SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS007   
   ARLS007 Fox-1C and 1D Satellites to Include L-Band Uplink; Fox-1E to   
   Have Linear Transponder   
      
   ZCZC AS07   
   QST de W1AW   
   Space Bulletin 007  ARLS007   
   > From ARRL Headquarters   
   Newington, CT  April 23, 2015   
   To all radio amateurs   
      
   SB SPACE ARL ARLS007   
   ARLS007 Fox-1C and 1D Satellites to Include L-Band Uplink; Fox-1E to   
   Have Linear Transponder   
      
   AMSAT Vice President-Engineering Jerry Buxton, N0JY, has announced   
   plans to incorporate an L-band receiver in the Fox-1C and Fox-1D   
   satellites. This will allow ground controllers to select the normal   
   U/V configuration or the new L/V 1.2 GHz (23 cm) mode. Both bands   
   will operate as FM single channel.   
      
   "Rather than adding a complete new receiver, the L band 'Project   
   Downshifter' will convert the received L-band signal down to the   
   Fox-1 uplink frequency and feed it to the UHF receiver on the Fox-1   
   satellite," Buxton explained. "The design will not require an   
   additional antenna on the satellite, because the existing UHF   
   antenna will work for L band receive as well."   
      
   A new group of volunteers is working on a companion uplink station   
   to convert UHF to the L-band uplink frequencies. Team members   
   include Bruce Herrick, WW1M; Dan Hubert, VE9DAN; Elizabeth Schenk,   
   KC1AXX; Dave Smith, W6TE, and Alfred Watts, AF5VH.   
      
   The team plans to have an affordable L-band uplink ground station   
   available to amateurs by the time Fox-1C is on orbit.   
      
   Buxton also has announced plans to construct a Fox-1E "Evolution"   
   variation of the Fox-1 series, which will carry a Mode J linear   
   transponder. The transponder is planned to be 30 kHz wide and will   
   also include a 1200 bps BPSK telemetry beacon. The purpose of the   
   project is to test a  design for a linear transponder that could be   
   made available to CubeSat builders as a secondary, or even primary,   
   Amateur Radio payload.   
      
   AMSAT reports that it has been approached regarding a Fox 1E launch   
   opportunity in 2016 but said it cannot share details at this time.   
      
   Buxton said the Fox-1 Team continues to seek new volunteers with   
   solid RF building and testing experience to work on both the   
   downshifter and the transponder prototyping and construction.   
   Contact Buxton using the AMSAT Engineering online volunteer form at,   
   http://ww2.amsat.org/?page_id=1121 .   
   NNNN   
   /EX   
      
      
   )\/(ark   
      
   If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until   
   you hire an amateur.   
      
   --- FMail/Win32 1.60   
    * Origin:  (1:3634/12.71)