Upcoming ARISS Contact with Maitland Air Cadets

Posted on by VA3DBJ

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and Youth Members of the Maitland Air Cadet Squadron located in Goderich, Ontario.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for December 16, 2022 at 12:25 pm EST (Goderich) (17:25 UTC, 11:25 am CST, 10:25 am MST, 9:25 am PST).

ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special Amateur Radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with Amateur Radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The Maitland Air Cadet Association supports the activities of the local air cadet squadron and provides enhanced support to the Air Cadet squadron. Maitland Air Cadet Squadron is a joint effort by the Department of National Defence, the Air Cadet League of Canada and the Royal Canadian Legion branch 109 in Goderich, Ontario. The aims of the Air Cadet program are: to develop in youth the attributes of good citizenship and leadership; to promote physical fitness; to stimulate an interest in the air element of Canadian Forces. Educational activities in preparation for this ARISS contact involves cadets designing/building VHF antennas, tracking the ISS and decoding ISS-APRS messages. Basic Qualification Amateur Radio courses for all cadet levels are being offered, giving them the opportunity to become a certified amateur radio operator.

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing cadets to ask their questions of Astronaut Josh Cassada, KI5CRH. Local Covid-19 protocols are adhered to as applicable for each ARISS contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The Amateur Radio ground station for this contact is in Goderich, Ontario. Amateur Radio operators using call sign VA3SQN will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

ARISS Outage: EVA to be Executed

Posted on by VA3DBJ

Next EVA for the ISS planed on November 25. Outage for both ISS radios (repeater and digipeater) planned to begin Thu. 11/24 at 16:45 UTC / 11:45 AM Eastern and last about 48 hours.

See the latest status at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.html

Current Status of ISS Ham Radios Updated

Posted on by VA3DBJ

as of November 18, 2022

​Columbus Module radios:

  • IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS – Configured. Default mode is for cross band repeater (145.990 MHz up {PL 67} & 437.800 MHz down).  ​​​​
    • Powered OFF for RS EVA on November 25. OFF Nov. 24 about 16:30 UTC. ON Nov 26 about 16:00 UTC.
    • Powered OFF for US EVA on November 29. OFF Nov. 28 about 16:15 UTC. ON Nov 30 about 10:00 UTC.
    • Powered OFF for US EVA on December 03. OFF Dec. 02 about 17:00 UTC. ON Dec 04 about 18:15 UTC.
    • Powered OFF for RS EVA on December 06. 
    • Powered OFF for RS EVA on December 21. 
    • Capable of supporting USOS scheduled voice contacts, packet and voice repeater ops.

Service Module radios:

  • IORS (Kenwood D710GA) – STATUS – Configured. ​​ Default mode is for​​​ packet operations (145.825 MHz up & down)​​.​​
    • ​Powered OFF for RS EVA on November 25. OFF Nov. 24 about 16:30 UTC. ON Nov 26 about 16:00 UTC.
    • Powered OFF for US EVA on November 29. OFF Nov. 28 about 16:15 UTC. ON Nov 30 about 10:00 UTC.
    • Powered OFF for US EVA on December 03. OFF Dec. 02 about 17:00 UTC.  ON Dec 04 about 18:15 UTC.
    • Powered OFF for RS EVA on December 06. 
    • Powered OFF for RS EVA on December 21. 
    • Capable of supporting ROS scheduled voice contacts, packet, SSTV and voice repeater ops.

Artemis 1 Mission Heads to the Moon

Posted on by VA3DBJ

To the moon, again!

NASA launched the Artemis I mission from Florida at 1:47 a.m. ET on Wednesday morning, with the agency’s most powerful rocket ever kicking off a nearly month-long journey with a ground-shaking liftoff.

While no astronauts are onboard, the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket carried the Orion capsule to space in a demonstration for NASA’s lunar program. Artemis I will not land on the moon, but the spacecraft will orbit nearby before returning to Earth in 26 days.

In the final hours of the countdown, a hydrogen leak in a valve threatened to delay the launch. With SLS nearly fully fueled, a small group known as the “red team” was sent out to the launchpad and into the “blast danger area” to try to fix the problem. The team was able to tighten hardware on the leaky valve and returned to safety, with NASA’s launch then able to proceed.

So far the mission is going as planned, with Orion reaching orbit around the Earth at about 2 a.m. ET and firing its engines about two hours after launch to begin the multi-day trip to the moon.

The next major milestone is set for Nov. 21, when Orion will make its closest approach to the moon of 60 miles above the surface. To return, Orion will use the moon’s gravity to assist it in setting a trajectory back into Earth’s orbit. Artemis I will travel about 1.3 million miles over the course of the mission.

The mission represents a crucial inflection point in NASA’s moon plans, with the program delayed for years and running billions of dollars over budget. The Artemis program represents a series of missions with escalating goals. The third – tentatively scheduled for 2025 – is expected to return astronauts to the lunar surface for the first time since the Apollo era.

VE3RTR/MXR/BUY Repeater Update

Posted on by VA3DBJ

Cobourg Repeater Update….

For many years the VE3ULR Link System owned and operated the VE3RTR 145.150 repeater at Rice Lake/Cobourg. The repeater was first put on the air about 1985-1989 (we’re not sure)

VE3ULR link system shut down several years ago.

Since 2006 myself (VE3RWN) and James VE3RSJ have maintained the repeaters as an individual effort because we know the amateur community used these repeaters for Hwy 401 and Hwy 7 traveling.

We are now pleased to report that the Cobourg repeaters (3 repeaters) have been donated to area clubs and they are in good hands for the future.

AllStar linking and daily nets have made these repeater more active than ever, and the time is right to put these repeaters in the hands of clubs that can maintain the repeaters and keep them available.

1. Donation to Campbellford & Quinte Amateur radio Club

The 145.150- (162.2) “VE3RTR” repeater and the 444.975+ (162.2) “VE3MXR” repeater are now the property of the Quinte Amateur Radio Club, which also includes the Campbellford Tri-County Club.

Cobourg, Campbellford, Belleville and Picton repeaters are linked via the Bay-to-Bridges AllStar Hub and carry the daily 10:30am net.

Northumberland County is well served by VE3RTR (Cobourg) and VE3KFR (Campbellford)

*We hope to get the call signs adjusted and licenses properly transferred in the coming weeks/months.

2. Donation to Peterborough Amateur Radio Club

The 146.895- (162.2) “VE3BUY” repeater is the property of the Peterborough Amateur Radio Club.

VE3BUY is linked to VE3PBO in Peterborough. PARC hosts their “Professional Loafers Net” (PLnet) daily at 8:30am

Peterborough County is also well served by the extended range of VE3BUY and the VE3PBO and VA3PBO (UHF) repeater, as well as the VE3TJR Bridgenorth and VE3APL Ansley repeaters (5 repeaters) which PARC operates.

It is important to recognize the long term site access originally provided by CFMX Radio and Marty Rosenthal VE3MR (SK). The radio station is now owned by Moses Znaimer and has been most generous in allowing the amateur repeaters to remain in service at the site which is 1120 feet elevation and has a 500 foot tower with 3 FM radio stations and Global TV channel 27 transmitters.

I’m sure the Peterborough and Quinte clubs would love to hear from friends in Oshawa and area.

73,
Randy VE3RWN
Lindsay

(Sept. 25, 2022)

Release Notes for 40th Anniversary Edition/SIM Update 11

Posted on by VA3DBJ

Today we celebrate the exciting history of aviation with the release of the Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition, the most advanced version of this beloved franchise yet. Among the many features included in this update is a true-to-life airliner, the Airbus A310-300, rendered with stunning accuracy.

The 40th Anniversary Edition also features, for the first time since the platform’s 2006 release, helicopters and gliders that perform with amazing life-like realism. We’re also introducing seven renowned historical aircraft: the 1903 Wright Flyer, the 1915 Curtiss JN-4 Jenny, the 1927 Ryan NYP Spirit of St. Louis, the 1935 Douglas DC-3, the beautiful 1937 Grumman G-21 Goose, the 1947 Havilland DHC-2 Beaver, and the famous 1947 Hughes H-4 Hercules “Spruce Goose,” the largest seaplane and wooden aircraft ever built.

We have also added four classic airports, including the Meigs Field in Chicago, a traditional home airport for the Microsoft Flight Simulator franchise.

It is an incredibly exciting update celebrating aviation history, introducing significant technical advancements in flight dynamics and simulation and featuring two new types of aircraft (gliders and helicopters) – all to delight our community and showcase the beauty and the thrill of flight!

In summary, the Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition delivers the following brand-new content:

  • 1 true-to-life Airbus A310 airliner
  • 2 helicopters and 14 heliports
  • 2 gliders and 15 glider airports
  • 7 famous historical aircraft including the Hughes H-4 Hercules (also known as the Spruce Goose)
  • 4 classic commercial airports
  • 24 classic missions from the franchise’s past

Test your piloting skills against the challenges of riding thermals in an unpowered glider, controlling rotor-wing aircraft over dense urban cityscapes, improved real-time atmospheric simulation and live weather in a dynamic and vibrant world. Create your flight plan to anywhere on the planet. Join us in celebrating the award-winning franchise with the Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition, loaded with all-new features, aircraft and content that span the history of aviation. The sky is calling!

Check out the Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition today, available as a free update for existing players. For new simmers, the 40th Anniversary Edition is the perfect entry point to the franchise.

Microsoft Flight Simulator 40th Anniversary Edition is available for Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, Windows, and Steam, and on Xbox One and supported mobile phones, tablets, and lower-spec PCs via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

For more information, click here.

Back into HF

Posted on by VA3DBJ

After a long gap, I am finally back into HF, after grabbing the ETON Elite 750 from Radioworld. It is so nice to hear Gander and New Centre on the Atlantic HF frequencies and the amateur radio operators, hamming it up on the bands.

When you want full shortwave capabilities and a classic design, choose the Elite 750. A 360-degree rotating AM antenna enhances the radio’s ability to pull in weak AM signals. You can also listen to AM, FM , SW, LW, SSB and aircraft band frequencies, and you can program in up to 100 of your favorites for each band. 

I have started the Shortwave – HF page, that I’ll be working on gradually as i progress back into my HF listening. A lot has changed, since the last time I used to monitor the frequencies, but yet at the same time, not much has changed.

Simultaneous APRS and Voice Repeater on the International Space Station

Posted on by VA3DBJ

08/15/2022

ARISS, Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, announced that simultaneous operations of the ARISS Voice Repeater and digital APRS communications on the Space Station is now a reality.  Current ARISS operations include voice repeater transmissions with the JVC Kenwood D710GA in the Columbus module and APRS packet operation from an identical radio in the Service Module (Zvezda).  Packet operations are on 145.825 MHz.

The ARISS Russia and USA teams have been working for several weeks to prepare the Service Module radio for APRS operations. ARISS Russia team member Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, led the effort, working with Russian mission controllers and the on-board ISS cosmonauts to configure the Service Module radio for APRS ops. On August 11, final checkouts were completed and the APRS packet mode was switched on for amateur radio use.

ARISS-International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO, said, “Simultaneous operation of APRS and the voice repeater on ISS is transformative for ARISS and represents a key element of our ARISS 2.0 initiative, providing interactive capabilities 24/7 that inspire, engage and educate youth and lifelong learners—especially life-long learning in ham radio operations. … Our heartfelt thanks to Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, for making this crucial ARISS 2.0 initiative become a reality.”

The Columbus Module radio uses the call sign NA1SS and the new Service Module radio uses RS0ISS. Aside from the call signs, the radios are identical and packet operations are the same as before. Hams can use RS0ISS, ARISS, or APRSAT as the packet path. Also, both radios are expected to be on full time, except during educational contacts, EVAs, and dockings or undockings.

You can find operational status and expected downtimes of the ISS radios at https://www.ariss.org/current-status-of-iss-stations.

About ARISS:

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are ARRL  The National Association for Amateur Radio®, the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), and NASA’s Space communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org.

— Thanks to ARISS for the information in this news release.

Upcoming ARISS Contact in Cambridge, Ontario

Posted on by VA3DBJ

Upcoming ARISS Contact in Cambridge, Ontario on Thursday, August 18, 2022

Youth at the Cambridge Public Library and Idea Exchange speak with Astronaut Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS

For immediate release:

Youth at the Public Library and Idea Exchange in Cambridge, Ontario will have their chance to speak to astronaut Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS, onboard the International Space Station.

On Thursday, August 18 at 1:45 EDT, as the station passes over Cambridge, the local Amateur Radio club will connect directly to the ISS and give the youngsters the chance to ask their 18 questions.

Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact between astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and Canadian students at the Cambridge Public Library located in Cambridge, ON.

ARISS conducts 60-80 of these special Amateur Radio contacts each year between students around the globe and crew members with Amateur Radio licenses aboard the ISS.

The Cambridge Public Library through Idea Exchange is dedicated to creating an environment of curiosity and discovery, inspiring lifelong learning, reading and creativity for the community at six locations across the City of Cambridge. Prior to this ARISS contact the library has provided a variety of STEAM activities centred around space, science and engineering geared toward children in kindergarten – grade six. Members of the Cambridge Amateur Radio Club are supporting the library during this ARISS contact.

Astronaut Kjell Lindgren

This will be a direct contact via Amateur Radio allowing students to ask their questions of Astronaut Kjell Lindgren, KO5MOS.

Local Covid-19 protocols are adhered to as applicable for each ARISS contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHz and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the relay ground station.

The Amateur Radio ground station for this contact is in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada. Amateur Radio operators using call sign VE3SWA will operate the ground station to establish and maintain the ISS connection.

The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for August 18, 2022 at 1:45 pm EDT (ON, CAN) (17:45 UTC, 12:45 pm CDT, 11:45 am MDT, 10:45 am PDT).

The public is invited to watch the live stream at:

https://www.youtube.com/c/CambridgeIdeaExchange

Student’s Questions:

As time allows, students will ask these questions:

1) How long does it take an astronaut to go to space?

2) Is space fun?

3) Has anybody been to Pluto yet?

4) How fast does a rocket go?

5) How does the spaceship not hit asteroids in space?

6) Is the sun yellow or white?

7) What is your favourite planet?

8) How do you sleep in space?

9) Do you like the food here or in space better?

10) How do you stay happy?

11) Do you miss your family?

12) Is there candy in space?

13) What do you do if you are feeling bored?

14) What is your favourite thing you have seen in space?

15) How do you go to the washroom in space?

16) How long are you in space for?

17) How do you eat? Does it just float away?

18) How big is the engine of a spaceship?

Two New Bands for Canadian Amateurs

Posted on by VA3DBJ

RBR-4 Update: July 2022 | Mise à jour sur IPR-4 : juillet 2022

RBR-4 Update: July 2022

For immediate release:

Dave Goodwin, VE3KG
Regulatory Affairs Officer

On July 28, 2022, Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) released an update to a very important document for Canadian Radio Amateurs: “RBR-4 – Standards for the Operation of Radio Stations in the Amateur Radio Service”.

The document specifies what frequencies we may operate on and with what bandwidths.

There are two major new additions to our spectrum:

  • 472 to 479 kHz, also known as 630 metres: on this new band, we are allowed to run a maximum of five watts EIRP, using emissions with a maximum bandwidth of 1 kHz.
  • 5351.5 to 5366.5 kHz in the 60 metre band: this is a new worldwide allocation. Canadian Amateurs are allowed to run a maximum of 100 watts ERP, using emissions with a maximum bandwidth of 2.8 kHz.

The new 60 metre band is in addition to our existing fixed-frequency allocations at 5332, 5348, 5373 and 5405 kHz. The new 15 kHz-wide allocation overlaps our existing authority to use 5358.5 kHz. Canadian Amateurs are unique in having authority to use 100 watts ERP on the four spot frequencies and on the new 15 kHz worldwide segment. Amateurs in most countries are limited to 25 watts or less and may operate only in the new 15 kHz-wide segment.

Please note that Amateur Radio is a Secondary radio service on these bands. Amateurs may not cause harmful interference to Primary users and we may not claim protection from interference by Primary users.

There are other small changes in RBR-4 that bring Canadian Amateur Radio regulations in line with changes agreed at several previous World Radio Conferences (WRCs) of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Radio Amateurs of Canada would like to thank former Regulatory Officer Richard Ferch, VE3KI, for his dedicated work over several years to bring these changes forward.

You can find the English version here:

https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/eng/sf10650.html

You can find the French version (IPR-4) here:

https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/smt-gst.nsf/fra/sf10650.html

If you have any questions, please contact RAC Regulatory Affairs Officer Dave Goodwin, VE3KG, at [email protected]

Dave Goodwin, VE3KG
Regulatory Affairs Officer
Radio Amateurs of Canada
[email protected]

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