生きていた(?!) 衛星AO-7 [EN]



● (No.342) 生きていた(?!) 衛星AO-7 [EN] (2002年6月25日)
 ------------------------------------------------------

ここに、今回の衛星AO-7 の再発見の元になった AMSAT-BB 上における主要な記事
と記録的価値のあるいくつかの記事を以下に紹介します。衛星AO-7 のテクニカル
データと、テレメトリ換算式による受信データの解析の記事もあります。

(21 June 2002) Lazarus?
(22 June 2002) AO-7 info from Jan
(22 June 2002) AO7??
(23 June 2002) AO 7 Technical data
(23 June 2002) OSCAR 7 Telemetry decoding info
(23 June 2002) Re: AO7 telemetry today
(23 June 2002) AO-7 history and info
(24 June 2002) Re: AO-07 PARADOX?
(24 June 2002) Oscar-7 and the ITU
(27 June 2002) AO-7 Telemetry (from 1975)


G3IOR/Pat Gowen wrote at 22:30:54 +0100, 21 Jun 2002,
Re: Lazarus?

I have just come across something most remarkable this Friday 21st June
evening.  Checking out interlopers in our 145.800 - 146.000 MHz space
band with a new vertical now atop my 60' tower and working like magic,
at 1728 UTC I came across a beacon at S.7 sending slow 8 -10 wpm CW on
145.973.8 MHz. It slowly Dopplered down to 145.970 MHz before going out
at 1739 UTC.  A full run of TLM went: -

  Hi Hi
  100  176  164  178
  280  262  200  254
  375  358  331  354
  453  454  461  459
  541  501  552  529
  600  600  601  651
  Hi Hi

It sounded VERY familiar, but, I'm dammned if I can recall which one it
was. Obviously an OSCAR, but which had the callsign W3OHI?  Oscar-6, 7,
or 8 ?  I think it was OSCAR-6.  If so, we have a new longevity record,
even beating RS-1 !

The beacon peaked S9 and there were S7 burbles some 10 - 20 KHz below
the beacon, FSK'ing slightly as the beacon keyed. At times the beacon
took on a rough quality, wobbling in frequency, then coming back strong
and quite stable again. Going by the QSB rate it had about a 1 minute
spin.

Could any veteran keen observers (who might look for it) please tell me
what it was, as I feel sure that any old time AMSAT OSCAR devotee may
have a far better memory than I !
                                                                   Top


WD0E/Jim White wrote at 16:00:08 -0600, 22 Jun 2002,
AO-7 info from Jan

Folks,
Following are two messages from Jan King regarding the signal Pat heard
the other night on 145.975. It clearly was OSCAR-7. Jan's messages
pretty much speak for themselves. Pretty amazing story.
Jim

My God, I can't believe what Pat was hearing. It has to be AMSAT-OSCAR-7
according to the frequency. AO-6 had a 70 cm beacon, which failed fairly
quickly after launch, and a 2m up/10m down transponder (the original Mode A
transponder). AO-8 had another Mode A transponder and the first Mode J
transponder built by the Japanese. That was, of course, backwards
from Mode B or 2m up/70 cm down. But, AO-7 had both a Mode A and a MODE B
transponder. Mode B had a downlink on 2m. So, of those three satellites,
AO-7 is the only one that had a downlink on 2m. Let me go out to the garage
and check the frequency.

--------- Time Passed Here.---------
Well, the garage files aren't what they once were. Most of the original
files were there but, the Karl Meizer - Mode B file is missing! Damn. Also
missing are the log books, which are historically valuable. The logs aren't
lost. I packed them away with my office stuff somewhere in my garage boxes
which second as a warehouse - so I wouldn't lose them. :-( But, I knew I
had lots of stuff that would tell the frequency plan. The first thing I
found as I was looking was an old ARRL booklet called, "Getting to Know
OSCAR from the Ground Up." I seem to have been a co-author. Hmmm. Don't
even remember it. The transponder had an uplink at 432.125 MHz to 432.175
MHz. The passband was inverting and a little less than 50 kHz wide. The
downlink passband was from 145.925 to 145.975 MHz. THE BEACON WAS AT
145.975 MHz. If I can find the log books I can tell you how far off the
nominal frequency the beacon was as measured back in November 1974 just
before launch. So Pat was hearing AO-7, 24 years after it died! Whew!!
Here's probably what's happening. That thing has a good set of arrays and
the first BCR (battery charge regulator) we ever flew. It's the first
spacecraft we ever had that was capable of overcharging the battery. When
the battery failed the cells began to fail short. One cell after another
failed and the voltage measured on telemetry began to drop. So, the cells
were clearly failing SHORT. Now, after all these years, what happens if any
one of the cells loses the short and becomes open? Then, the entire power
bus becomes unclamped from ground and the spacecraft loads begin to again be
powered but, this time only from the arrays. Now you have a daytime only
satellite but, each time the sun rises at the spacecraft you have a random
generator that either turns on Mode A or Mode B or whatever it wants. So,
occasionally that 70cm/2m transponder transmitter and beacon must least
work. From what you have told me (and without going back and decoding the
old telemetry equations) I can tell you that the following things work in
that spacecraft: The arrays, the BCR, the ISR (instrumentation switching
regulator), the Mode B transmitter and beacon injection circuitry, the Morse
Code telemetry encoder, and the voltage reference circuitry. The latter I
know is working because the last telemetry value is 651. The "6" is just the
row number of the telemetry value but the 51 means that the 1/2 volt
reference is measuring 0.51 volts. I know that telemetry equation by heart
since it was used as the calibration value for the rest of the telemetry
system. So the telemetry has a fair chance of being decoded and making some
sense!!! How about that, man?
Jim that's all amazing for someone who was as close to that thing as I was.
You must remember, that spacecraft was built in my house (in a basement
laboratory) in Lanham, Maryland. Werner and Karl were putting the finishing
touches on that transponder when Ian, my son was being born in the upstairs
bedroom. That afternoon Donna and I went to the hospital to have the baby
while Karl and Werner continued final debugging! So, it doesn't get much
more personal than that.
As the man said, "It's most remarkable." You can post this to the AMSAT-bb
if you want.
73's,
Jan W3GEY
AMSAT-OSCAR-7 Project Manager :-)

Well Jim,
G3IOR's telemetry frame is interesting. Apparently he did hear the AO-7 Mode
B beacon tonight.
I got out my December 1974 and looked up the telemetry equations for the
Morse Code Telemetry Encoder and what I found is in the attached
spreadsheet.
I'm blown away. Most of this stuff makes pretty good sense. In particular,
the temperatures make sense and I would have guessed that they would be the
most sold IF the reference voltage held (which it did). Interpreting some of
this for those who may not understand or don't remember, the telemetry says
the spacecraft was in Mode B; all the other beacons and Mode A were off. It
is possible that the thing had just turned on because the old 24 hour timer
just reset it to Mode B. The damn thing may think it is still on an every
other day cycle. The power output of the transponder is 1.16 watts which
may mean it is transmitting white noise plus beacon power. That seems about
right, but a little low as I recall. The instrumentation switching regulator
is in the middle of it's normal range and seems to be working fine. The
internal temperatures are around 15 deg. C; the external temperatures are
around 5 C and the transponder PA temp, which should be the warmest - IS -
it's 35.1 deg. C. The array current value is bust. I think maybe it always
was. Need to look for some old telemetry to confirm that. The array
current calibrations looks off. The array currents are in the normal range
but all four show current. This can't be. Only two at a time should show
current. Without a battery on line, this is entirely possible. The big
find is that the battery voltage telemetry shows a voltage of 13.9 volts.
Normal is 13.6 to 15.1 volts. So that would suggest the battery was normal
BUT, the 1/2 battery voltage is measuring only 5.8 volts. That can't be.
This imbalance probably means that the 5.8 volts is the correct value for
the lower half of the battery (which is a low value for that half, if the
cells were normal - they are probably not) and there is a break somewhere in
the upper 1/2 of the battery string. My guess is the indicated voltage is
really what the BCR is putting out with only the spacecraft load as a real
load and the battery string has an effective break (or a pretty high
resistance) somewhere in the upper half.
So, this old war horse of a spacecraft seems to have come back from the dead
if only for a few moments. And it is telling us, that even in a 1460 km
high orbit a cheap spacecraft built by a bunch of hams, without very many
high rel parts and without designing for a radiation dose like this, can
last for 27+ years in space as far as a majority of it's electronics is
concerned. Even the damn precision reference voltage regulator is still in
calibration! Pitty Pat did not recognize his old friend when he saw him
again.
Well Jim, you made my day!
73's,
Jan                                                                Top


WB8OTH/Perry Yantis wrote at 20:35:40 -0400, 22 Jun 2002,
AO7??

I put the newer keps in my Nova program that was posted on the Amsat
BBs for AO-7. Then tonight I listened for AO-7. At 2359 gmt on June 22,
2002 I started hearing a beacon at 145.97550 here in em89 south of
Columbus, Ohio.

It started with HI HI then send a bunch of 3 digit numbers, but no
satellite ID.  I then went to 145.953 and input a signal at 432.143
and I heard myself very loud.

It was so loud that I was sure it was a harmonic in my TS2000x.
But when Nova said the satellite was getting to a lower elevation my
signals started getting weaker.

Then just about the time Nova said AO-7 was gone it was !!!!
I then tried again to input on 432.143 and tuned around not hearing
a sound on 145.953 (I tuned the general area of that frequency).
So I don't think it was a harmonic in my TS2000x after all.

But it sure was a strong signal I heard !!!!!!!!
But was it really AO-7, or another satellite with a similar orbit ????
It will be interesting to find out, ha, ha.
                                                                   Top


K2UBC/Davidoff Martin wrote at 14:16:09 -0400, 23 Jun 2002,
AO 7 Technical data

AMSAT-OSCAR 7
Beacons
   29.502 MHz (200 mw) Used in conjunction with Mode A
  145.972 MHz (200 mw) Used in conjunction with Mode B and C
                       [low power Mode B]
  435.100 MHz (intermittent problem -- switches between 400 mw and 10mw)
  2304.1  MHz (40 mw)  Must be commanded on.  Auto off after 15 minutes.
                       Requires STA to operate.

Transponder I:  Mode A  (2m/10m)
  type: linear, non-inverting
  uplink passband:   145.850 - 145.950 MHz
  downlink passband:  29.400 -  29.500 MHz
  translation equation:  
  downlink (MHz) = uplink (MHz) - 116.450 MHz +/- Doppler
  output power: 1.3 watts PEP (start of life)

Transponder II: Mode B (70cm/2m) and Mode C (low power)
  type; linear, inverting
  uplink passband:   432.125 - 432.175 MHz  *See Note
  downlink passband: 145.975 - 145.925 MHz
  translation equation:
  downlink (MHz) = 578.100 - uplink (MHz) +/- Doppler
  output power: 8 watts PEP Mode B(start of life!), 2.5 watts PEP Mode C

*Note: Due to changes in Radio Amateur Service and Radio
       Amateur Satellite Service there are questions as to
       legality of US Amateurs transmitting to AO-7 on this frequency.

                                                                   Top

K2UBC/Davidoff Martin wrote at 13:27:03 -0400, 23 Jun 2002,
OSCAR 7 Telemetry decoding info

AMSAT BB Readers may be interested in the decoding equations which
follow. [Please post any updates or corrections]

Also,
IF    1.  Speculation that long term chemical changes in one
          or more battery cells have led to increased cell
          resistance enabling the spacecraft to operate while
          in sunlight are correct and
      2.  Reports indicating that beacons, telemetry systems,
          and possibly transponders are operating

THEN  The prognosis for long term spacecraft operation are excellent.

If any of the old command stations are reading this I suggest that
they step in and test the command system! 

Finally, the orbit is very circular and very stable but some good
orbital elements would help.


CHNL     Parameter     Measurement Range       Calibration Equation
----     ---------     -----------------       --------------------

1A  Total Solar Array Current  0 to 3000 ma    I = 29.5 N (ma)
1B  +X Solar Panel Current     0 to 2000 ma    I = 1970 - 20N (ma)
1C  -X Solar Panel Current     0 to 2000 ma    I = 1970 - 20N (ma)
1D  +Y Solar Panel Current     0 to 2000 ma    I = 1970 - 20N (ma)

2A  -Y Solar Panel Current     0 to 2000 ma    I = 1970 - 20N (ma)
2B  RF Power Out 70cm/2m       0 to 8 watts    P = 8(1 - 0.01N)^2 (watts)
2C  24 Hour Clock Time	       0 to 1440 min.  t = 15.16N  (min)
2D  Battery Charge/Discharge -2000 to 2000 ma  I = 40(N - 50) (ma)

3A  Battery Voltage            6.4 to 16.4 V   V = 0.1N + 6.4 (volts)
3B  Half-Battery Voltage       0 to 10 V       V = 0.10N (volts)
3C  Bat. Chg. Reg. #1          0 to 15 V       V = 0.15N (volts)
3D  Battery Temperature	   -30 to +50 deg. C   T = 95.8 - 1.48N (deg.C)

4A  Baseplate Temperature  -30 to +50 deg. C   T = 95.8 - 1.48N (deg.C)
4B  PA Temp. 2m/10m        -30 to +50 deg. C   T = 95.8 - 1.48N (deg.C)
4C  +X Facet Temp.         -30 to +50 deg. C   T = 95.8 - 1.48N (deg.C)
4D  +Z Facet Temp.         -30 to +50 deg. C   T = 95.8 - 1.48N (deg.C)

5A  PA Temp. 70cm/2m       -30 to +50 deg. C   T = 95.8 - 1.48N (deg.C)
5B  PA Emit. Current 2m/10m    0 to 1167 ma    I = 11.67N  (ma)
5C  Module Temp. 70cm/2m   -30 to +50 deg. C   T = 95.8 - 1.48N (deg.C)
5D  Instrument Sw. Regulator
    Input Current              0 to 93 ma      I = 11 + 0.82N (ma)

6A  RF Power Out 2m/10m        0 to 10,000 mw  P = (N^2)/1.56 (mw)
6B  RF Power Out 70 cm         0 to 1,000 mw   P = 0.1(N^2) + 35 (mw)
6C  RF Power Out 13 cm         0 to 100 mw     P = 0.041(N^2) (mw)
6D  Midrange Telemetry Calib.  0.500 V     V = 0.01N(0.50 +/- 0.01) (V)

                                                                   Top

G8ATE/Gilbert Mackall wrote at 18:14:13 -0400, 23 Jun 2002,
Re: AO7 telemetry today

Here is a decode:

1A:     Total Solar Array Cur        0.00 ma
1B:     +X Solar Panel Cur         430.00 ma
1C:     -X Solar Panel Cur         390.00 ma
1D:     +Y Solar Panel Cur        1030.00 ma
2A:     -Y Solar Panel Cur        1810.00 ma
2B:     RF Pwr. out 70/2             0.77 watts
2C:     24-Hr Clock Time            30.32 min
2D:     Batt Chg/Dischg Cur        160.00 ma
3A:     Battery Voltage             13.90 volts
3B:     High-Batt Voltae             6.40 volts
3C:     Bat. Chg. Reg. #1            4.65 volts
3D:     Battery Temp.               15.88 c
4A:     Baseplate Temp.             30.68 c
4B:     PA emp. -2/10 Rptr          14.40 c
4C:     +X Facet Temp.              23.28 c
4D:     +Z Facet Temp.              17.36 c
5A:     PA emp. -70/2 Rptr          35.12 c
5B:     PA Emit. Cur. 2/10          11.67 ma
5C:     Modul Temp 70/2             18.84 c
5D:     Instr SW. reg. Input Cur.   34.78 ma
6A:     RF Pwr out-2/10              0.00 mw
6B:     RF Pwr Out-435              35.10 mw
6C:     RF Pwr Out-2304              0.04 mw
6D:     Midrange TLM Calibration     0.51 v

1A:     Total Solar Array Cur        0.00 ma
1B:     +X Solar Panel Cur         290.00 ma
1C:     -X Solar Panel Cur         150.00 ma
1D:     +Y Solar Panel Cur         610.00 ma
2A:     -Y Solar Panel Cur        1170.00 ma
2B:     RF Pwr. out 70/2             6.48 watts
2C:     24-Hr Clock Time          1000.56 min
2D:     Batt Chg/Dischg Cur      -1880.00 ma
3A:     Battery Voltage              6.60 volts
3B:     High-Batt Voltae             0.20 volts
3C:     Bat. Chg. Reg. #1            3.30 volts
3D:     Battery Temp.               17.36 c
4A:     Baseplate Temp.             91.36 c
4B:     PA emp. -2/10 Rptr          41.04 c
4C:     +X Facet Temp.             -41.84 c
4D:     +Z Facet Temp.               4.04 c
5A:     PA emp. -70/2 Rptr          -3.36 c
5B:     PA Emit. Cur. 2/10          81.69 ma
5C:     Modul Temp 70/2              7.00 c
5D:     Instr SW. reg. Input Cur.   61.02 ma
6A:     RF Pwr out-2/10            830.77 mw
6B:     RF Pwr Out-435             612.60 mw
6C:     RF Pwr Out-2304             13.28 mw
6D:     Midrange TLM Calibration     0.62 v

1A:     Total Solar Array Cur        0.00 ma
1B:     +X Solar Panel Cur         750.00 ma
1C:     -X Solar Panel Cur         150.00 ma
1D:     +Y Solar Panel Cur         830.00 ma
2A:     -Y Solar Panel Cur        1870.00 ma
2B:     RF Pwr. out 70/2             1.34 watts
2C:     24-Hr Clock Time           591.24 min
2D:     Batt Chg/Dischg Cur      -1200.00 ma
3A:     Battery Voltage             12.70 volts
3B:     High-Batt Voltae             5.30 volts
3C:     Bat. Chg. Reg. #1            3.90 volts
3D:     Battery Temp.               17.36 c
4A:     Baseplate Temp.             51.40 c
4B:     PA emp. -2/10 Rptr          94.32 c
4C:     +X Facet Temp.              21.80 c
4D:     +Z Facet Temp.              17.36 c
5A:     PA emp. -70/2 Rptr          26.24 c
5B:     PA Emit. Cur. 2/10           0.00 ma
5C:     Modul Temp 70/2             20.32 c
5D:     Instr SW. reg. Input Cur.   33.14 ma
6A:     RF Pwr out-2/10              2.56 mw
6B:     RF Pwr Out-435              35.00 mw
6C:     RF Pwr Out-2304              0.04 mw
6D:     Midrange TLM Calibration     0.51 v

1A:     Total Solar Array Cur        0.00 ma
1B:     +X Solar Panel Cur        1410.00 ma
1C:     -X Solar Panel Cur         170.00 ma
1D:     +Y Solar Panel Cur         510.00 ma
2A:     -Y Solar Panel Cur        1190.00 ma
2B:     RF Pwr. out 70/2             1.10 watts
2C:     24-Hr Clock Time            15.16 min
2D:     Batt Chg/Dischg Cur        160.00 ma
3A:     Battery Voltage             13.30 volts
3B:     High-Batt Voltae             2.70 volts
3C:     Bat. Chg. Reg. #1            3.75 volts
3D:     Battery Temp.               15.88 c
4A:     Baseplate Temp.             24.76 c
4B:     PA emp. -2/10 Rptr          14.40 c
4C:     +X Facet Temp.              20.32 c
4D:     +Z Facet Temp.              17.36 c
5A:     PA emp. -70/2 Rptr          26.24 c
5B:     PA Emit. Cur. 2/10          11.67 ma
5C:     Modul Temp 70/2             18.84 c
5D:     Instr SW. reg. Input Cur.   33.96 ma
6A:     RF Pwr out-2/10              0.00 mw
6B:     RF Pwr Out-435              35.10 mw
6C:     RF Pwr Out-2304              0.00 mw
6D:     Midrange TLM Calibration     0.50 v


On Sunday, June 23, 2002, at 12:15 PM, Robert Turlington wrote:
> Hi all
> took the following Oscar7 CW telemetry on the 2mtr downlink today at
> about 1535 utc using Hamscope. I also managed momentarilr to hear my
> own downlink before taking the Tlm
> 
> hi hi
> 100 177 179 147
> 208 269 202 254
> 375 364 331 354
> 444 455 449 453
> 541 501 552 529
> 600 601 601 651
> hi hi
> 100 184 191 168
> 240 210 266 203
> 302 302 322 353
> 403 437 493 462
> 567 507 560 561
> 636 676 618 662
> hi hi
> 100 161 191 157
> 205 259 239 220
> 363 353 326 353
> 430 401 450 453
> 547 500 551 527
> 602 600 601 651
> hi hi
> 100 128 190 173
> 239 263 201 254
> 369 327 325 354
> 448 455 451 453
> 547 501 552 528
> 600 601 600 650

Cf.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftpsoft.html#ss
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ftp/software/spreadsheet/AO7tlmSS.zip
                                                                   Top


N6ORS, Keith wrote at 18:53:04 -0700, 23 Jun 2002,
AO-7 history and info

AMSAT-OSCAR 7 REFERENCE DATA:

Frequencies:

  Two to ten meter translator.
     Input 145.850 to 145.950 mHz
     Output 29.40 to 29.50 mHz

  70 cm to two meter translator.
     Input 432-125 to 432-175 offs
     Output 145.975 to 145.925 mHz
     Output passband is INVERTED.
     Beacon output at 145.975 mHz

Additional beacons at 435.1 mHz and 2304.1 mHz (The FCC has notified AMSAT
that the 2304 mHz beacon should be "prevented from transmitting" until
further notice.)

Operating Modes:

  Mode A. 2 to 10 motor translator ON. 29.502 mHz beacon 02
  (transmitting 20 wpm Mores code telemetry or codestore info). 435.1
  mHz beacon operable (normally ON. transmitting 850 Hz FSK teletype
  telemetry).

  Mode B. 70 cm to 2 meter translator ON (high power nods). 145.975
  mHz beacon ON (modulated as per 29*502 beacon).

  Mode C. 70 cm to 2 meter translator ON (quarter power mode). 145.975
  mHz beacon ON per mode B.
  Mode D. Recharge mode. Both translators OFF. 435 mHz beacon operable
  (Commanded on for telemetry readout)

Operating Schedule: (Planned after initial spacecraft checkout)

  Mode A. Sunday, Tuesday and Friday
  Mode B. Monday, Thursday and Saturday
  Mode D or special experiments on Wednesday

Planned Orbit:

  Similar to that of OSCAR 6; 1460 km altitude circular orbit, 102
  degree inclination (retrograde, sun-synchronous orbit), period or
  115 minutes, about 1/2 orbit (1 hour) out of phase with the OSCAR 6
  orbit.

For additional info, see Feb 1974 QST. The following information Is from
AMSAT NEWSLETTER for Sept 1974:

SPACECRAFT DESCRIPTION

AMSAT-OSCAR 7 contains two basic experimental repeater packages, redundant
command systems, two experimental telemetry systems, and a store-and-forward
message storage unit. The spacecraft in solar powered, weighs 65 pounds, and
has a three-year anticipated lifetime. It contains beacons on 29.50, 145.98,
435.10 and 2304.1 MHz.

Communications Repeaters

Two types of communications repeaters are aboard the spacecraft, only one of
which operates at a time. The first repeater is a higher power, two-watt
version of the one-watt two-to-ten motor linear repeater that flow on the
OSCAR 6 mission. This nit receives uplink signals between 145.85 and 145.95
MHz, and retransmits them between 29.4 mid 29.5 MHz an the downlink. A 200
milliwatt telemetry beacon provides telemetry data on 29.502 MHz.*
Approximately -100 dBm is required at the repeater input terminals for an
output of 1 watt. This corresponds to an eirp from the ground of 90 watts
for a distance to the satellite of 2,000 miles and a polarization mismatch
of 3 dB.

The second repeater, constructed by AMSAT Deutschland e.V., AMSAT's
affiliate in Marbach, West Germany, is a 40-kHz* bandwidth linear repeater.
It employs an 8-watt PEP power amplifier using the envelope elimination and
restoration technique to maintain linear operation over a wide dynamic range
with high efficiency. This repeater has an uplink from 432.125 to 432.175
MHz, and a downlink from 145.925 to 145.975 MHz. Since the uplink band in
shared with the radiolocation service, an experimental pulse suppression
circuit is incorporated in the repeater to reduce the effects of wideband
pulsed radar interference in the uplink. Developmental versions of this
repeater have flown in high-altitude balloon experiments in Germany, and
aircraft flight tests of the repeater prototype unit. A 200 milliwatt
telemetry beacon on 145.975' provides telemetry data. Approximately So
W.*eirp is required to produce 3 watts of repeater output at a range of
2,000 miles assuming.& polarization mismatch of 3 db.

The two repeaters are operated alternately by means of a timer arrangement,
but repeater selection and output power control can also be accomplished by
ground command. Each of the repeaters includes a keyed telemetry beacon at
the upper edge of the downlink passband to provide housekeeping data and to
provide a frequency and amplitude reference marker to assist the amateur in
antenna pointing, Doppler frequency compensation, and setting uplink power
level. The cross-band 146-to-29.5 and 432-to-146 KNO design of the two
repeaters will permit the amateur to monitor his own downlink signal easily,
and consequently, he can adjust his power and frequency to continually
compensate for changing path loss, repeater loading and Doppler shift.

Command System

Redundant command decoders of a design similar to the unit proven highly
successful in OSCAR 6 will be flown. The decoder has provisions for 35
separate functions, and is designed to provide a reliable means of
controlling the emissions of the repeaters, beacons and other experiments
aboard the spacecraft.

Telemetry and Message Storage Systems

AMSAT-OSCAR 7 contains two experimental telemetry systems designed for use
with simple ground terminal equipment. The first system, developed by the
WIA-Project Australis group in Australia, telemeters 60 parameters in 850-Hz
shift, 60 WPM five-level Baudot teletype code to permit printout on standard
teletype equipment in a format readily convertible for direct processing by
small digital computer. The second system telemeters 24 parameters as
numbers in standard Morse code and can be received with pencil and paper.
This system was used on OSCAR 6 and proved highly successful as a reliable
means of obtaining real-time telemetry data.

An experimental Morse code message storage unit, Codestore, capable of
storing and repeatedly retransmitting 18-word More& code messages loaded by
ground stations in also aboard AMSAT-OSCAR 7. This unit was first flown on
OSCAR 6.

The teletype telemetry encoder amplitude-modulates telemetry beacons on
29.50 MHz (200 mw), 145.98 MHz (200 mw) and frequency-shift keys the beacon
on 435.10 MHz (300-400 mw), as selected by ground command. The Morse code
telemetry encoder and Codestore message storage unit directly key these
beacons as selected by ground command.
                                                                   Top


W3IWI/Tom Clark wrote at 00:15:31 -0400, 24 Jun 2002,
Re: AO-07 PARADOX?

> The last news on AO-07 was that the solar cell come shorted
> due to battery weekness, How is it possible
> to solar cell to unshorted themself and let battery recharged
> after so many years?

A standard mode for a NiCd battery to fail is for a cell to become short
circuited. When AO-7 died years ago, the telemetry showed that several cells
became shorted, and then the satellite went silent. At the time the
spacecraft was running hot (about 40 C) and we felt that the cells failed in
the "cooked" mode.

Now we speculate that (at least) one of the shorted cells has acted like a
fuse, becoming an open circuit. If this is the case, then the satellite is
running only on solar power, and then only in sunlight.

If this is true, then the satellite turns itself on/off each orbit as it
enters sunlight. The mode it chooses to select is probably random.

It would be interesting if the folks on AMSAT-BB would confirm that the
satellite only operates in sunlight. Here is a simple way to know if the
satellite is in sunlight: Look at a graphical view of the visibility circle
on a map that also includes the sunrise/sunset line. If any part of the
coverage circle lies inside the daylight area, then the satellite sees the
sun.

Here I used IT and loaded the KEPS that have appeared on AMSAT-BB. I select
[2] Map View and the AO-7 satellite. To see the satellite move rapidly hit
[F] and then use the [space bar] to toggle fast time on/off. Then you can
read the time that the satellite sees the sun or is eclipsed.

For any of the AMSAT-BB folks: do you have ANY instance of being able to
hear/work AO-7 when it is dark?
                                                                   Top


W3IWI/Tom Clark wrote at 16:20:41 -0400, 24 Jun 2002,
Oscar-7 and the ITU

The question about Oscar-7:

> Aren't the Satellite Sub-Bands a "Gentleman's Agreement" like
> the FM vs SSB 'agreement'? I don't understand why I couldn't
> use the AO-7 70cm uplink frequency as long as my class of license
> allows me to transmit there. What am I missing here?

The basic is answer is a qualified YES & NO. The reason for the yes/no
ambiguity is that there are two sets of issues involved.

               Please -- DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!

                               -...-

Internationally, all frequencies are allocated by the ITU (International
Telecommunications Union) at a WRC (World Radio Conference). Each nation
then ratifies these allocations as an international treaty. Because of its
unique status, and to keep us on a parallel with all the other services, the
ITU has chosen to define TWO separate relevant services: The AMATEUR RADIO
SERVICE and the AMATEUR SATELLITE SERVICE (I'll call these the ARS and ASS).

Allocations to the ARS are the ones relevant for 99% of all of amateur
radio. Some frequencies are set up on a regional basis (Europe + Africa are
Region 1, the Americas are Region 2, and Asia + Oceania are Region 3). As an
example 2 meters is 144-148 in R2 but is only 144-146 MHz in R1. The 144-146
band is uniform world-wide. In some areas, especially in the VHF-UHF
spectrum, some allocations are not even region-wide; the UK has a 70 MHz 4M
band, the US has the 222-225 MHz band.

When the ITU established the ASS in the 1970's, they allocated to amateur
satellites all the exclusive world-wide amateur bands, including 21-21.45,
28-29.7 and 144-146 MHz (no, neither 50 nor 222 MHz is on the list!). But
the 70 cm band is not EXCLUSIVE to amateur radio and, after much dickering
at WRCs in the '70s, the 435-438 MHz band was set aside for the ASS even
though it is shared (with radiolocation services).

When the 435-438 MHz ITU allocation was hatched, AMSAT was already pregnant
with AO-7 "in the basket" using 432.125-.175 MHz, and we were given a "wink
wink" "OK" along with a strong message "but don't ever do it again!". In
some countries (like the UK) there were even more stringent objections and
some countries never permitted to operate.

But you ask "The satellite only listens on 432.15. Why is all this ASS
allocation crap even relevant?". Unfortunately the ITU's ARS vs ASS
distinction applies to BOTH the satellite and the user on the ground.
Therefore when you have a QSO with another amateur on a tropo (or even EME),
you are operating the ARS. As soon as you point your antenna at a satellite,
you are operating in the ASS and are, in principle, subject to different
rules. [Don't yell at me -- I'm only the messenger!]

                               -...-

I started off by saying that the answer to your question was yes/no, so let
me explain that bipolar bit of thinking. After the ITU allocates a frequency
to the ASS or ARS, then the FCC can give you the right to use it. But the
FCC want Amateur Radio to be self-policing and they don't want to hear of
"turf battles". The FCC refuses to enter the fray on 10 vs 15 kHz frequency
assignments on 2M FM.

With self-policing in mind, amateur radio societies around the world
established the IARU (International Amateur Radio Union). One of the IARU's
functions is to attempt to establish band plans suitable for different
areas. Clearly the band plan need by amateurs in Alaska (thousands of km in
size, with a total population ~500,000) is very different from the
coordination needed in Europe where some countries are only a few hundred km
in size.

In the VHF/UHF range, most problems are pretty local. The main exceptions
are weak signal DX (meteors, tropo, EME etc) and Amateur Satellites. Both of
these have received unique slots in the international bandplans. On 2M,
although the satellites are legally permitted to use the entire 144-146
range, but the IARU bandplans show the 145.8 - 146.0 sub-bands.

                               -...-

Now back to Oscar-7. When you attempt to use this "Phoenix from the Ashes"
resource in Mode-A there is nothing to worry about. Both legally (in the ITU
context) and morally (in the IARU context), the use of the 2M -> 10
transponder is 100% "clean".

The Mode-B situation is a different matter. You are making use of the
antique AO-7 hardware and are not operating on a legal ITU frequency; and
the frequency is not listed in the IARU bandplans. Whether the FCC (in USA)
or Home Office (UK) or other national authorities will say "wink wink" and
ignore the "accident of history" transgression is uncertain. My gut feeling
is that it will not rise to visibility on their radar screens, and nothing
unpleasant will happen. In terms of "What to do?", I'm reluctant to see the
issue brought up to the FCC; there is a chance their answer would be NO!.
I'm adopting the attitude
  "'Tis far better to beg forgiveness rather than asking for permission".

73 de Tom, W3IWI
                                                                   Top


K2UBC/Davidoff, Martin wrote at 09:44:22 -0400, 27 Jun 2002,
AO-7 Telemetry (from 1975)

To: Anyone following AO-7 Telemetry

The following baseline data may be helpful when interpreting current
AO-7 Telemetry.

Spacecraft: AMSAT-OSCAR 7
Contents: 12 continuous frames of CW telemetry
Date: 27 April 1975  (about 5 months after launch)
Orbit: 2041
Data submitted by: John Fox W0LER

Format (Frame numbers added for reference)
        1A 1B 1C 1D
        2A 2B 2C 2D
        3A 3B 3C 3D
        4A 4B 4C 4D
        5A 5B 5C 5D
        6A 6B 6C 6D

Frame 1
        00 86 57 80
        56 00 57 52
        80 71 34 52
        53 33 57 56
        54 11 55 49
        38 07 01 49

Frame 2
        00 70 64 75
        41 00 57 51
        76 69 33 53
        52 32 56 56
        53 13 54 51
        40 05 00 50

Frame 3
        00 57 65 71
        36 00 61 51
        79 70 31 51
        52 32 57 56
        51 13 54 50
        37 05 00 51

Frame 4
        00 52 76 68
        49 00 59 51
        75 66 31 52
        52 32 56 57
        52 14 54 50
        43 05 01 50

Frame 5
        00 38 73 82
        72 00 59 49
        72 67 30 52
        53 32 55 50
        53 12 54 50
        43 10 00 49

Frame 6
        00 32 75 71
        82 01 59 50
        72 66 31 54
        54 32 54 54
        56 11 54 49
        38 12 00 49

Frame 7
        00 41 70 75
        92 00 59 52
        73 67 30 52
        51 34 55 54
        55 12 54 51
        38 12 00 50

Frame 8
        00 52 87 54
        90 00 59 50
        74 67 30 52
        52 33 52 53
        50 14 54 50
        38 11 01 51

Frame 9
        00 73 79 54
        94 00 59 49
        71 66 31 52
        49 34 53 54
        54 11 54 50
        38 12 01 49

Frame 10
        00 84 69 37
        92 00 59 52
        70 68 33 52
        49 32 54 54
        52 12 55 50
        40 12 00 51

Frame 11
        00 87 65 42
        93 00 59 55
        78 68 34 52
        52 32 55 54
        53 12 54 52
        40 11 00 51

Frame 12
        00 89 63 65
        90 00 59 54
        74 70 34 52
        55 32 54 55
        51 12 54 50
        40 12 00 50


Ref.
Historical AMSAT Newsletters
http://www.ka9q.net/newsletters.html


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