We recently did a Tech Night Program about Getting Started in EME Communications (Moonbounce). I wanted to share the presentation and video from this Tech Night so that our readers might learn more about EME…
I wanted to share the presentation from our recent Tech Night on Getting Started in EME Communications. You can view the presentation and the video via the link above. Members can log in and find this and other Tech Night videos and presentations on our Tech Night page here.
The link also provides a path to learn about the design and construction of a new 2m EME station that Anita and I are building.
Last Thursday, April 30th, 2020 was a day of firsts for the ARISS program and for us here. The COVID-19 situation has forced changes to be made in the way that schools and other groups contact astronauts onboard the ISS. The pandemic has also made it impossible to access many of the ARISS telebridge stations worldwide.
We hosted the first ARISS arranged Multi-Point Telebridge contact with students in the Northern VA School Group and Chris Cassidy, KF5KDR aboard the ISS. The contact was a success and we learned a great deal as we provided in a new format for ARISS contacts.
ARISS First #1 – We’re A New Telebridge Station
Ready for Our ISS Contact
We added Telebridge capability to our space communications ground station here in New Hampshire. This involved adding a telephone patch capability to our station and a UPS to the power supply for our station. With all of the tests complete and the station preparation checked one last time before our schedule contact, we were ready!
ARISS First #2 – New Multi-Point Telebridge Format for ARISS
The COVID-19 situation is preventing most schools from assembling in a group for their contacts with the ISS. ARISS created a new, Multi-Point Telebridge format which allows students and their teacher to participate in a contact with an astronaut aboard the ISS from their homes. The new format created additional audio and coordination challenges among the students who participated in our contact.
We practiced the new format with the students multiple times before our actual contact. As a result, the students did a great job during their contact.
ARISS First #3 – Inaugural ARISS YouTube Livestream
With the help of Steve Rys, KB1VYD, ARISS created a live, multi-sourced video feed of the pre-contact program and the actual contact with the ISS.
Pre-Contact Program (Playing on the laptop in the foreground)
The live stream included audio from our station, the Moderator for the contact (John Kludt, K4SQC), Chris on-board the ISS, the students, and Kathy Lamont, KM4TAY, their teacher.
ISS Contact Livesream to YouTube
The video portion of the program included videos that explained how the contact was arranged and works, a live video of our antennas as they tracked the ISS, the student’s questions, and a view of the ISS track as it passed overhead.
The live YouTube video stream went extremely well and was well received by over 300 viewers during our contact making it the most widely enjoyed firsts for ARISS on this day.
First #4 – Chris Cassidy’s First Contact From The ISS
Our Astronaut, Chris Cassady, KF5KDR
The Northern VA School Group contact was Chris’ first from aboard the ISS. Chris had trained for the contact on the ground before his flight to the ISS.
Unbeknownst to Chris and the rest of us, there had been a reconfiguration of the radio equipment we would be using for our contact on the ISS. As a result of this, Chris had trouble getting the Amateur Radio for our contact going on the ISS. We did not make contact with him until some time after the ISS was over our location.
Calling the ISS for our contact
Once we got the problem sorted out, Chris came through loud and clear. He was able to answer several of the student’s questions before the ISS disappeared over the horizon.
What Comes Next
Our contact proved the effectiveness of the new ARISS Multi-point Telebridge format. It also proved-in the operation of our Telebridge Station here in New Hampshire. This was a great outcome given all of the Firsts for ARISS that were involved.
Additional Telebridge stations around the world will be hosting school contacts using the new format in the near future. We are looking forward to continuing to support the ARISS program via additional Teleridge contacts from our station.
The most recent project was to build complete the ground system for our new EME tower. Tower grounding is often done incorrectly. The proper way to ground a tower is shown above. Each leg of the tower is connected to an 8′ ground rod via a heavy-gauge ground cable. The cable is attached to the tower leg using stainless steel clamps meant for this purpose. The three ground rods associated with the tower legs are then bonded together using a heavy copper ground cable ring.
Ever wonder how to go about grounding and bonding a tower? It’s not difficult to do this correctly. Most of the materials that are required are available at local hardware stores or online via DX Engineering. The required materials include ground rods, heavy stranded grounding cables, ground clamps, and/or a thermal welding system to connect the cables.
Tower Grounding System
We recently put up a new tower at our station to support a 2m EME station that we are building. This provided a chance to show how to properly ground a tower. The photo above shows the completed ground system for our new EME tower. The link above explains the details.
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