K index [ LOW is GOOD ]

  • 0 or 1 is BEST
  • 2 is OK
  • 3 or more is BAD
  • 5 is VERY VERY BAD

The overall geomagnetic condition of the ionosphere ("Kp" if averaged over the planet) over the past 3 hours, measured by 13 magnetometers between 46 & 63 degrees of latitude, and ranging quasi-logarithmically from 0-9. Designed to detect solar particle radiation by its magnetic effect. A higher K-index generally means worse HF conditions.

A lower K-Index generally suggests better propagation on the 10, 12, 15, 17, & 20 Meter Bands; a low & steady Kp-Index generally suggest good propagation on the 30, 40, 60, 80, & 160 Meter Bands.

Terms of Service

[In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit, for research and/or educational purposes. This constitutes 'FAIR USE' of any such copyrighted material.]
I am not responsible for any thing that happens to your mental health, computer and all personal property because you visited my site.
This site is a collection of some things sent to me by e-mail, obtained from other blogs and the internet. If there is a picture or quote that is copyrighted to you let me know and I will remove your item .
Thoughts expressed in my blog are just that . I give My Opinion on the many events, products and how too, reported by the media and other web-sites.
Do not use this blog site to obtain weather events or disasters information. What I post may not be correct. Always get information from the proper media, weather (NWS)(NOAA)
Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and USGS sites