--------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: EEN00002 Date: 10/16/97 From: MATT SMITH Time: 11:17pm \/To: MICHAEL WRIGHT (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: NOAA MW> RM> I am interested in receiving weather photo's from the NOAA MW> satelites. MW> MW> I presume that you are refering to the ones that are doing the live MW> fax MW> passes on 137.5. I am getting into exactly the same thing, I am MW> already MW> rx-ing SSTV & HF Weather Fax which are both quite easy. MW> The first thing you need is a good VHF radio with an arial that is MW> resonant MW> on 137 Meg, a preamp a most definate advantage. He needs to know that a vertical whip VHF antenna is unsuitable. He needs some kind of antenna that picks up over the area from horizon to horizon (and up) like the cloverleaf designs over mesh or a "turnstile". They can be made cheaply, and I remember seeing plans for them around the Space Shuttle ham missions. --- Simplex BBS (v1.07.00Beta [DOS]) * Origin: * The Spirit of '76 * (1:3644/8) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: EEN00003 Date: 10/18/97 From: MATT SMITH Time: 12:06am \/To: TOM DELFRATTE (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: SW ANTENNA TD> Well since that message i ran a 60' piece of #16 wire outside sloping TD> it TD> slightly downhill (?) this has yielded astounding results * Just having the wire _long_ makes for excellent results compared to the receiver's built-in whip, particularly as you start trying to listen to frequencies nearer the AM broadcast band than to 30 MHz. 60' of wire does work an awful lot better than 20', indoors or out (try it). --- Simplex BBS (v1.07.00Beta [DOS]) * Origin: * The Spirit of '76 * (1:3644/8) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: EEN00004 Date: 10/17/97 From: PAUL YOUNG Time: 11:02pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Ham Radio OP SYSOP ??? Hi all, is there any other Ham Radio users that are Sysops ?? I run the Cellular BBS at Northampton with a bias towards all types of Comms Ham Radio, SWL, Cellular, CB, PMR etc... I also run a mail network called BBSNet! BBSNet! has been running for many years now and I am on the lookout for new BBS's to join in. And am hoping for some of the Ham type BBS's to join... Wanna know more ? FREQ magic file name BBSNET from 2:2503/422 Paul Young G0HWC --- ViaMAIL!/WC4 v1.30 * Origin: Cellular BBS 01604-757777 "4 lines all 33k6" (2:2503/422) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: EEP00000 Date: 10/19/97 From: ART PREIS Time: 07:33pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: Radio St. Helena According to HCJBs DX-Partyline, this years broadcast by Radio St. Helena ill be on Oct. 26 from 19.00-23.00 UTC on 11092.5 KHz SSB. Art --- * Origin: The Munsters, Munster, Ontario, Canada (1:163/335.18) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: EEQ00000 Date: 10/19/97 From: NATHAN BOLLINGER Time: 08:25am \/To: TOM DELFRATTE (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: SW ANTENNA >Well since that message i ran a 60' piece of #16 wire outside sloping it >slightly downhill (?) this has yielded astounding results * some stations >are coming in with so much modulation 30 + db on my meter that i ahve to >turn them down * any other tricks you know of would be most appreciated * >also from the end of that wire i attached a 6' steel rod * that enables me >to hook up a cb radio to the hole contraption and the recieve is fantastic >* You're already doing the best thing you can.....EXPERIMENTING! B-) Have fun! --- SLMAIL v5.02 (#0226) * Origin: The Big Byte BBS 704-279-2295 (1:379/301) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: EEQ00001 Date: 10/19/97 From: NATHAN BOLLINGER Time: 08:28am \/To: MATT SMITH (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: ANTENNA >NB> recieving antenna. Something you might want to try just as an >NB> interesting >NB> experiment is take a small pocket-sized AM radio and wrap the end of >NB> a long >NB> peice of wire around it several times. You'd never believe the >NB> stations >NB> that "el-cheapo" radio is capable of picking up! >NB> >NB> > > Someone even commercially sells (at a fancy price) some gadget that >essentially is the same! Hehehe It never ceases to amaze me some of the stuff that's available on the market that a person can throw together with stuff they already have on hand. I once built what I called a "Longwire Longwave Filter." It was enclosed in a 35mm film can, and what it did was filter all the MW garbage out of the longwave band. It improved longwave reveption tremendously! When I showed it to a friend, he went nuts telling me that I oughta market the thing. Then I told him to open it up and he saw that all I did was make a toroidal choke out of a large ferrite bead. He couldn't believe it. --- SLMAIL v5.02 (#0226) * Origin: The Big Byte BBS 704-279-2295 (1:379/301) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: EEQ00002 Date: 10/20/97 From: MARK MILLION Time: 08:45pm \/To: NATHAN BOLLINGER (Read 0 times) Subj: Re: ANTENNA I remember a long time ago in the mid-seventies; My uncle took an antenna part that had blown off of a radio tower that was nearby. The radio antenna was almost the size of a TV antenna that one would put on the roof of thier home. He attached it to a pocket AM radio, if anyone remembers the little dinky things with the wrist strap atttached, He lives in Hibbing, MN and was picking up stations all over Canada! I don't know what part of Canada but they were being brodcast in French. He was running the whole thing off a 9 volt battery too. Talk about your cheapie receiver!! --- TriToss (tm) Professional 11.0 - (Unregistered) * Origin: HamRadio Connection / Fridley, Mn. (612) 586-9589 (1:282/4115.0) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: EES00000 Date: 10/21/97 From: GEORGE WOOD Time: 02:16pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: MediaScan/Sweden Calling Dxers 2281 Apparently-to: scdx@get.pp.se From: "George Wood" ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: :: MediaScan :: SWEDEN CALLING DXERS :: from Radio Sweden :: Number 2281--October 21, 1997 ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Satellite, shortwave and other electronic media news from Radio Sweden. This week's bulletin was written by George Wood. Packet Radio BID SCDX2281 Updated Web edition at: http://www.sr.se/rs/english/media/ All times UTC unless otherwise noted. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- - NORDIC MEDIA NEWS RADIO SWEDEN-- Digital technology is far from perfected, and this has manifested itself during the last week or so here at Radio Sweden. Because of as-yet-unexplained problems with the network connected to our Radioman digital production system (not, I must hasten to add, with Radioman itself), listeners may have noted short pauses (about the time it takes to run down a corridor and kick a computer) in our programs. Our technical gurus are working hard, looking for the cause. (Just when we thought the thing was finally working......) Meanwhile, starting this Sunday, October 26 (when Europe returns to standard time), we have a new schedule (all times UTC unless otherwise indicated): Europe, Africa, and the Middle East: We can be heard on satellite in Europe at 13:30, 17:15 and 18:30 hrs UTC, on Eutelsat II-F1 on the NBC Europe transponder on 10.987 GHz, audio 7.56 MHz. We can also be heard at 20:30 hrs UTC via the World Radio Network on Astra transponder 22 (which is VH-1) audio 7.38 MHz. We're also broadcasting to Africa and the Middle East in digital MPEG-2 via WRN on Intelsat 707 on 3.9115 GHz , daily at 15:00 hrs UTC and Saturdays only at 00:30 UTC. The latter is also be heard in South Africa on SAfm 104-107. The WRN relays can also be heard in South Africa on the MultiChoice digital direct-to-home service on PanAmSat 4, 68.5 degrees West, Audio Channel 51. Our shortwave schedule to Europe, Africa and the Middle East will be shifting to maintain the same local time: 18:30 hrs 1179, 6065, and 9645 kHz (Sundays 9645 kHz only) 20:30 1179 and 6065 kHz 21:30 1179, 6065, and 9655 kHz (weekends only) 22:30 1179, 6065, and 7325 kHz Asia and the Pacific: By satellite via WRN on AsiaSat-2 on 4.000 GHz, at 15:00 hrs UTC daily (that's 02:00 hrs AET) and Saturdays only at 00:30 UTC (which is 11:30 hrs AET). Shortwave: 13:30 hrs 9705 and 13740 kHz 14:30 hrs 11880 kHz 01:30 hrs 7265 kHz North America: Our satellite schedule to North America remains via WRN on Galaxy 5 transponder 6 (WTBS), audio 6.8 MHz at 9:30 PM EST, that's 6:30 PM PST. And Across Canada on CBC Overnight Monday to Friday at 2:05 AM local time, weekends at 3:05 Shortwave: 12:30 hrs on 11650 (or 13740) and 15240 kHz 14:30 hrs on 11650 and 15240 kHz 02:30 hrs on 7280 kHz 03:30 hrs on 7115 kHz On the other hand, we'll no longer be broadcasting in English to Latin America. All of these changes go into effect this Sunday, October 26th. If you missed any of that you can order a copy of the new schedule by e-mail, by sending a message to english@rs.sr.se And you can also find the new schedule on our pages on the World Wide Web, which start at: http://www.sr.se/rs/ And naturally, all of our programs are available over the Net in RealAudio: http://www.sr.se/rs/realaudi.htm THOR--When Norway's new Thor 2 satellite began operation recently, viewers were surprised the polarisation on the various transponders was the opposite of what had been publicised before launch. Now "Aviation Week & Space Technology" reports that a wiring error in the antenna waveguides lead to reversed polarization, an assembly mistake that was not caught in testing. (Via Curt Swinehart and Henry Spencer in sci.space.news) Animal Planet has started on Thor 1 on 11.797 GHz in clear D2-MAC. ("SATCO DX") Sky News & National Geographic and Sky Entertainment on Thor 1 and Intelsat 707 are now coded in Eurocrypt M/S2. (Richard Karlsson, "Aftonbladet") DIGITAL SATELLITE TV--Digital satellite television has now launched to Scandinavia, at least in theory. The Swedish press says that France's Canal Plus and Norway's Telenor unveiled their new Canal Digital service at the recent Sound and Image Show in Oslo. The new service, which uses Telenor's collection of satellites at 1 degree West, includes 35 TV channels and 24 pay-per-view channels. ("Dagens Nyheter", "Svenska Dagbladet") But we've yet to see any marketing for the new service in Sweden. Canal Digital has tested 24 versions of Kiosk on Thor 2 11.372 (1-12), and 11.403 (13-24) GHz in clear MPEG-2. ("SATCO DX") The Sci-Fi Channel, already available to Scandinavia in D2-MAC at 1 degree West, joined Canal Digital's digital package from the same orbital position on October 15. (Curt Swinehart) Twenty Music Choice Europe radio channels have started on Thor 2 on 11.309 GHz, in MPEG-2/Conax. ("SATCO DX") On October 14, Finnish consumer electronics manufacturer Nokia announced it was launching a new range of digital satellite receivers for the Nordic markets. (Reuters) TV8--There's a new digital signal from the satellite position at 5 degrees East. TV8, a new digital business channel broadcasting to Sweden, started October 15. Besides business news, TV8 fills out its time with documentaries and some sports. Unfortunately, since there are no digital satellite receivers for sale here yet, no one can watch the channel directly. Sweden's largest cable operator, Telia, has put TV8 out on its information channel for the time being. TV8 is currently on the aging Tele-X satellite, on 12.676 GHz in clear MPEG-2. But it will be moved to the new Sirius 2, which is now scheduled for launch on November 7. ("Dagens Nyheter", "Svenska Dagbladet", and "SATCO DX") When Sirius 2 begins operation, TV8 will also transmit in PAL on Tele-X 12.207 GHz until May 31, 1998. (Richard Karlsson, "Aftonbladet") Wouldn't analog now, and digital later made a bit more sense? DIGITAL TERRESTRIAL VS CABLE--Sweden's largest cable operator Telia has come in for criticism from Gunnel Faerm, who's been commissioned by the government to plan the introduction of terrestrial digital television here. The public service Swedish Television Company will be adding a number of new digital channels next year, but Gunnel Faerm is upset that the decoder boxes Telia is about to market for its digital cable network won't work with terrestrial digital signals. Telia says it will be marketing the new digital decoders by the end of the year. ("Dagens Nyheter", "Svenska Dagbladet") EUROPE BIB--I've just been in Britain, where satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting is preparing to launch a 200 channel digital service next year. Sky has also gotten together with several partners, including British Telecom, Midland Bank, and Panasonic, to organize British Interactive Broadcasting, which will be offering special non-TV digital offerings. I met the head of BIB, Peter van Gelder, who told me about these new services, and you can hear the interview in today's program. The service will include home shopping and banking, and access to a part of the Internet, which Peter van Gelder refers to as the Worldwide Web "Walled Garden". Users will have to use a particular BIB decoder box. While the service will initially start in Britain during the Summer ("possibly Indian Summer") of 1998, Peter van Gelder sees no obstacle to offering access to other parts of Europe (such as Scandinavia), and says there would also be advantages for European companies to offer services to Britain via BIB. BIB will allow very fast access to parts of the Internet, but not to the entire Worldwide Web. Otherwise users might be able to watch video from stations outside BSkyB's domain. These will certainly be an option in the future with such fast Web access. See the cover article in the October, 1997 issue of "Wired" magazine, about RealAudio and RealVideo, for the future of TV via the Web. Available from October 27, 1997 from: http://wwww.wired.com/wired/5.10/index.html BILL GATES AS WHITE KNIGHT?--Bill Gates' Microsoft is to test launch new television technology with the ITV and leading British cable operators, and possibly the BBC, early next year, in a growing threat to Rupert Murdoch's potential dominance of British digital TV. The pilot scheme forms part of Gates' ambition to extent his Windows software to digital TV. Microsoft has been in talks with Carlton and Granada, partners in British Digital Broadcasting, which plans to launch 20 terrestrial digital TV servies later this year. The pilot scheme, scheduled to start early next year, will see Microsoft try out a new box that gives TV viewers separate access to interactive services on the Internet. Through WebTV, which it bought in June, Microsoft also plans to offer "enhanced TV", a combination of pictures and information on screen. Instead of Microsoft, BSkyB (actually BIB) is using Open TV, a joint venture between Gates' US rival Sun Microsystems and Thomson of France, to provide the software for interactive services, Industry sources say development of the software has delayed production of BIB's box. ("The Observer") AND FROM THE OTHER FLANK--The "Financial Times" reports that four British cable TV companies are planning to create PPV movie channels under a proposed agreement with Time Warner's Warner Brothers studio. This would allow them to compete with BSkyB's coming PPV channels. ("New York Times" via Curt Swinehart) There is a well-known rivalry between BSkyB's Rupert Murdoch, and Time Warner's Ted Turner. BSKYB--Sky Box Office (the analog PPV service) has been allocated the following times on various Astra transponders: Tp 26 22:00-06:00 hrs Tp 58 20:00-06:00 (after January 1, 1998) Tp 59 20:00-18:00 Tp 60 18:00-06:00 (weekdays) 11:00-06:00 (Sundays (James Robinson) Sky News is on transponder 57 in MPEG-2, clear until November 1. (James Robinson) Sky is changing all their logos on November 1. Sky Movies is becoming Sky Movies Screen 1 and the Movie Channel is becoming Sky Movies Screen 2. There is also a possibility that Sky will launch a PPV movie channel on transponder 57 in November. A "new service" is starting there on November 1. (James Robinson) Sky's new digital service will carry multiple versions of Sky 1 and the Granada Sky Broadcasting channels, time-shifted, to give viewers more flexibility. Sky insiders have also confirmed the digital package will include 60 to 100 PPV channels, offering multi-schedule films, concerts, and sports events, around the clock. The basic digital multi- channel package will include around 60 channels, and viewers will also have access to unencrypted services, including TNT, Cartoon Network, and Eurosport. ("What Satellite TV") The National Geographic Channel will expand to a daily 12 hour service when Sky launches its digital service next year. The Hallmark Entertainment Network will hold its UK launch until the start of Sky's digital service. ("What Satellite TV") S4C--Welsh broadcaster S4C has acquired capacity on Astra 2A, which will be the home of the BSkyB digital service. S4C says it plans to launch its digital service early next Autumn, independent of Sky's digital package. ("What Satellite TV") BBC--Happy Birthday to Aunti Beeb, who turned 75 on October 18th! The BBC has announced it will launch its new 24 hour news channel, BBC News 24, from November 9. The service will initially be available in the UK via cable, and on the BBC 1 terrestrial nework during otherwise unused overnight hours. Five cable operators have already agreed to take BBC News 24 on their existing analog networks. The service will be available "on all digital platforms as they become available" which could mean the network gets carriage on the upcoming BSkyB digital satellite service, in addition to the planned terrestrial digital TV service. Sky however, may fear the competition to its own Sky News service, which cable operators have to pay for, while the BBC alternative will be free. BBC News 24 will be carried on Orion 1 on 11.535 GHz (the same transponder as Channel 5 Regions 1 and 2) in encrypted MPEG-2. (Reuters, James Robinson, and "Tele-satellit News") ASTRA--ScreenShop has replaced AstraVision (which runs Astra promos) on transponder 56 (former home of DF-1) in clear PAL. This is a new shopping "Infomercial" channel, now 24 hours a day. ("SATCO DX" and James Robinson) UK Horizons may appear on Astra transponder 56 on November 1. It is one of three new channels (the other are UK Style and UK Arena) intended for cable-only distribution (from Orion 1). (James Robinson) The German documentary channel Phoenix will replace the Spanish Minimax/Documania on transponder 36. ORB will replace Cineclassics on transponder 40. Bildungskanal will replace Cinemania on transponder 30. Hessen 3 is replacing Sportmania on transponder 32. This all happens on January 1, 1998, and all will be in clear PAL. (James Robinson) The German Premiere package (which is absorbing DF-1) has left 12.110 GHz in MPEG-2. ("SATCO DX") Three more Spanish TV channels have started in clear MPEG-2 on 11.895 GHz: Mosaico, Andalucia TV, and TVC Internactional. ("SATCO DX") Transponder 85 will be used by Canal Plus Belgium when it launches later this year or next year. (James Robinson) EUTELSAT--MCM has moved its digital package from 11.304 GHz on Hot Bird 1 to Hot Bird 3 (see below). Fashion TV has taken over Eutelsat II-F1 11.055 GHz full time, and Discovery's Animal Planet is now only on 11.304 GHz in clear PAL. Discovery is to transmit in MPEG-2 on this transponder as well, following the lead of the BBC on its BBC World/BBC Prime transponder. (Richard Karlsson, "Aftonbladet" and "SATCO DX") Only 2 of the transponders on the new Hot Bird 3 will be used for analog transmissions. Hungary's MTV2 is on 12.130 GHz, and the Greek ERT is moving to 12.284 GHz from Eutelsat II-F2. Here are the digital transponders: 12.149 GHz TPS (France) 12.168 Canal Plus Hellas (Greece) 12.188 British Telecom 12.207 CME 12.226 German digital package 12.245 MCM 12.264 German digital package 12.303 Digital package for Slovenia and Croatia 12.322 Digital platform for Poland 12.341 Tele Plus (Italy -- formerly Telepiu) 12.360 Digital Platform for Poland 12.379 Digital Platform for France 12.398 SRG (Switzerland) 12.417 Tele Plus 12.437 British Telecom 12.465 Tele Plus (Richard Karlsson in "Aftonbladet" and "What Satellite TV") With MTV2's appearance on satellite, the terrestrial MTV2 transmitters are carrying 2 new commercial stations, the new TV2 and RTL Klub. --- NetMgr 1.00.g4+ * Origin: GET, Lidingo, Sweden, +46-8-7655670 (2:201/505) --------------- FIDO MESSAGE AREA==> TOPIC: 140 SHORT WAVE Ref: EES00001 Date: 10/21/97 From: GEORGE WOOD Time: 02:16pm \/To: ALL (Read 0 times) Subj: 02:MediaScan/Sweden Calling Dxers 2281 Apparently-to: scdx@get.pp.se From: "George Wood" (Henrik Hargitai) The analog Greek channel may in fact be the new NET (New Greek Television) which has replaced ET2. The new channel has a greater emphasis on news and cultural programming. (AP) On October 12, the Spanish public broadcaster TVE's new news channel, Canal 24 Horas, started on Eutelsat II-F1, on 11.658 GHz, in clear PAL, sound 6.60 MHz. ("SATCO" and "Tele-satellit News") RAISat 2 and RAISat 3 Enciclopedia have started on Hot Bird 2 on 11.804 GHz in clear MPEG-2. ("SATCO DX") Eutelsat's newly bought TDF 2 satellite has been testing at 29 degrees East. There's been a Eutelsat promo video on 11.804 GHz. The satellite is on its way to 36 degrees East. ("SATCO DX") Hot Bird 3 tested briefly at 29 degrees East on September 14-15th, before moving to 13 degrees East. ("What Satellite TV") Testing at 29 degrees East is Eutelsat's attempt to block SES's planned use of 28.5 degrees for its Astra 2 satellites, by trying to establish a prior use of the location. INTELSAT--On October 6, Intelsat 803 replaced 601 at 27.5 degrees West. WorldNet has left 3.742 GHz in PAL, and is now in MPEG-2 on 3.715 GHz, East Hemi beam. CFI Afrique has moved from 3.910 to 3.886 GHz. Music Choice Europe in MPEG-2 has switched from 11.609 to 11.631 GHz. The South American package has moved from 3.889 to 3.924 GHz. ("SATCO DX" and Richard Karlsson, "Aftonbladet") AFRICA/MIDDLE EAST INTELSAT--Nigeria's NTA, which was previously on Intelsat 601, has started on Intelsat 515 (21.5 degrees West) on 4.092 GHz in PAL. ("SATCO DX") ASIA/PACIFIC CHINA--China's Apstar 2R satellite was successfully launched with Long March on October 16 (UTC). It has 16 Ku and 28 C-band transponders, and will be located at 77 degrees East. Commercial operation is expected to begin in mid-November. ("SATCO DX") JAPAN--DirecTV Japan says it will begin subscription services on December 1, with tests beginning in November, after the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications gives its approval. It is not certain if all 91 channels will be operational by December 1, even if the ministry grants approval. The package includes at least 9 movie channels, 8 music channels, at least 6 news channels, 7 sports channels, 10 educational and documentary channels, and many others including services about travel, diet, culture, fashion, adventure, and American women's programming. ("Tele-satellit News" and Curt Swinehart) NORTH AMERICA GE--GE-3 was activated at 87 degrees west on September 30. PBS has left Telstar 4, 11.895 GHz, and has moved to GE-3 on 12.100 GHz, in clear NTSC. ("SATCO DX") Kuwait TV has started on GE-2 on 3.820 GHz (transponder 6) in clear NTSC. ("SATCO DX") SPACENET--Spacenet 3R has completed its moved from 87 to 83 degrees West. ("SATCO DX") ECHOSTAR--Echostar 3 was successfully launched with Atlas on October 5. It willbe located at 61.5 degrees West, and carries 32 DBS transponders. ("SATCO DX") France's TV5 is to launch to the US via Echostar as a subscription channel from January, 1998. ("Tele-satellit News") B-MOVIES--The B-Movie Channel launched on Galaxy 7, transponder 22 on October 10th. It will be in the clear for a limited time. ("Tele- satellit News") LATIN AMERICA HISPASAT--A digital MPEG-2 package has replaced Hisavision on Hispasat on 12.015 GHz: TVE Internacional, Canal 24 Horas, Hispavision, EuroNews, and TVE Internacional. ("SATCO DX") LAUNCHES ARIANE 5--The launch of Western Europe's new Ariane-5 rocket has been postponed again, for more checks to safeguard against a recurrence of last year's disastrous initial test. The target date of October 28 has been scrubbed, and a new launch date will be announced this week. (Reuters) The rocket will carry amateur radio's Phase 3-D satellite, which will be placed in an elliptical orbit, rather than geo-stationary. My remarks last time that such an orbit, requiring expensive antenna rotor equipment, continues an elite tradition within amateur radio, prompted Kauto Huopio to write: "Yes, Phase 3D will be one of the most expensive amateur satellites ever built, it might be "the" biggest and most expensive amateur satellite ever built. But the amount of _voluntary_ work to the project has been huge. For example, AMSAT-OH has spent something thousands of hours bulding the most powerful 10 GHz transmitter ever on a amateur satellite. It has among other nice features a 70 W surplus TWT transmitter (acquired from Deutche Arospace if I remember). The field strength levels enables an average ham to go to the scrapyard, obtain that dumped 50cm satellite dish, modified LNA and some other stuff and he/she can have access to a very nice 10 GHz downlink, without any rotots. "This brings the story to the orbit issue. YES, the orbit is elliptic. But how? A typical orbit is such that the satellite goes up, very up, and STAYS at the same location for hours. Not exactly still, but anyway so still that NO rotor assembly is needed. Just point the antenna and go working for hours. So called "modified molnya". A stationary sat would leave half of the world without coverage of this mighty bird, and would be actually costwise impossible (would need a LARGE kick motor). "Again, to the cost issue. Yes, this is the most expensive sat. But NOTHING compared to the commercial fixed position birds. Even sizewise. And I think the effort is really worth it, because there has been never before and propably never will be a launch possibility for a radio amateur payload of this size at very cheap cost. I really can't find any of the elitism points here. I find them at normal hamshacks, mega DXpeditions and so on. Here people have really created something new, which I find to be the core of the amateur idea. I've followed the hard work of the 10GHz transmitter team quite near, and that has been volunterism at the best form." In response, I mean no disrespect to the vast amount of volunteer work from amateurs around the world on this project, and previous amateur radio satellites. It has been very impressive. Nevertheless, a satellite in an elliptical orbit does move, and you can't just point an antenna up into the sky forever. It has to be moved eventually, and this requires expensive rotors in 2 dimensions. With a geo-stationary satellite you aim the antenna once, and you're locked in forever. Costwise, Phase 3D is reported to be just as expensive as a geo- stationary amateur satellite. Certainly the elliptical variation serves most of the northern hemisphere (with the southern hemisphere getting only quick fly-bys), while a single geo-stationary satellite would only service one-third to one-half the entire globe. But there have been previous Phase 3 satellites, and there will undoubtedly be more. Had they all been Phase 4 (geo-stationary), amateur radio would have a longterm worldwide satellite system. Or have I missed something here? More comments are welcome. CYBERSPACE SATCO--The SATCO DX Search Engine has been officially launched: http://www.satcodx.com/cgi-bin/search/satcodx/