Amateur Radio aboard Mir
AMATEUR RADIO ABOARD MIR: Summer 1999
Since many Amateur Radio Operators ask about Amateur Radio on
board the Russian Space Station "Mir" (which means "peace" in
Russian), the ARRL is offering the following detailed Mir
information including QSL information;
frequencies; packet radio; and "SAFEX II" (a project of the
German Amateur Radio Club - DARC).
Credits:
Much of this information comes from the ARRL Web page at the
URL: http://www.arrl.org/ And, from the ARRL Letter: There is
an archive where editions of the ARRL Letter are kept:
http://www.arrl.org/arrlletter/
Other information comes from SpaceNews: SpaceNews can be found
on the Web at: http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
And the Mir Web page URL is: http://www.osf.hq.nasa.gov/mir/
To provide information on SAFEX, the Space Amateur Funk
Experiment aboard the Russian space station Mir, the DLR
Amateur Radio Group DF0VR at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany, has
installed a Web site at: http://www.op.dlr.de/~df0vr/home.htm
--Rudolf Appel, AMSAT-DL
-**-
From John Magliacane's Space News
* FX0STB QSL OFFER *
====================
AMSAT France press release 09-99
AMSAT France became actively involved in getting french
Spationaute Jean-Pierre Haignere licensed under the callsign
FX0STB for ham radio operation in the Russian space station MIR.
Using the callsign R0MIR, Jean-Pierre made a number of two way
Phone contacts or SSTV re-transmissions during the 6 months
time he spent aboard MIR, to the great pleasure of radioamateur
stations all around the world and school children of many countries.
In order to provide hams or listeners a confirmation QSL card,
AMSAT-France is designing a special QSL card for Jean-Pierre
Haignere, FX0STB / R0MIR.
In order to receive this card you are invited to send a QSL
card or a post card if you do not have any QSL, including the
callsign used by Jean-Pierre Haignere, the date, hour, frequency
and mode of transmission (FM, SSTV) to the following address :
AMSAT France
FX0STB QSL Manager
14 bis rue des Gourlis
F-92500 RUEIL-MALMAISON
France
You should provide a self addressed envelope (half letter size
or post card size), preferably a self-adhesive one, with an
International Response Coupon (IRC) for return postage if you
reside in the European Community or two IRCs if you live outside
the EC. IRCs are available in any post office. The AMSAT secretary
will enjoy very much if you care putting nice stamps on your envelope.
[Info via Jean-Louis Rault]
-.-.-
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-164.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PART 1
AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 164.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 13, 1999
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-164.05
MIR SAFEX II 70-cm Repeater
Uplink: 435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz
Downlink: 437.950 MHz FM
Seldom-operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed.
MIR SAFEX II 70-cm QSO Mode
Uplink: 435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz
Downlink: 437.925 MHz FM
Seldom-operational. No operation in 1999 has been observed.
MIR PERSONAL MESSAGE SYSTEM (PMS)
Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK
Semi-operational.
The PBBS is running a Kantronics KPC-9612+ V 8.1 TNC. The
commands are similar to most PBBS and BBS systems.
SSTV from Mir has been reported as sporadic.
AMSAT-France announced that Air Force General Jean-Pierre Haignere
has been given a personal amateur radio callsign to use aboard the Mir
space station - FX0STB. The QSL manager for FX0STB is:
Radio Club F5KAM
QSL manager MIR
22 rue Bansac
63000 Clermont Ferrand
France
Scott, WA6LIE, has a set of instructions on how to work the Mir space
station. Copies are available from Scott by e-mail at:
wa6lie@juno.com (or by packet) wa6lie@wa6lie.#wcca.ca.usa.noam
[ANS thanks Scott Avery, WA6LIE, and the MIREX team for Mir status
information]
---------------------------
SpaceNews
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 28, 1998
SpaceNews originates at KD2BD in Wall Township, New Jersey,
USA. It is published every week and is made available for non-
commercial use.
* MIR NEWS *
===========
Scott, WA6LIE, reports that currently, 145.985 MHz is used for
1200 baud packet and voice contacts with the cosmonauts. The
SAFEX module frequencies are:
437.950 rx/435.750 tx - PL 141.3 SAFEX repeater
437.925 rx/435.725 tx - PL 151.4 SAFEX crew QSO mode
The packet radio mailbox uses a callsign of R0MIR-1. The SAFEX
UHF repeater uses a callsign of RR0DL. Packet connections to
R0MIR do not connect with the mailbox, and are basically a
waste of time.
QSL cards must be sent along with a business-sized self-
addressed stamped envelope (the card will not fit in a regular-
sized envelope) is a card in return is desired. A "green
stamp" to cover postage would also be appreciated (USA ONLY).
Please include two IRCs for international QSL requests. The
IRC must be dated 1998 because the post office will NOT accept
IRCs over one year old.
QSLs World Wide (EXCEPT EUROPE) should be sent to:
Dave Larsen, N6CO
P.O. Box 311
Pine Grove, California 95665
U.S.A.
European QSLs go to:
Radio-Club "F5KAM - QSL Manager de "R0MIR"
"Carrefour International de la Radio"
22, Rue BANSAC - 63000 - CLERMONT-FERRAND - FRANCE
Additional information on the MIREX program can be found at the
MIREX web site at:
http://www.ik1sld.org/mirex.htm
* or-
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Lab/3431/mirex.htm
[Info via Scott, WA6LIE]
-.-.-
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-277.04
MIR SWL CARDS AVAILABLE
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 277.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 04, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS
BID: $ANS-277.04
Dave Larsen, N6CO, MIREX president, tells ANS that starting in
October Mir shortwave listener reports will be accepted by MIREX, with
successful reports earning a Mir QSL card. N6CO reports he has
"set aside" 500 QSL cards for this event.
All worldwide SWL stations are eligible to receive a Mir SWL
QSL card following successful reception.
The requirements for earning a Mir SWL card include:
1. a self addressed stamped business size envelope
2. receiving station location
3. time and date of Mir reception
4. radio and antenna used to receive Mir
5. four International Reply Coupons
6. e-mail address and/or phone number of receiving station
N6CO reports that if all 500 cards are gone, any additional
received IRC's will be returned to the sender.
All Mir SWL QSL card requests (except Europe) should be sent to
the following address:
Dave Larsen N6CO
PO Box 311
Pine Grove, California 95665
U.S.A.
European Mir SWL QSL card requests should be sent to the
following address:
Radio Club F5KAM - QSL Manager de R0MIR
Carrefour International de la Radio
22 Rue BANSAC 63000
CLERMONT, FERRAND
FRANCE
-.-.-
From * SpaceNews 03-Mar-97 *
WWW: http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
* MIR PMS REMINDER *
====================
The 2-meter packet station on Mir is designed to be used as a
Personal Mail System for the crews working on the Russian Space
Station Mir. The "PMS" as it is called, is not to be used as a
Bulletin Board Service (BBS). The Chief of the Cosmonaut
Amateur Radio Department, Sergej Samburov RV3DR (MAREX), is
requesting users to stop sending CQ Mail
messages and Third Party Traffic messages (messages between to
Amateur Radio Stations on the same planet) via the Mir PMS.
Traffic should be limited to mail to and from the Mir crew
members. The Mir crews are very busy and do not have a lot of
time to spend clearing out old third party messages. Ground
stations can still use the PMS to send short messages to the
Mir crew, but please keep in mind the crews are busy and you
are not guaranteed a reply. Info via: MirEX.
-.-.-
The Mir SAFEX 70-cm experiment:
The Amateur Radio "SAFEX" equipment (built by German hams and
now aboard Mir) has three modes of operation: Repeater mode,
packet mode and "QSO" (FM voice) mode.
Recently, the equipment has been in QSO (FM voice) mode. For
the QSO (duplex) mode, the uplink frequency is 435.725 MHz, the
downlink frequency is 437.925 MHz, and the CTCSS tone is 151.4
Hz.
When in repeater mode, the uplink frequency for the Mir SAFEX
70-cm repeater is 435.750 MHz, and the downlink is 437.950 MHz.
The required CTCSS tone is 141.3 Hz.
When in packet mode, the uplink frequency for packet is 435.775
MHz; the downlink frequency is 437.975 MHz. No CTCSS tone is
needed.
A special QSL card will be issued for SAFEX QSOs and SWL
reports. Those making SAFEX contacts are asked to accompany
QSLs with a voice recording of the contact on a computer .wav
file (3.5-inch disc) to DF0VR, Ham Radio Group at DLR
Oberpfaffenhofen, Postfach 1116, D-82230 Wessling Germany." Web
site: http://www.op.dlr.de/~df0vr/home.htm
-.-.-
TRACK MIR WITH A COMPUTER
Tracking the Russian Mir Space Station--and other satellites.
To track the Mir spacecraft via the World Wide Web, check out
http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/temp/Mir_loc.html. The page
presents a graphical representation of Mir's location and
updates every minute.
A number of software packages are available for tracking the
shuttle on a personal computer. Here are just a few options
(ARRL in no way warrants these products or services):
AMSAT Tracking Programs:
The North American branch of the Radio Amateur Satellite
Corporation (AMSAT-NA) makes available a variety of computer
programs of interest to the amateur satellite user. These easy
to use programs are perfect for the serious Amateur Radio space
enthusiast or beginner. Programs are available for IBM,
Macintosh, Apple, Commodore, and other computers. Contact AMSAT
for current prices and details:
AMSAT-NA
P.O. Box 27
Silver Spring, MD 20044
Phone: 301-589-6062
Fax: 301-608-3410
e-mail: martha@amsat.org
AMSAT also has a collection of free software for download:
World Wide Web: http://www.amsat.org
Anonymous FTP: ftp.amsat.org
STSPLUS (Shareware for IBM).
This software was designed by David Ransom Jr. The program
allows the user to track an orbiting space shuttle or
satellite. Excellent graphics and maps help to create a mock
Mission Control Center. On the ARRL (land-line) BBS, 860-594-
0306, look for the program named: "STSPLUS.ZIP"
Look for STSPLUS and other tracking software posted on
Spacelink, NASA's electronic information system:
Spacelink Modem line: 205-895-0028 Terminal emulation VT-100,
Data format 8-N-1 World Wide Web http://spacelink.msfc.nasa.gov
Satellite tracking software may be found in the following
Spacelink directory: Instructional.Materials/Software
OrbiTrack (MacIntosh):
BEK Developers
PO Box 47114
St. Petersburg, FL 33743-7114
email (Bill Bard) 75366.2557@compuserve.com
SatTrack (MacIntosh):
Mike Pflueger, WD8KPZ
6207 W. Beverly Lane
Glendale, AZ 85306
FTP sumex.stanford.edu
SatTrack can be found in the following directory: /info-
mac/application
-.-.-
WHAT ARE KEPLERIAN ELEMENTS?
Satellite-tracking computer software uses Keplerian elements
(also known as "orbital" or "tracking" elements or "Keps") to
pinpoint the location of a satellite (or Mir) at any given
time. The Keplerian elements provide the software with a
snapshot of a satellite's orbital track, which the
computer uses to calculate the future whereabouts of the
satellite. Using such a computer tracking program allows an
observer to determine when a satellite is to appear above his
or her local horizon.
-.-.-
WHERE CAN I FIND KEPLERIAN ELEMENTS FOR TRACKING MIR?
Keplerian elements for tracking MIR are available from numerous
sources, including ARRL W1AW on-the-air Bulletins. Here are
some other sources for obtaining "Keps:"
AMSAT:
The AMSAT News Service publishes weekly bulletins containing
information of interest to amateur satellite operators,
including Keplerian element postings for the shuttle and
popular amateur satellites. These bulletins are distributed
electronically through amateur satellites,
the terrestrial amateur packet radio network, and through
various landline networks:
World Wide Web: http://www.amsat.org
AMSAT also maintains numerous public mailing lists (email) to
deliver Keplerian elements and other information. To subscribe
to one or more mailing lists from AMSAT, send a message with
your request to listserv@amsat.org Be sure to include your
call sign (if any), your correct email address, and the proper
names (shown below) of the mailing
lists you wish to receive:
SAREX - Space Amateur Radio Experiment mailing list
ANS - AMSAT News Service
AMSAT-BB - AMSAT Bulletin Board
KEPS - Keplerian Elements mailing list
Goddard ARC.
The Goddard Amateur Radio Club, WA3NAN, maintains a BBS which
carries Keplerian orbital elements updated daily (and daily
SAREX bulletins and space shuttle mission information).
Modem lines: 301-805-3251 and 301-805-3154
Internet: wa3nan.gsfc.nasa.gov
TCP/IP address 128.183.105.17
Packet radio: WA3NAN, on 145.090 MHz, in the Maryland/DC area.
NASA Spacelink.
One of NASA's electronic resources specifically developed for
use by the educational .community. Spacelink is a comprehensive
electronic library that hosts NASA's educational publications,
the NASA Television education schedule, and provides hundreds
of subject-related links.
World Wide Web: http://spacelink.nasa.gov
Keplerian elements may be found in the following Spacelink
directory:
Spacelink.Hot.Topics/Current.Shuttle.Mission/Keplerian.Elements
Johnson Space Center ARC.
The Johnson Space Center Amateur Radio Club maintains a service
with the latest element sets available during a shuttle flight.
Modem line: 713-244-5625
World Wide Web: http://www.phoenix.net/~mbordel/index.html
The NASA/GSFC ORBITAL DATA BULLETIN BOARD at:
http://oigsysop.atsc.allied.com/index.htm is another Web site
where you can get keps for MIR.
mir.txt
DPM 10/98
Page last modified: 09:05 AM, 22 Nov 2000 ET
Page author: ariss@arrl.org
Copyright © 2000, American Radio Relay League, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
