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Updates
24 December 2022
Added support material for my next TCA (Jan-Feb 2023) column "Shortwave Radiogram" (RM058)
plus supplement. See Radio Magic.
Merry Chrismas to all, and to all a Happy New Year, too!
24 November 2022
Finally
got around to reediting, updating & posting five of my past published TCA articles: "Antenna Tales" (RM051), "FM Voice
& Data & the ISS" parts 1 & 2 (RM052 & RM053) & "Radio Science: VLF" parts 1 & 2 (RM054 &RM055). See Radio Magic.
20 November 2022
The amazing NOAA satellite flight engineers have done it again! They have
remotely fixed whatever was ailing the aging NOAA-15 back in October & it's once again transmitting APT satellite weather
images.
31 October 2022
Added support material for my next TCA column "Telemetry-over-WSPR: Part
2 (RM057) + Supplement (see Radio
Magic).
NOAA Official Notice: "The NOAA-15 AVHRR scan motor current began showing signs of instability on Oct 18 at approximately
1800Z when the current began to gradually rise from about 205 mA to about 250 mA where it remained until Oct 24. At about 0000Z on
Oct 24, the current began rising again throughout the day peaking at about 302mA on Oct 25. Scan motor temperature began rising about
the same time & is currently steady at about 29 degress Celsius. The instrument is still producing data but it is highly degraded.
This behavior may be a sign of an impending scan motor stall but requires further investigation. Options for recovery are limited."
25
August 2022
Added support material for my next TCA column "Telemetry-over-WSPR: Part 1 (RM056) & supplemental articles
(see Radio Magic).
21 August 2022
Really exciting news because the ISS finally has separate FM voice VHF/UHF & VHF data/APRS
transceivers. Special event SSTV VHF FM transmissions will still use 145.800 MHz (mode PD180).
From ARISS.org: August 12,
2022—"ARISS is pleased to announce that starting yesterday, August 11, simultaneous operations of the ARISS Voice Repeater & digital
APRS communications on the International Space Station (ISS) is now a reality. Current ARISS operations include voice repeater transmissions
with the JVC Kenwood D710GA in the Columbus module & APRS packet operation from an identical radio in the Service Module (Zvezda).
Packet operations are on 145.825 MHz.
ARISS-International Chair Frank Bauer, KA3HDO states, “Simultaneous operation of APRS &
the voice repeater on ISS is transformative for ARISS and represents a key element of our ARISS 2.0 initiative, providing interactive
capabilities 24/7 that inspire, engage and educate youth & lifelong learners—especially life-long learning in ham radio operations.” Bauer
continues, “Our heartfelt thanks to Sergey Samburov, RV3DR, for making this crucial ARISS 2.0 initiative become a reality.”
The
Columbus Module radio uses the callsign NA1SS & the new Service Module radio uses RS0ISS. Aside from the callsigns, the radios
are identical & packet operations are the same as before. You can use RS0ISS, ARISS or APRSAT as the packet path. Also, both
radios are expected to be on full time, except during educational contacts, EVAs, & dockings or undockings."
Operational ISS
status: Current Status of ISS Stations - ARISS
12 August 2022
Replaced my old wired personal weather station (PWS) with the
awesome Tempest Weatherflow PWS with Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Alexa & Weather Underground connectivity. It has a plethora of
sensors: lightning, solar UV and radiation besides the usual ones. All self-contained with no moving parts because of sonic wind
and haptic rain sensors. Only took a few minutes to get it running & displaying my site's weather on the provided personal
web page (shared with others or private), added to my Alexa's skills (also supports Google) & my Weather Underground profile.
It uses an AI (artificial intelligence) engine to combine your weather data along with others available in the same area to
improve the accuracy of its customized local forecasts.
03 August 2022
Major home renovations completed after nearly four
weeks of what was supposed to take only two weeks plus I went way over budget as more & more "money pit" problems reared
their ugly heads! Still more stuff to do but the most important & expensive stuff has been completed.
The good thing is
that I was able to reinstall all my antennas & receivers from scratch to neaten & clean things up & finally found
the source of RF noise affecting my VLF antenna. Mmoisture had got into the connector & because there's 12 volts
sent up the coax to power an active amplifier, weak electrolysis slowly did its thing! Cut off a couple of inches of coax & attached
on a new connector & no more RF noise!
