We have some new TLEs for object 2013-066B
2013-066B 1 39417U 13066B 13330.15401895 .00003238 00000-0 45063-3 0 205 2 39417 97.7994 42.6429 0062763 180.4144 179.7025 14.77120863 712
These still seem to be the best fit but we would appreciate any comments.
As we know there is some discrepancy between the original published frequencies for the spacecraft and those we all experiencing in flight.
It is possible that the transponder input bandpass frequencies may also be varying due with the colder than expected temperatures being experienced. (We did launch in the winter:)) You can track the RF board temp on the telemetry.The RX board temp varies by some 30C over a full orbit and this will be affecting the oscillator frequencies.
We do not yet have final confirmation of the object number so the Doppler shift is probably not yet being precisely counteracted by the various software programmes which will be adding to the confusion.
So just at the moment we cannot give precise guidance on the uplink/downlink formula that users should employ but we are working on it and would appreciate input and observations.
Our analysis of the housekeeping data suggests that all is well on-board FUNcube-1, we are considering switching to continuous transponder mode for a few hours over the weekend to determine the effect that this might have to the on-board temperatures. Presently we are looking at trying this during an early morning pass over the UK on Sunday but we will confirm this plan nearer the time.
Finally we would point you to some good media coverage that the project has had from the BBC in the past 24 hours!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25084547
http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/pods
(look for the “Outriders 26 Nov 13: Crypto, crosswords and tiny satellites” edition)
The FUNcube-1 spacecraft was switched to its nominal “autonomous” operating schedule around midday yesterday.
This schedule has:
High power telemetry only when in sunlight (also known as “Educational” Mode) and
Transponder with low power telemetry when in eclipse (also known as “Amateur” Mode)
This switching is controlled automatically by the the magic in the CCT (Command, Control and Telemetry) subsystem on board.
We do not plan to change this operating schedule in the immediate future, unless we have to!
We have enabled some new Fitter messages today and monitored, with great interest, the telemetry that has been contributed by more than 100 stations around the world and is now displayed and stored in the Data Warehouse.
We cannot over-emphasize just how important this data is to the FUNcube team in helping us build up a good knowledge of the operating status of the spacecraft as it orbits the earth.
Please please keep it coming in and if you know of anyone who could set up some simple, automated, groundstations in some of the more remote locations then please encourage them to do so for us.
The AO73- FUNcube-1 Telemetry Beacon and Transponder Passband as seen by Mike DK3WN on 23/11/2013
We only have “Whole Orbit Data” for a few channels so we will be relying on all the remote data we can gather.
From reports that we have seen there have been many successful QSO’s using AO73 in the last 24 hours and there have been many reports of strong signals and smooth sounding audio. We are very grateful for your observations.
We have not received any new keps and are, ourselves, still using 2013-066B although these appear to be a little late. We hope to get more news on this from the space tracking experts shortly.
Thank you for all your support!
After some commanding “difficulties” – actually caused by a setup error here at the ground station, we can confirm that AO-73 was switched into autonomous mode during our pass on Orbit 32. Your reports are awaited with interest!
We have reviewed our plan to switch on the transponder today (Sat) and decided that rather than leave the transponder on for a whole orbit, we should put the spacecraft into ‘autonomous’ mode, whereby the transponder will automatically switch on when the spacecraft enters darkness, and switch off again when it enters sunlight.
We have revised the plan, as we feel this approach is less risky. We are very sorry to disappoint our European supporters, but we hope you appreciate that at this stage in FUNcube-1’s life we must be as cautious as possible.
The good new is that if successful on the first orbit, we will leave FUNcube-1 in autonomous mode.
We are keen to get telemetry when the transponder is on; the tlm transmitter will still be on, but at low power.
73s – The FUNcube Team
We are planning to open the transponder for a single orbit tomorrow. The aim of this test is to establish the thermal performance of the satellite when in this mode for an extended period. All radio amateurs who are in the footprint are welcome to make their own tests of the transponder up/down links, and make QSOs. We are planning to switch on the transponder either during the orbit timed at 0937 UTC (orbit 31) TCA Bletchley Park, or the following orbit at 1113 UTC (orbit 32).
If you do make a QSO or test, please report the details below as a comment.
Please note that we have not yet fully characterised the transponder frequencies.
This 
morning we decided to try out the transponder for the first time. Howard and Ciaran were dispatched to the car park with a portable ground station. Howard was to try the transponder, and Ciaran recorded the IQ files for examination later, using his Elk, FUNcube Dongle, and MS Surface Pro laptop. The test was a success, and with his pair of 817’s (one tx one rx) and trusty Arrow antenna Howard was able to hear his SSB signal at good strength through the transponder. We hope to do some further transponder tests soon, and are as yet undecided when these should be, but probably tomorrow. We’ll try and announce here when we plan to do further testing.
We have also been busy with the Media today. In particular we were visited by the BBC TV in the form of presenter John Maguire and his camera man, who shot what seemed like a lot of footage. Keep a look out for us on BBC-1 Breakfast TV between 6 am and 9 am on Monday morning. We’ve been told that our ‘spot’ will last between 2 and 4 minutes, perhaps at 07:50 or 08:50. Its estimated that it attracts about 7 million viewers!
After the visit to the Radio Centre, John Maguire asked us to support a visit to a local school, Abbeys
Primary School in Bletchley, to meet up with some 10-11 year old pupils and talk to them about the FUNcube project. The visit was a huge success, with the school children asking lots of questions. As this was the first educational outreach opportunity after launch, the school children were asked to compose a Fitter message which we will upload to FUNcube when they have decided what it should be! (Teachers’s comment “Might be their home work!”).
In summary – an amazing day!
We have been helped terrifically by having such a large number of amateur radio stations around the globe, contributing the telemetry that they have received, to our central Data warehouse. This information has been critical to our decision making processes on many occasions during the day.
The data warehouse can be seen here https://warehouse.funcube.org.uk//
We are extremely grateful to the 65+ stations who have contributed to the success of the day and we request everyone to please keep it flowing.
Although we were all pretty tired by the time of the last pass this evening, we finished a long day in a pub car park (approx +3C) testing out our ability to receive and decode signals from FUNcube-1 – AO-73 with small antennas. This is such an antenna, and as you can see, it has been placed quite low down near some trees. It was recently constructed by Duncan Hills (no licence yet) but had not been tested before. Duncan has been one of the leads in the Dashboard development but has, as you can see, skills in the analogue domain as well. It can be reported that he was successful in decoding a good number of frames during a sub 11 degree elevation pass. Another handheld Elk/dongle/tablet combination co-located in the carpark, operated by Ciaran M0XTD, was equally successful.
As this type of operation was one of the original design requirements for this project we have completed our work for the day with some considerable satisfaction.
Again many thanks to everyone for their support today and for all the support that the project has received since its inception.
We should have more reports tomorrow.
73
Graham
G3VZV
We are delighted to be able to reproduce the formal email received here this afternoon at Bletchley Park, informing us that the FUNcube-1 spacecraft can now be referred to as AO-73.
To: Mr Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG and Mr Jim Heck G3WGM
From: William Tynan, W3XO
Congratulations on the successful launch of the FUNcube-1 CubeSat, launched this morning from Yasny in Russia at 07:10:10.47 UTC November 21st 2013.
Since FUNcube-1 meets all of the requirements for being issued an OSCAR number, including coordination through IARU and requesting such a number; I, under authority vested in me by the President of AMSAT-NA, do hereby name FUNcube-1, “AMSAT- OSCAR-73” or “AO-73.”
I, and all at AMSAT-NA wish AMSAT- OSCAR-73 great success in fulfilling all of its mission objectives and we welcome it to the long list of Amateur Radio satellites.
73,
William (Bill) Tynan, W3XO
OSCAR Number Administrator
PLEASE NOTE THIS DATA IS NO LONGER CURRENT – PLEASE VISIT THE
https://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/latest-two-line-elements/
PAGE FOR UP-TO-DATE INFO
Following today’s successful launch of the FUNcube-1 satellite, we have received updated keplerian element data from our launch provider, ISIS.
FUNCUBE 1 00312U 00312A 13325.30964218 .00000000 00000-0 10000-4 0 7 2 00312 97.7992 38.2578 0062122 196.7894 338.6768 14.77349691 03
73s
The FUNcube project team
After a very exciting morning here at the National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park, the FUNcube Project team have been celebrating the successful launch of FUNcube-1. Telemetry signals have been heard all over the world and our tests continue to check out the spacecraft.
Even with all that excitement, we have also identified and corrected an issue with the Dashboard that affected users of the FUNcube Dongle Pro+ whereby there was no spectrum display in the Tuning window in the absence of a signal to the Dongle.
A new version, Version 809 has been made available an updated version of the telemetry Dashboard and can be downloaded from
https://funcube.org.uk/working-documents/funcube-telemetry-dashboard/
73s
The FUNcube project team
We have seen that the on board temperatures are a few degrees lower than we expected and decided to attempt a command or two on the second pass over the UK.
Everyone was quite amazed that the very first command transmitted up to the spacecraft actually worked first time.
FUNcube-1 is now transmitting at approx. 270mW – about 10 dB stronger than safe mode. We will leave it in this mode for at least this orbit.
More news when we have some, but many many thanks to everyone for their support especially those who have uploaded the data to the warehouse – this has been extremely important in helping us understand what is happening on the spacecraft – we are very grateful to you guys!
We have data in from twelve countries.
Welcome to the FUNcube Web Site 