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WG3K > ANS 24.03.24 02:54l 48 Lines 2999 Bytes #12 (0) @ AMSAT
BID : $ANS084.9
Read: GUEST
Subj: Satellite Shorts From All Over
Path: IZ3LSV<I0OJJ<N6RME<CX2SA<PE1RRR<KA1VSC<WG3K
Sent: 240324/0047Z 2473@WG3K.#SMD.MD.USA.NOAM LinBPQ6.0.24
Active satellite operator Alan Bowker, WA6DNR, became a silent key on
March 8. Alan was one of the first Broadcasting majors at the University of
Wyoming and began his career at KATI radio in Casper. He later worked for
KCBS-FM and KGO TV in California. As microcomputers emerged in the
industry, Alan evolved into a computer technologist, working at Northstar
Computers, Fantasy Records, and Dolby Laboratories. During the winter
months of 1983 and 1984, he spent time in London as computer consultant to
Hollywood film filmmaker, Stanley Kubrick. In retirement, he turned into a
travel photographer, touring worldwide and documenting his experiences in
still photos and video. First licensed in 1966, he was a consistent voice
on RS-44 and an avid experimenter on IO-117 and other digital modes from
CM87 in northern California. He earned AMSAT GridMaster Award #62 of which
he was very proud, while grateful to the many rovers who worked hard to
make that happen for him. We will miss hearing Alan on the birds! [ANS
thanks Mark Johns, K0JM for the above information.]
With the spectacular launch of SpaceX-30 on March 21, 2024, the HamTV
system is now back on it's on its way to the ISS. Although it is not
expected that the HamTV equipment will be activated for at least a few
weeks, the British Amateur Television Club (BAT) has created a new wiki
page which gives a lot of information on how to receive, decode and display
the DATV signals from the ISS. See
https://wiki.batc.org.uk/HAMTV_from_the_ISS; there is also a discussion
channel available on the site. [ANS thanks Graham Shirville, G3VZV for the
above information.]
The Saudi Amateur Radio Society - Satellite and Communications Committee
has established AMSAT-HZ as the amateur satellite society in Saudi Arabia.
Their website, currently under construction, is https://amsat-hz.org/.
AMSAT congratulates AMSAT-HZ on their establishment and wishes them the
best of luck in their endeavors. [ANS thanks Abdul Alshahrani, HZ1DG for
the above information.]
Tom Van den Bon, ZR6TG has been toying with this idea of adding a
"Widget" to his Icom IC-9700. Playing with satellites requires various
kinds of software that requires a fully fledged PC connected to the radio
for tracking the satellite, controlling the rotator and automatically
adjusting for Doppler effect. While all of that software works perfectly
fine, Tom always wondered if there wasn't a simpler solution which is
always available and ready at the radio. Tom says, "I know there are a few
satellite "controllers" available that allow you to do something similar,
but I felt that those are either too specific (i.e., only one radio and one
rotator) or was lacking some features. My idea around the Satellite
Tracking widget is to try and combine everything I need in a single small
display." See Tom's project report on his Raspberry Pi-based widget based
at https://tinyurl.com/ANS-084-Widget. [ANS thanks Tom Van den Bon, ZR6TG
for the above information.]
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