FUNcube FlatSat Meeting

AMSAT-UK have held a FlatSat meeting to test out the sub-systems of their new Amateur Radio satellite FUNcube

Part of a FlatSat, showing the CCT board connected to the RF simulator pcb

At some stage during the development of a new satellite, it becomes necessary to bring all the sub assemblies together and make sure that they work together (both mechanically and electrically) as expected and desired.
This is known as a ‘FlatSat’ Meeting.

At the meeting AMSAT-UK carried out these tests:
- Power up CCT board, and confirm correct operation
- Power up I2C simulator/EPS board and confirm correct operation
- Connect I2C Sim/EPS board to CCT board, and check data flow.
- Power Up 10.7 MHz simulator and check operation OK
- Connect 10.7 MHz sim to CCT board and check output on 10.7 MHz (audio only)
- If using EPS, check that CCT board is measuring things like change in charging rate, etc
- Connect 10.7 –> 145 MHz converter.
- Check audio OP on 2m Rx
- Connect SSB Rx to LapTop running demod software.
- Check that tlm readings are displayed on LapTop
- Alter inputs to CCT board, eg thermistor temp, EPS voltages, etc, check that the Telemetry display on the laptop responds
- Set up and test USB rx, check signals rxed and demodulated OK

The exercise proved to be a great success and AMSAT-UK are now looking forward to the next meeting where they hope to be able to stack all of the PCBs, as they will be physically and electrically just the same as those that will fly.

Full details of the FUNcube FlatSat meeting with pictures and videos can be seen at
http://funcube.org.uk/WP3/?page_id=91

FUNcube will carry a 435 to 145 MHz linear transponder for Amateur Radio SSB and CW communications. For further information see http://funcube.org.uk/

A collection of FUNcube videos can be seen at
http://www.vimeo.com/10868402

A collection of FUNcube pictures can be seen at
http://www.uk.amsat.org/gallery2/main.php?
g2_itemId=20949

AMSAT-UK publishes a colour A4 newsletter, OSCAR News, which is full of Amateur Satellite information.
Join online at https://secure.amsat.org.uk/subs_form/

AMSAT-UK
http://www.uk.amsat.org/