Satellite Communications Training -- FREE Course!!
Amateur Radio's future is in space!
You've heard it before, "Amateur Radio's future is in space".
Past accomplishments in space are warrant of our ability out there. NASA is ever more confident in that ability after assessing the many tasks we have performed for them. Amateur Radio on board the International Space Station is continually growing in importance as requested and approved by every astronaut who have been in the solitude up there. In recent weeks, discussions on how best to implement Amateur Radio for the soon-to-be station on the moon, to allow astronauts to vent off, have been on a positive note. The building of Phase 3E, Express and Eagle are well underway, as well as Phase 5A, ordered by NASA to orbit Mars.
Albeit, future in space is right now, if only you have a 2m radio. VO-52, AO-7, NO-44 and the ISS are a few satellites you can listen to for voice, packet, APRS, SSTV and school contacts. And some of them will allow you to uplink on 2m. FO-29, SO-50, and AO-51 have been working very well if only you have a little more equipment.
At VE3JW, your Amateur Radio Exhibit station, we have all the necessary equipment to carry regular satellite communications with the existing and the upcoming satellites. Not only is this equipment available for you to use, but we have set up a short course to help you get acquainted and work satellites.
The course is open to all certified Radio Amateurs, comprises three 2-hour sessions which you can attend at your leisure, in your own time. Pick a date and time (7 days a week) from 10AM to noon, 1PM-3PM, 3PM-5PM, or 7PM-9PM. No charge for the course or entry to the Museum. Register with Maurice-André, ve3vig@amsat.org, Tel: 613-749-9010 or VE3JW station 613-991-6749.
This course will introduce you to satellites, make you aware of the many factors having effect on their signals, and provide you with hands-on practice until you've completed contacts on your own.
Maurice-André Vigneault, VE3VIG
Amateur Radio Exhibit Group VE3JW
Canada Science and Technology Museum
For a list of the subjects covered in the course see below...
SATELLITE TRAINING COURSE TOPICS
1 - INTRODUCTION TO SATELLITES
- First AR Sat 1961
- Different Size
- Launch and Orbit
- Inclination, Anomaly, Attitude
- Squint Angle, Spin Modulation
- Polarization,
- Frequencies, Bands, Modes
- Inverting Transponder
2 - INTRODUCTION TO PRACTICAL
- Antennas
- Handheld, Stack, Dish
- Radios
- Handheld, Mobile, Base
- Split, Trace, Doppler
- Antenna controls
- Satellite tracking
- Software
- Keplerian Orbital Elements
- Computer clock sync.
3 - WORKING SATELLITES - AUTOMATIC MODE
- Setting up the computer
- Selecting a satellite
- Setting up the radio
- Automatic tracking
- Automatic Doppler
4 - WORKING SATELLITES - MANUAL MODE
- A few examples
- Practical exercise
5 - WORKING THE ISS
- Ericsson, Kenwood, PCSat2
- Packet, APRS, Voice, SSTV
- Frequency selection
- 145.800 MHz Downlink
- Uplinks
6 - QSO info
- Call
- Grid Locator
- Quality of signal
- Name
- QTH
7 - PAPER WORK
- Log
- QSL
- Awards