AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting AMSAT OSCAR-40 It took a licking but It’s still ticking Presented by Bill Tynan, W3XO Edited by Rick Hambly W2GPS 21st Space Symposium and AMSAT-NA Annual Meeting Saturday, October 18, 2003, 15:00 EDT Toronto Airport Marriott, Toronto Ontario Canada W3XO, Oct 18, 2003

AO-40 Background Phase 3D, Amateur Radio’s most ambitious satellite, took 10 years and FOUR MILLION DOLLARS to build. Launched November 16, 2000 from the European Space Agency’s launch site at Kourou, French Guiana, South America aboard an Ariane 5 vehicle into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) Several weeks later Phase 3D, now AO-40, suffered a serious mishap (EXPLOSION). ALL is LOST, or so everyone thought. But on CHRISTMAS DAY 2000, AO-40 was brought to LIFE! W3XO, Oct 18, 2003

What is still working and what isn’t? Not Working 2 Meter downlink 2 Meter uplink Both 10 GHz downlinks One S band (2400 MHz) downlink Propulsion system Working 70 cm (435 MHz) uplink Both L Band (1269 MHz) uplinks One of two S Band (2400 MHz) downlinks K Band (24 GHz) downlink Main computer RUDAK computer GPS receivers JAMSAT camera Power system Attitude control system W3XO, Oct 18, 2003

What is still working and what isn’t? www.amsat-dl.org W3XO, Oct 18, 2003

What About AO-40? S band is too hard! But, if S band isn’t that hard. So, should I wait for the next high altitude satellite - several years away? Or, resolve to take advantage of what still works on AO-40? But, if S band isn’t that hard. Why shouldn’t I take the bull by the horns, and use what’s up there now? A great high altitude (DX) satellite! But, what gear do I need, and where do I get it? I can’t build that microwave stuff with those tiny surface-mount components anymore, if I ever could! So, how do I proceed? W3XO, Oct 18, 2003

What Do I Need? Rig: Antenna Mount: 2 Meter SSB/CW receiver or transceiver or 70cm SSB/CW transmitter ~ 25W or 2 Meter/70 cm SSB/CW transceiver Antenna Mount: An Az/El rotator system such as the Yaesu 5400* or 5500 or Two TV rotators - one oriented in the normal fashion and the other mounted horizontally on it or A manually pointed arrangement of PVC or aluminum pipes *Approach used at W3XO/5 W3XO, Oct 18, 2003

What Do I Need? Yagi for 70 cm (435 MHz) ~ 10 dB or more gain A standard linearly polarized Yagi either horizontal or vertical or A crossed Yagi for circular polarization Small dish: A wireless cable Bar-B-Q or Primestar Commercial, such as 60 cm (231/2 inch), or 90 cm (34 inch) Downeast Microwave* *Approach used at W3XO/5 W3XO, Oct 18, 2003

What Do I Need? Dish feed: Downconverter (2400 MHz to 144 MHz): Patch, G3RUH or W0LMD* or Helix Downconverter (2400 MHz to 144 MHz): Commercial DEMI or SSB Electronics etc. or Converted wireless cable unit such as K5GNA AIDC-3731* Bridged T to supply DC to downconverter Coax and rotator cable to connect to equipment in shack *Approach used at W3XO/5 W3XO, Oct 18, 2003

Working AO-40 First, get a satellite tracking program from AMSAT, and install it in your computer. Nova, SatPC-32 or InstantTrack (DOS) Determine when AO-40 will be in view, and point your antennas in the general direction (Az & El) . Look for the mid-band beacon around 2401.323 (145.323 on you 2 meter radio) Tune around about +/- 50 kHz. Peak your antennas for max signal. Tune up from beacon for activity. If you don’t hear any, look on AMSAT, AMSAT-UK or AMSAT-DL web site for schedule. The transponder is NOT always on even when beacon is. W3XO, Oct 18, 2003

Working AO-40 If transponder is on, look for a clear spot, set your transmitter to about 435.650 and turn around while whistling or sending dits until you hear yourself coming back. Adjust your power for about an S-6 to 7 signal. Too much signal and LEILA will be on you. For voice, switch to LSB. Transponder inverts signals, so LSB is received as USB. Call CQ, and work the WORLD! Many European countries, JAs, ZLs and VKs are active regularly. W3XO, Oct 18, 2003

SEE YOU ON A-40 What About Those Trees? Trees ARE bad news for S band signals. Possible solutions: Intensive use of chain saw Mount antenna array higher Work portable: Mount antenna array on a small flat-bed trailer or in a pickup. Ready-made Field Day set-up And, you can work just as much DX as the fixed stations. However you do it, come join us in the FUN of satellite hamming. SEE YOU ON A-40 W3XO, Oct 18, 2003