RS-10/11 and RS-12/13: An Informal Recent History
Can someone give me a status report on RS-10/11. I have seen no mention
that it is in operation, and no mention that it isn't? I'm sure I can't
be the only one wondering, so you might want to post your response to the
reflector.
[Danny Messano KE4RAP]
OK, here's what i could find on-line at AMSAT.ORG (without doing brute-force
searching). Here's where RS-10/11's failure was reported:
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-152.02
RS-10/11 SILENT
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 152.02 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 01, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-152.02
Various reports have said that, since late on May 25th or early on May 26th
RS-10/11 has been silent. Jess Burmeister, KB0VUU, reports. making two
contacts on RS-10 on 25 May 97. These contacts occurred at 1745Z with
KB4LCI and at 1930Z with N0IBT.. But, on May 26 at 1630 UTC Steve Ford,
WB8IMY, reported he heard nothing, not even the beacon. Since the 26th of
May, ANS has received several other reports from around the world
confirming RS-10 is silent. Mark Behrens, W4GP, states he checked all of
the A, K, &T beacon frequencies for RS-10 and -11 and heard nothing.
This pass started in eclipse and came into the Sun about half way through.
At this time no official word on what has caused the silence of RS-10/11.
But, efforts continue in an attempt to get some official word.
[ANS thanks all the amateurs who have helped gather information on RS-10.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-159.03
RS NEWS FROM G3IOR
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 159.03 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 08, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-159.03
RS-10 still silent:
RS-10's beacon, ROBOT and transponder remain silent whilst designer and
builder Andy Papkov carries out experimental work with the satellite from
the RS3A command station. Leonid Labutin UA3CR reports that it is hoped
that RS-10 will be active again soon, long before it's tenth birthday.
,,,
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-166.07
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 166.07 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JUNE 15, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-166.07
...
RS-10
(Uplink 145.865-145.905 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4 MHz CW/SSB)
RS-10 Still silent.
RS3A needs some SWL reports of RS-10.
What time you heard RS-10, and also the date.
Send info via packet to Andy, .RS3A.
Packet: RK3KPK@RA3KP.MSK.RUS.EU
...
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-194.04
RS-10 AND 16 UPDATES
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 194.04 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 13, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-194.04
Here's part of a message just received 10th July '97, from
Leonid Labutin, UA3CR, in answer to queries regarding the
status of RS-10 and two parameters of the RS-16 telemetry
They were Channel 'G' "U of transponder V" and Channel 'F' "U o
f stabilizer V".
Leonid Labutin, UA3CR, responded,
"Yesterday I had meeting with Alex Papkov at GCC. We talked about
RS-10 and other problems. He thinks there is 1 - 2% of the
possibility to restore RS-10. It will be clear after coming back
one good expert in GCC from his vacation. Cross fingers....."
"Regarding G and F (of RS-16) TLM, G is Voltage on the
transponder in Volts units, F is Voltage on BCR (14->27 V) in
Volts units. It used only for scientific experimental equipment
installed on the board."
[ANS thanks Leonid Labutin, UA3CR, and Pat Gowen, G3IOR, for this
updated news.]
/EX
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-194.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 194.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JULY 13, 1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-194.05
...
RS-10
(Uplink 145.865-145.905 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4 MHz CW/SSB)
RS-10 Still silent.
...
During the last month before ANS stopped reporting on RS-10:
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-257.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 257.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 14,1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-257.06
...
RS-10
(Uplink 145.865-145.905 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4 MHz CW/SSB)
RS-10 Still silent.
RS-12
(Uplink 21.21-21.25 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.41-29.45 MHz or
145.91-145.95 MHz CW/SSB)
Operational.
RS-12 continues to provide good signals to North America, in spite
of the increased daytime activity on 15 m. Ops are encouraged to
listen to 15 m before they transmit, however. There may be a simplex
QSO in progress on the frequency you have chosen."
[ANS thanks Dick Montgomery, N3DV, for this update.]
...
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-271.05
RS-12 IN MODE A
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 271.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 28,1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-271.05
Bob Dannals, W2GG, reports via DX PacketCluster that the RS-12
transponder is now operating in Mode A, uplink 145.910-950,
downlink 29.410-450. Modes K and T are not operational,
he reports. Roy Soifer, W2RS, told ANS that excellent signals were received
using Mode A This is the message that was on the Beacon , during the 06:09z
pass on September 27.
CQ CQ CQ DE RS12 RX 21 RX145 TX 29 MHZ"
Despite what the CW beacon says, W2GG and W2RS have been unable to access
RS-12 through the 21 MHz uplink. The 145 MHz uplink, however, works very
well.
[ANS thanks Roy Soifer, W2RS, and Bob Dannals, W2GG, for this story.]
/EX
The reason for the change over was not stated, it could have been problems
with 15m or the apparent loss of RS-10.
And the last mention of RS-10 that i could easily find:
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-285.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 285.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, OCTOBER 12,1997
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-285.06
...
RS-10
(Uplink 145.865-145.905 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.36-29.4 MHz CW/SSB)
RS-10 Still silent.
...
After the start of 1997, RS-12 was switched into KA mode, so apparently
15m wasn't a serious problem.
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-004.06
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 004.06 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, JANUARY 04, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-004.06
...
RS-12
(Uplink, 145.91-145.95 MHz CW/SSB, Downlink 29.41-29.45 MHz)
Operational, now in mode KA.
Wayne Day, N5WD, tells the Amsat News Service that
on 1/3/98 at 0750, K5PK (Mode K) and Wayne (Mode A) QSO'ed on
RS-12's orbit # 34664. He mentioned that he noticed a message
on his local packet system that mentioned that RS-12 was back
into Mode K.
Wayne Day, N5WD,
...
RS-12 was switched back to mode KT in late August, 1998:
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-242.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 242.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, AUGUST 30, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-242.05
...
RS-12
Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz
CW/SSB
Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz
CW/SSB
Beacon 29.408 MHz
Robot Uplink 21.129 MHz Downlink 29.454 MHz
Operational, mode KT.
Wayne, N5WD, reports RS-12 has been switched into Mode KT, with a 15-meter
uplink and 10-meter and 2 meter downlinks. John, K6YK, reports "the 2 meter
downlink is very loud and is easy copy compared to 10 meters. John also
reports is only takes low power on 15 meters to have an effective uplink
signal. "There seems to be a lot of high powered stations pumping the
satellite receiver AGC," said K6YK. Al, WC9C, also reports a strong VHF
downlink from RS-12.
...
A couple of weeks later, RS-12/13 got a new control operator:
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-256.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
HR AMSAT NEWS SERVICE BULLETIN 256.05 FROM AMSAT HQ
SILVER SPRING, MD, SEPTEMBER 13, 1998
TO ALL RADIO AMATEURS BT
BID: $ANS-256.05
...
RS-12
Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB (not available in mode KT)
Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB Downlink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz
CW/SSB
Beacon 29.408 MHz
Robot Uplink 21.129 MHz Downlink 29.454 MHz
Operational, mode KT.
Ray, W2RS, reports receiving the following about RS-12 via packet from
G3IOR:
"I had communications with Andy, RK3KPK. He tells me that the Aero-Cosmic
Laboratory is no more and that RS-12 command is now in the hands of Alex
Papkov, in Kaluga City, Russia.
Jerry, K5OE, did some on-air tests of the two RS-12 downlinks and reports
the 2-meter downlink is as good or better than 10 meters. K5OE reports the
2m downlink has better overall quality but is subject to some minor QSB and
more doppler correction. Many stations have reported strong 2-meter
downlink signals from the satellite in mode KT.
Over the next few months, Alex Paplov took some time to learn what was
functional on both RS-12 and RS-13 (twins piggybacked on a Russian COMSAT).
During that time, RS-12/13 changed modes often and that is not summarized
here. Most of that time, Mode A was not active. Again, after the first of
the 1999, RS-12/13 was reported to be functional in Mode A again:
SB SAT @ AMSAT $ANS-003.05
WEEKLY SATELLITE REPORT PT 1
...
Radio Sport RS-12
Uplink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB
Uplink 21.210 to 21.250 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.410 to 29.450 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 145.910 to 145.950 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 29.408 MHz
Robot Uplink 21.129 MHz Downlink 29.454 MHz
Last reported to be semi-operational, beacon only.
Radio Sport RS-13
Uplink 21.260 MHz to 21.300 MHz CW/SSB
Uplink 145.960 MHz to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 29.460 MHz to 29.500 MHz CW/SSB
Downlink 145.960 to 146.000 MHz CW/SSB
Beacon 29.504 MHz
Robot Uplink 21.140 MHz Downlink 29.458 MHz
Last reported in mode KA with a 10-meter downlink and a 15-meter
and 2-meter uplink.
The RS-12/13 satellite has seen many recent changes in operational
status. Modes K, T, KT and now mode KA operation have all been
reported by a number of stations.
Dave, VK3DXL, reports no trouble hearing his mode A downlink, using
10 watts on 2-meter CW into a vertical and a simple 10-meter ground
plane on receive. Dave reports "the CW beacon was quite strong and the
downlink was crowded with 15-meter stations who had no idea that the
satellite was overhead." Greg, N0ZHE, reports great signals on mode A.
Greg says mode A "is great way to get your feet wet if you want to get
started in satellite operations with basic antennas." Bill, KA7YAO,
reports a contact with Al, XE2YVW. "Signals were 5X5 to 5X7 and the
beacon was a full 5X7 in Montana." Bill tells ANS he has been "having a
blast on RS-13," working K5WNO, VE7STB, N1ZKB, W3FP, W7WLK
and K5OE.
No official word from the Russian satellite controllers has been received.
ANS recommends monitoring each satellite carefully to determine the
transponder in operation and which mode it is operating in.
RS-12/13 command is now in the hands of Alex Papkov, in
Kaluga City, Russia.
As well as being the start of the year, at that point, it appeared that
the recently launched SEDSAT-1 would not be functional in Mode A in the
near future (if at all). So it was much appreciated that some satellite
(besides RS-15) is operating in Mode A again.
-- KD6PAG