[amsat-bb] need HEO .. please..

Thu Jun 18 16:59:12 UTC 2020

I recently shared the press release for Open Research Institute being fully
funded for Phase 1 of GEO/HEO/Lunar payload work. This is a dedicated
amateur radio payload and all of it is open source. All of the work ORI
does directly helps AMSAT.

We have a major hardware summit with ARISS/AREx for the Lunar payload on 25
June 2020, a Preliminary Design Review following that, and consistent and
successful demonstrations and presentations published over the past three
years. Some of us have been working on high altitude amateur payloads for
the past decade.

The team welcomes volunteers at all ability levels. ORI takes full
advantage of the public domain carve out in ITAR and EAR and promotes open
source as the only real alternative to impossibly heavy commercially-based
ITAR burdens. The result is a diverse and global team.

ORI has filed a Commodity Jurisdiction request with the US State Department
so that all us amateur radio satellite service organizations can benefit
from a better regulatory environment. Any result is an improvement over the
current situation. A positive result of any type will be game-changing.
Regulatory work is a process.

An open source policy for AMSAT is in the works with the help of FD
Associations, a consulting firm that specializes in ITAR and EAR. There
should be some very good news here by Symposium 2020.

Announcements about the payload work from ORI are sent out to this list
from time to time.

There is also a dedicated mailing list at
http://lists.openresearch.institute/listinfo.cgi/ground-station-openresearch.institute
if anyone wants more frequent technical, regulatory, and fundraising
updates.

-Michelle W5NYV
One of your AMSAT Directors

On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 9:37 AM Scott McDonald via AMSAT-BB <
amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:

> Tucker,
> I hear what you're saying.  But I'm pretty sure Dave is remembering a
> world of HEO's you may not have experienced, and it's not just having a
> shot of working Peter on RS-44 (as excited as I was to do it for the first
> time).
> I looked back through some log book pages from the early 90's, and what
> you find are things like regular, predictable contacts with friends all
> over the world, and the theoretical possibility of eventually working most
> any country you could find on HF, without the need for computer driven
> arrays and doppler correction.  Sure, you could use them, but you could
> easily live without them.   With a Yaesu sat rig, and enough antenna for a
> bit of ERP, the capabilities were amazing.
> AMSAT has a good plan they've committed to and followed, but reading
> Dave's sentiments I wonder if there aren't a fair number of people like
> Dave that would contribute to a dedicated HEO project, and volunteer to
> make that project happen.  There is a chance that would cannibalize
> donations, perhaps, but my guess is that given the number of boomers that
> remember the good old days, there might be some untapped energy and
> resources that a dedicated, well-publicized effort would draw out.
> Scott ka9p
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: KI7UNJ Tucker via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> To: David J. Schmocker <kj9idave at charter.net>
> Cc: AMSAT BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> Sent: Thu, Jun 18, 2020 9:59 am
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] need HEO .. please..
>
> David,
>
> "Forgive me, for I am but a humble DXer.  How is DXing possible without
> HEO?"
>
> It's very possible to work a DX with just the LEO sats we have now, heck
> I'm in Oregon and have managed to work Spain and many other countries in
> that area. The east coast ops are able to work DEEP into the EU and even
> able to work EU with just FM on AO-91. 2M0SQL (Whom I have worked via LEO)
> is in Scotland is able to work all the way to the west coast of US via
> RS-44/AO-7 with passes almost daily, and yes those are LEO sats.
>
> People who say "working DX isn't possible with LEO" need to take a look at
> orbits, and probably get our of their comfort zone, you won't get much DX
> on an overhead pass... you need to get out and work those 1* passes or
> venture out more and get up on a hill and work a negative degree pass. LEO
> DX is 100% possible!
>
> Sadly, many are just complaining instead of using what we have and or
> donating. Many of said complainers have no concept of the
> design/skills/time/money/effort/programming/de-orbital requirements they
> think its just wham bam the sat is in space.
>
> Read more about what AMSAT is doing to go higher, and DONATE all on this
> page!
>
> https://www.amsat.org/greater-orbit-larger-footprint-an-introduction-to-the-amsat-golf-program/
>
> MEO or an HEO satellite sounds great and I can't wait, it would be fun and
> allow me to work many more DX.
>
>
> /R
> KI7UNJ
>
>
> On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 4:57 AM David J. Schmocker via AMSAT-BB <
> amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
>
> > Everyone:
> > My thoughts are in full alignment with Joe's view.. "Why no HEO?"
> > Without HEO, my interest in satellites is.. zero.
> >
> > Forgive me, for I am but a humble DXer.  How is DXing possible without
> HEO?
> >
> > My donations start and increase in proportion to the satellite orbital
> > height.
> >
> > very 73,
> >
> > Dave KJ9I
> >
> > On 6/17/20 5:08 PM, Joe Leikhim via AMSAT-BB wrote:
> > > Zach; As a long time member of AMSAT, I can assure you I did donate
> > > for the AO-40 project. But since that time there have been no
> > > significant HEO projects.
> > > LEO and primarily FM oriented satellites have been the rule. Year
> > > after year, the focus has been on these short term, low earth projects
> > > or ARISS.
> > >
> > > Who cares if an HEO requires COTS space rated modules to be considered
> > > a payload? There is plenty of work to be done on the ground building
> > > an earth station.
> > >
> > > Paul; Why no outreach to the industry. Elon Musk? A free AMSAT
> > > membership, some Honorary AMSAT Knighthood?  Anybody ever give him a
> > > call?
> > >
> > > I know part of this is ITAR and the US basically screwing ourselves by
> > > embargoing technology.
> > >
> > >
> > > "Donate early, donate often.
> > >
> > > 2) No amateur-built hardware on the satellite -- Yes, specifying and
> > > overseeing development takes a LOT of work. I do this for my day job,
> > > not satellites, but just as complex. However, designing, building,
> > > testing, and deploying amateur-built hardware is what I feel AMSAT is
> > > all about.
> > >  --- Zach
> > > N0ZGO"
> > >
> > > "There are many political and economic factors that made the
> > > partnership with AMSAT-DL possible. "
> > >
> > > "the most senior political official we've had who was
> > > active in amateur radio was Sen. Barry Goldwater. Currently, Rep. Greg
> > > Walden is the only amateur radio operator I'm aware of in high levels
> > > of government and he's retiring when his term ends in January.
> > >
> > > 73,
> > >
> > > Paul Stoetzer, N8HM
> > > Executive Vice President
> > > AMSAT"
> > >
> > > I really just hear excuses when others ask the same question, why no
> HEO?
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
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> Opinions
> > expressed
> > are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> > AMSAT-NA.
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> >
>
>
> --
> *Casey Tucker  KI7UNJ*
> https://twitter.com/KI7UNJ
> _______________________________________________
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> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
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> AMSAT-NA.
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> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available
> to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed
> are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of
> AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> Subscription settings: https://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
>