YOU can become part of the AMSAT ECHO Satellite Team!!!
Contact Mr. Richard Raitt - N. Texas Coordinator for AMSAT...

Amateur Radio Satellite OSCAR-ECHO Software Project
A Role for North Texas Amateur Radio Satellite Enthusiasts!...

A team of SMU engineering students have been fired up by Mr. Richard Raitt's talk and live demo of Amateur Satellite operations. We are interested in forming a group to help develop reusable software modules and programs for the upcoming OSCAR-ECHO satellite (launch date in November 2003).

We also hope that such reusable software resources can be used on the upcoming OSCAR-EAGLE satellite program (and followup Phase V amateur satellite missions to Mars). AMSAT is the non-profit all-volunteer organization dedicated to building, orbiting, and operating amateur radio satellites.

Read more about the OSCAR Echo satellite project in Richard M. Hambly's (W2GPS) AMSAT OSCAR-E Project Status Update A New LEO Satellite from AMSAT-NA article. Visit these pages to learn more about the Echo Satellite Project (powerpoint slides) and New LEO Satellite - OSCAR ECHO (pdf) and the 20th Annual AMSAT conference held in Ft. Worth in early November 2002.

Although this satellite software project has started at Southern Methodist University and SMU's amateur radio club (W5YF), we are actively soliciting help and resources from anyone in the North Texas area!

We are especially interested in working with other amateur radio clubs in this region. We are seeking both North Texas University based clubs and other amateur radio clubs (such as corporate based clubs) which share our interest and enthusiasm for amateur satellite programs! But we would also be happy to welcome individual contributors to our SMU team too!

Now is your chance to work on a project that will develop some great experience and skills. Participation in this AMSAT project will provide you with lots to talk about at that next job interview or QSO (contact). You will also get a chance to make a contribution to amateur radio and the utilization of space!

AMSAT OSCAR-Echo Satellite Software Projects

Quoting Richard M. Hambly (W2GPS) in AMSAT OSCAR-E Project Status Update (pdf):

Each of these programs need to be written or re-written by AMSAT volunteers! This task has not yet been assigned.

  • The Bootloader application communicates with the satellite’s bootloader to upload code changes or to load and execute operating system tasks.

  • The Housekeeping program communicates with each of the tasks onboard the satellite.

  • The Telemetry Gathering and Reporting program downloads and displays satellite health information.

    Update:

    Recent communications from AMSAT suggest that the most desirable project for student software development is the telemetry gathering and reporting program. Naturally, Tony is very enthusiastic since such a telemetry gathering program could be used by many hundreds and eventually thousands of participants and users worldwide. With the right (reusable) design, the program could be used with various existing and future satellites. By logging data over time, aspects of satellite "health" and operational reserves can be monitored and scheduled. Best of all, we can possibly use our new VHF/UHF station setup (including digital packet/TNC gear) to permit "checking out" draft telemetry and satellite baseline status displays with actual telemetry downloads. Fun!!!





    If you are interested in learning more about this program and participating in it, please contact Mr. Richard Raitt, North Texas Coordinator for AMSAT, the Amateur Satellite corporation!

    To contact the Southern Methodist University Amateur Radio Club's team, simply Email us to become part of our team...

    SATMON Satellite Telemetry/Monitoring Software Project Overview

    Our primary goal is to develop a software program which can monitor satellite telemetry from the new generation of AMSAT OSCAR ECHO and OSCAR EAGLE satellites planned for launches starting in late November 2003. This program would enable monitoring the "health" of the new satellites, as well as decode and archive satellite telemetry.

    Why is a new satellite telemetry and monitoring program needed? Many different groups and country organizations have orbited amateur radio satellites. Each satellite has its own telemetry program(s). Unfortunately, some of these programs for older satellites are written for now obsolete computer hardware (e.g., Commodore 64) or operating systems (e.g., Amiga-DOS). Some software runs on computers not widely available (e.g., ACORN computers), or are written for languages such as German, Russian, or Arabic. Updating or converting these programs to more modern computer hardware and operating systems is a difficult task, as many older programs are poorly documented and source code in not available.

    Our project proposal aims to overcome some of these problems. We plan on using the popular and free LINUX operating system with KDE (K desktop environment) and the QT/C++ programming environment. The software source code would be published, making it easy for others to extend and convert the software to other languages and computer systems. The QT/C++ code could easily be compiled for LINUX users on the popular IBM PC and Macintosh hardware platforms, or compiled for other current computer systems.

    We would like to explore a design which would permit extension to multiple satellites, including not just the new planned OSCAR ECHO and EAGLE satellites, but current and future satellites. Live telemetry received from satellites could be saved with date/time codes and archived. Such archival data could provide long-term trend data for use in monitoring satellite "health", especially of the critical power systems.

    One unique aspect of our proposed satellite telemetry system is a telecommand module. Telecommands are sent from an authorized ground station to control satellite operations. One command series might change a satellite from operating in one mode (e.g., 146 Mhz uplink, 450 Mhz downlink) to a different mode (e.g., 450 Mhz uplink, 146 Mhz downlink). Naturally, such capabilities need to be restricted to just authorized ground stations, so random users or hackers can not interfere with proper satellite operations.

    Selected satellite control stations in remote areas could use these telecommand modules to control operations of each satellite. One application might be over-riding programmed satellite modes to enable optimal use of satellite resources during an emergency. Since satellite communications play a key role in many remote emergency communications situations on virtually a weekly basis, an ability for regional control of such satellite facilities would be useful and essential. Currently, satellite control ground station coverage is very incomplete, with each satellite having its own command station. This organization makes it difficult to respond rapidly to changing needs such as communication emergencies. Moreover, sudden changes in satellite status may be missed until it is too late to respond or correct problems.

    We would also like to explore an automated telemetry monitoring capability, possibly using hamlib software to control an external radio receiver (e.g., to compensate for doppler shift). The ultimate goal would be a world-wide series of satellite monitoring stations providing continuous coverage of satellite telemetry data. Many oceanic areas are very sparsely covered, with infrequent satellite telemetry observations being reported on an ad hoc basis. Most satellite data lacks sophisticated error correction features, so having multiple reports of the same telemetry data may be necessary to ensure an accurate database.

    Such archived satellite telemetry data can also be useful in predicting and observing changes in satellite "health" status, such as aging of battery subsystems. Such satellite "health" data can be useful in extending the useful life of these valuable and limited satellite resources, as well as responding rapidly and correctly to sudden emergencies. The current APRS archival database system could be greatly expanded by more automated telemetry monitoring stations. Ideally, such a monitoring program might work in the background of popular computer operating systems, enabling them to be used for regular uses while still recording and archiving satellite telemetry data. Those remote stations lacking direct communications access could even send in their satellite telemetry data via packet data through some of these same satellites!

    In short, the currently available satellite telemetry software represents an ad hoc series of programs for each separate satellite, often designed for now-obsolete hardware and operating systems. Our SATMON program project would seek to create an extensible satellite telemetry monitoring program. This program could be used to monitor the telemetry and satellite "health", archive incoming telemetry data, and do so for multiple satellites on current and future computer hardware and operating systems.


    Sample Frame of Data

    From ANS-005 Weekly Satellite Report for January 4, 2003:

    RS-20
    Beacon:     145.828, 435.319 MHz
    Launched: November 28, 2002 aboard a Kosmos 3-M rocket from Plesetsk.
    Status: Telemetry heard on the 70 cm beacon.
    
    Table for decoding telemetry is as follows:
    Name   Limits      Decoding          Assignment
    
    RS 20                                The  callsign
    UBS    N=100:170   U=N / 10 Volts    On board voltage
    IBS    N=10:250    I=N / 100 Ampers  On board current
    USUN   N=0:180     U=N / 10 Volts    Charge voltage from solar battery
    ISUN   N=0:180     I=N / 100 Ampers  Charge current from solar battery
    ITXA   N=0:170     I=N / 100 Ampers  D.C. current of the 435 MHz Tx
    PTXA   N=0:70      P=N / 10 Watts    UHF power of the 435 MHz Tx
    TTXA   N=50:190    T=N - 100 deg C   Temperature of the 435 MHz Tx
    ITXB   N=0:150     I=N / 100 Ampers  D.C. current of the 145MHz Tx
    PTXB   N=0:70      P=N / 10 Watts    VHF power of the 145MHz Tx
    TTXB   N=50:190    T=N - 100 deg C   Temperature of the 145MHz Tx
    TEXT   N=30:250    T=N - 100 deg C   Temperature of the outer case
    TINT   N=30:190    T=N - 100 deg C   Temperature of the inner case
    TOR    N=10:250    T=N - 100 deg C   Temperature of the Earth sensor
    UOR    N=0:100     U=N / 10 Volts    Temperature of the Sun sensor  
    MTX    N=0:255     Table of operational modes. The housekeeping info.
    MRX    N=0:255     Table of operational modes. The housekeeping info.
    RS 20                                The callsign
    
    Please send reception reports to:
    plis@kaluga.ru or zaitzev@izmiran.rssi.ru

    And another new amateur radio satellite is just announced:

    SAUDISAT-1C
    Uplink:         145.850 MHz (67.0 Hz PL tone)
    Downlink:       436.775 MHz
    Launched: December 20, 2002 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic
    missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Status: Operational.  
    

    And another new amateur satellite is up:

    SAFIR-M
    Uplink          435.275 1200-baud AX.25
    Downlink        145.825 9600-baud AX.25
                (optional voice message)
    Broadcast callsign: DP0AIS
    Launched: December 20, 2002 aboard a converted Soviet ballistic
    missile from the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Status: Operational.
    

    Telecommand Control Operator Requirements Expanding:

    From ARLS001 New Saudi satellite gets OSCAR designation (on new SO-50):

    AMSAT-NA President Robin Haighton, VE3FRH, said SaudiSat-1C will require activation on each pass by a designated control operator. ''A worldwide network of designated control operators is now being developed so that radio amateurs may begin using the satellite immediately''

    Summer Funding for Non-Profit Student Projects

    Applications Due February 10th, 2003!!!

    The Cary M. Maguire Center sponsors the Maguire and Irby Family Public Service Internships program which makes up to $2,000 in support available to support individual students working on community service projects "addressing a significant need at the local, state, national or international level". The work needs to be done during June thru August, figured at up to 200 hours at $10/hr (for graduate students) or $8/hr (for undergraduates).

    A copy of the application materials (yellow form) can be found in the SMU radio club (top drawer, at front, of right-most file cabinet in station). You can also download materials directly by going to Center and selecting "student programs". You will also find sample student proposals and supervisor letters there, along with the application materials.

    This AMSAT software development project has the potential to impact many hundreds and thousands of users around the world, fostering International goodwill through satellite communications not only in the developed world, but also in more remote and less developed areas. I would highly encourage any team members who are interested in getting such funding to make an effort to put in a proposal!

    We would also welcome email on other similar funding resources which might be tapped in support of this software development project!