[amsat-bb] ANS Special Bulletin ANS-116.01 AMSAT-NA Opportunity for Rideshare to Geostationary Orbit

[Jerry Buxton]

On 4/25/2015 20:45, Paul Stoetzer wrote:
> Well, there is some truth to that. Minimal Doppler shift, no checking
> Keps, no running predictions to check mutual footprints with those you
> want to work. Just point your dish at the satellite and talk to the
> entire hemisphere! Of course, experimenting with setting up and
> optimizing your ground station will be a huge part of the fun.
>
Yes, the experimenting will be a highlight of this!  With SDR capability 
the possibilities are wide, from digital voice to video to data like 
documents or photos, why not C4FM and even old fashioned analog.  
Schools can talk to schools, learning about satellites and on analog the 
delay to geo and back which is a hoot and a great way to learn to speak 
without distraction (all of the AO-10/13/40 crowd remember that), and 
don't forget the experimenting on the ground for smaller more portable 
stations - emergency communications will be a good customer for this and 
designing a portable station to go into an affected area for quick setup 
and reliable communications would be outstanding.  Everyone can play 
however you like, in good old ham radio fashion!
And importantly, think beyond North America.  Unlike a geo TV satellite 
or something, this will cover all of North, Central AND South America.  
Lots of opportunities to work with hams all over Region 2!

But we will continue pursuing other opportunities which include LEO or 
even HEO transponders and such so don't forget about those - you can 
still keep in shape so you don't get rusty on your Doppler tuning and 
satellite tracking skills not to mention the STEM education we fly on 
CubeSats. :-)

I just finished up at the CubeSat Developer's Workshop here at Cal Poly 
tonight, and there are many opportunities for us to continue to partner 
on educational outreach missions that are also amateur radio satellites 
for the world to use.

Jerry
N0JY