The Hungarian Astronomical Association (MCSE) invites everyone to the ”Jurij’s Night” event, starting at 6 PM on April 9. Program: conversation with astronaut Béla Magyari and the constructors of Masat-1 from 6 PM, followed by an all-night party 🙂

For further details: here.

MCSE and the developers of Masat-1 welcome Everyone.

Jurij’s Night

The photos taken during the balloon-measurement have been uploaded to the proper place: into the Gallery. The snapshots of the radio conversation with Simonyi are also stored here, and, in addition, two “insider” albums are also displayed. We are about to move to building “E” of BUTE with our antenna assets, because that facility is considerably higher than the current one (“V2”). Of course we will have to test how we can establish radio connections from the new place. Due to the absence of an antenna rotator we will have to apply “self service”. Then other album was created just about us working in the Radio Club. Several tasks were executed simultaneously: replacement of furniture, satellite tracking, radio transmission, making order… the atmosphere of the work is reflected in the photos… Well, that’s how WE work 🙂

Thanks for the photos to Laja, Levi, Tibi and to the photo clubs SPOT and “Képítő”.

Almost each day of the past week was somehow affected by radio activity. The antennas were mainly facing the sky and we followed the International Space Station. We could talk with Charles Simonyi, who quoted from famous Hungarian literature even twice.

March 29, 2009 ### ISS – BUTE (Masat-1 ground station) connection and test

• HA5SIK-HA5MRC and HA8AR
• HA5SIK-HA5MRC and HA5MRO
• Message from HA5SIK

March 31, 2009 ### ISS – BUTE (Masat-1 redundant station, op.: HA7WEN)

• HA5SIK-HA7WEN
• HA5SIK-HA7WEN from MRC

April 3, 2009 ### ISS – Hungarian cities

• Hungarian cities

April 4, 2009 ### ISS – Transport devices (airplane, balloon, ship, bicycle)

• Mobil stations
• Message from HA5SIK

April 4 2009 ### Masat-1 model on a balloon above the lake Velence

• Masat communication modell on a hot air balloon

April 5 2009 ### ISS – Puskás Tivadar Specialized Secondary School in Telecommunications

• Puskás Tivadar Telecommunications Technical High School

Still last summer, when we restored the cabling, we took some photos of the antenna assets used for reception. These pictures can be seen in the Gallery. All in all, we can confidently say that all radio contacts were highly successful with Simonyi. Let us express our deep thanks to the organizers and to everyone who helped to perform everything so seamlessly. Next week we will fully focus on the satellite and its electronics. As for Charles, we wish him a successful landing.

73. “Over”.

The test transmission of our small satellite was audible this afternoon from 4 PM on 437.345 MHz. We sniffed the air from the primary terrestrial station of the satellite at the Radio Club of BUTE in the direction of the satellite model floating above the lake Velence. (Azimuth: 225 degrees, elevation: 5 degrees).

Successful Field Measurement

The purpose of the measurement

The purpose of the field trial, performed between 4 and 5 PM on 4 April 2009, was to test the communications subsystem of Masat-1 under realistic conditions, including the operation of the radio, the antenna and the communications protocol. The model was lifted up to a height of 1200 m by a balloon taking off from the beach of Agárd.

The cargo of the balloon

One of the operating models of the Masat-1 small satellite (containing a UHF transceiver, a control computer and a battery) was hanged on the balloon.

The tasks of the model flying on 4 April were

to decode the digitally modulated radio signals which were transmitted to it, and to transmit these signals back to the terrestrial control station. The latter one stores these data for later evaluation. In the absence of a received signal, the model transmitted an ID code sequence after a certain waiting time period, enabling the detection of Masat-1 by a radio receiver and a corresponding computer even if the receive signal level was far below the noise.

Radio amateurs: when and what to observe

If you succeeded to receive it, please send us the recorded audio in *.wav format. Further information can be found on this site and also here…