So, how do we use the rest of the HamSat system? It starts with a little more information…
Documents for New Satellite Users is a good place to start.
“This is a collection of articles introducing amateur satellites and related topics that are hosted here on AMSAT.ORG. … You should find some good info in each of these articles.”
A few of the links are labelled:
- The Amateur Satellite Resource Guide
- Introduction to Amateur Satellites
- Working your first Amateur Satellite!
- Working the Easy Sats
and more!
The ‘Introduction to Amateur Satellites‘ is a very nice slide presentation in a PDF by Emily Clarke. You get a useful, quick overview of the various parts of he whole thing, in 45 pages.
There are even some links in other languages!
The deeper I dig, the more technical it seems so I will just point to some resources and let you at ’em. If I find a good Ham who can provide better guidance, I’ll have them write for you. My concern is that I’ll mess it up for you, which would be less than useful.
Working your first Amateur Satellite! by Tony Langdon looks good. He says that “There are several low Earth orbiting satellites which can be worked with relatively simple transceivers and antennas. This article will concentrate on voice operation, as I have no experience at all with digital satellite operation.” It doesn’t look like something a complete newbie can make use of though. If you’re already a ham, it might work.
Working the Easy Sats – that looks more helpful. Gary B Rogers is very down to Earth and relates his own experiences.
This sounds like it would be a fun way to be an Everyday Spacer!
NOTES:
*Some Equipment May be Necessary
*No Minimum or Maximum age, Just Pass the Tests
*There May be Some Costs Involved
Sources
*http://www.n6kth.com/satellites/
*http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/
*http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/Intro_sats.pdf
*http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/langdon.php
*http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/easysat.pdf
*http://www.flickr.com/photos/ka3rkw/178689031/
