Students FM transponder Satellite Launched

CAS-2T a technical verification satellite for CAMSAT CAS-2 series amateur radio satellite launched at 23:42 UT 9 November 2016 on a CZ-11 rocket

The 2U CubeSat, developed by students from Fengtai District, Xicheng and Haidian District secondary schools, carries a ham radio 145/435 MHz FM transponder. CAS-2T will not be separated from the final stage of rocket, so the orbital life may be 10 to 30 days before the final stage of the rocket re-enters the atmosphere.

Amateur radio payloads:

CW Telemetry Beacon : 435.710 MHz
FM Transponder Uplink : 145.925 MHz
FM Transponder Downlink : 435.615 MHz

Launch vehicle: CZ-11(Y2) solid rocket
Launch time: 23:42, 9-Nov-2016
Epoch time: +620.615 seconds
Inclination degree: 97.400985 degrees
RA of node degree:
Eccentricity: 1.77E-4
Perigee degree: 328.206969 degrees
Mean anomaly degree: 198.226766 degrees
Period: 5685.564 seconds
Speed: 7607.496391 m/s
Longitude: 93.693693E
Latitude: 13.531945N

News report (in Chinese) - https://www.chinaspaceflight.com/satellite/fengtai-shaonian-01.html

Mike Rupprecht DK3WN – CAS-2T seems to be Object 2016-66E - http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?p=75971

‘Keps’ for new satellites launched in past 30 days - http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/tle-new.txt

WWII Veteran Still Taps out Morse code

Having learned morse code at the age of 20, Merle Taylor VE1VCI is still practicing Morse code from her station located Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

Ms Taylor was part of the Allied war effort after joining the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. Ms Taylor was tasked with teaching CW to Pilots.

There were 59 airbases built across Canada to accommodate the boys from England, Scotland, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia and Canada. It was that group of boys that I taught Morse code to.”

”It’s a signal that will get through because of the sharpness where a voice couldn’t. And the other thing is you could send a secret message.
— Merle Taylor VE1VCI

Enrol for UK Advanced Distance Learning Course

Enrollment is now open for the Advanced Distance Learning course starting mid-January, over 50 people have already signed aiming to sit the UK Amateur / Ham Radio Advanced exam around late June / early July 2017.

The course guides students through the RSGB Advance textbook with lots of revision questions, exercises and videos to watch. Students have access to an online tutor who will provide advice and can answer any questions that might arise.

There are no charges for the training but students pay a refundable deposit which is paid in return for seeing the course through. Those that do not complete the course agree to donate the deposit to a radio-related charity.

Steve G0FUW on Twitter -  https://twitter.com/G0FUW