Eigentlich wollte ich es ja wieder selbst in die Hand nehmen, aber ich bringe es zeitlich einfach nicht unter. Bei anderen Projekten habe ich gelernt, dass die schnelle Umsetzung mit einem Offline Team so seine Probleme mit sich bringt, daher diesmal ein anderer Weg. ich stelle die englischen Indormationen, so wie sie mir zugegangen sind hier ein in der Hoffnung, dass die wichtigen Teile so wie sie hier aufschlagen, online von engagierten Helfern direkt hier im Forum live bearbeitet werden um sie denjenigen von uns, die sich bei der englischen Version nicht sicher fühlen solidarisch den Zugang zu ermöglichen.
Ich kann mir vorstellen, dass eine Reihe von uns bei diesem Projekt mitmachen möchten, sich ebenfalls einen SPUTNIK Sender bauen wollen um an der Sputnik Party teilzunehmen. Helft mit, dass es nicht daran scheitert, dass die internationale Kommunikation dieses Projektes in englischer Sprache stattfindet.
Hier der erste Einschrieb von Mike, den Anfang habe ich schon übersetzt. Akzeptiert, dass ich bei meinem Zeitdruck entscheiden musste, auf eure Mitarbeit zu setzen.
Mike schreibt:
Gentlemen,
Arnie, CO2KK, hat mir letzte Nacht das die Tageszeitung damals darüber berichtet hat, dass er als 15 Jahre alter Junge mit seinem Hammarlund RX die Signale des Sputnik aufgefangen hat.
Don Mitchell, früher Physiker bei Bell Labs, jetzt pensioniert, schrieb ebenfalls gestern Abend und fragte, ob ich die Schaltung der im Sputnik benutzten Sender kennen würde. Herr Mitchel betreut eine sehr informative Seite zum Thema Sputnik. Hier z,B. der Link zu seiner Seite über die erste Serie von "Travellers (Reisenden) die zwischen 1957 und 1958 in den Orbit geschickt wurden.
http://www.mentallandscape.com/S_Sputnik1.htm
Nach meinem Wissensstand wurde die Schaltung für den möglicherweise wichtigsten QRP Sender niemals veröffentlicht. Eine Schande, zumal es sicher riesigen Spaß machen würde ihn nachzubauen und auf den Amateurbändern zu benutzen.
Wie auch immer, als ich heute morgen erwachte fragte ich mich, wieso soll eigentlich so ein Projekt am Nichtvorhandensein der Originalschaltung scheitern, wenn es doch genügend Beschreibungen im Umfeld gibt?
Das "Dpaceflight Magazin" z.B. veröffentlichte einen wunderbaren Artikel über das 50te Jubiläum des Sputnikstarts. Der Artikel beruhte auf Versatzstücken, die in einem Zeitraum von über 20 Jahren veröffentlicht wurden. Ihr könnt den Artikel hier lesen:
http://faculty.fordham.edu/siddiqi/writin…istory_2007.pdf
"Die beiden Sender vom Typ D-200 arbeiteten auf den Frequenzen 20.005 und 40.003MHz im 15 und 7,5 Meter Band. Diese Sender (die wahrscheinlich mit Vakuumröhren bestückt waren) hatten jeder etwa 1 Watt Inputund erzeugten das berühmte Beep...Beep....Beep Signal des Sputnik. Die Signale auf beiden Frequenzen transportierten auch Informationen über Druck und Temperatur im inneren des Sputniks, ein Sender arbeitete immer dann, wenn der andere pausierte.
The two D-200 type radio transmitters operated on frequencies of
20.005 and 40.003 megacycles at wavelengths of 15 and 7.5 m. These
transmitters (which obviously used vacuum tubes) each had a power
intake of 1 watt and provided the famous “beep-beep-beep” sound to
Sputnik. The signals on both the frequencies were spurts lasting 0.2
to 0.6 seconds, and carried information on the pressure and
temperature inside the satellite; one set would transmit during the
“pauses” of the other."
"Despite objections from just about everyone, Gringauz insisted that
PS-1 carry a high frequency transmitter (the 20.005 MHz transmitter
operating in the decameter waveband) in addition to the VHF
transmitter (which had been commonly used on Soviet ballistic
missiles). ...In the end, Gringauz won over his opponents, partly
because everyone agreed that a high frequency
transmitter would ensure that the radio transmissions would be heard
around the world. The transmitter hardware was built by one
of Gringauz’ youngest engineers, Vyacheslav Lappo..."
From other sources we know the transmitter used vacuum tubes rather
than transistors. This site mentions that when the received signal
level was quite strong, the presence of a back-wave while the other
transmitter was keyed could be noted.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/features/sounds/firstsat.html
The RF oscillator, at a minimum, must have been free-running. So,
we're talking a vacuum tube crystal-controlled oscillator and a PA
having an input power of 1 watt. They may have used a PA driver stage,
or perhaps a frequency multiplier stage. If they did use a multiplier
then it must have been allowed to free-run as well. But given the
battery drain considerations, I would have done my best to reduce the
number of vacuum tube heaters, or filaments to a minimum. As such, I
think there's a fairly good chance this was a simple, MOPA design
(oscillator-> PA).
I found what might be a photograph of the transmitter on page 26 of
the December 1957 issue of the Soviet "Radio Magazine." Perhaps our
Russian speaking group members can confirm this and provide us with
other clues appearing in the article text? The magazine can be
downloaded at
http://publ.lib.ru/ARCHIVES/R/''Radio''/
Click-on ''Radio'',1957,N12.[djv].zip. The "zipped" December issue
appears in DJVU format. Don't miss the nice Sputnik cover art.
This re-post talks about the center-fed Vee dipole used (the 15m
transmitter used the 5.8meter dipole) among other things.
http://hamradio.mybb.ru/viewtopic.php?id=625
Getting to get the point, this morning I woke up thinking about how
plentiful vintage Russian military tubes are these days. Remember how
inexpensive US military surplus used to be? That's how it is right now
with Russian components (and the characteristics of some of these
tubes are simply amazing). All I can say is get 'em while they're hot,
as it surely won't last forever.
It also came to me that Expanded Spectrum Systems sells an HC49
crystal cut for 21060kHz for two and a half-bucks each.
Finally, I remarked to myself that propagation-wise, 15m may well be
open for business come the 54th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik-1
next October the 4th.
You've probably guessed by now what I'm going to propose. We have
plenty of time to throw together a simple 15m CW vacuum-tube
transmitter having an input power of 1w or less. We could use any
tubes that we like but I'm going to build mine using 1950's vintage
ex-Soviet devices. I plan to power mine with one or two of those
ubiquitous 12V sealed-lead-acid batteries. I'll VXO my crystal and
I'll let it free-run during transmit; both for historical reasons and
to improve the signal quality.
Perhaps some of the antenna gurus here would lend a hand by modeling
and testing something akin to the original 70 degree Vee dipole? Would
this be a practical antenna?
I propose that beginning on "Sputnik Day" we launch our 1 watt Sputnik
clones on 15m CW. Instead of calling CQ, our call could be along the
lines of "Beep_Beep_Beep_Beep_Beep_Beep de AA1TJ". In other words, six
letter E's followed by our call sign. Given that I can barely organize
the socks in my underwear drawer, perhaps someone skilled at
organizing events would take up the cause?
One more thing. Poking around on Google last night, I was struck by
how many people remarked that the experience of Sputnik had changed
their lives. Some decided to become engineers, scientists or amateur
radio operators. I didn't know it at the time, but Sputnik changed the
way that I was educated. Not only did this little QRPp transmitter
make a tremendous impact on the world, but radio amateurs were front
and center. It seems appropriate that we should commemorate this
extraordinary day in the history of QRPp.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHaJDuq6tBM
(they were seeing the orbiting booster stage rather than the satellite)
Sputnik Mania...the complete film in two parts (warning...contains
some political "button-pushing")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jI5RBRWIOE
If I happen to learn more about the original transmitter I'll be sure
and post it on my blog or web site. I found particularly interesting
the fact that WWV interrupted some of their 20MHz transmissions in
order to accommodate Sputnik's signal; a gentlemanly thing to do
As for the possibility of an event along these line, any comments or
discussion is most welcome. I plan to make a start on my little
Sputnik sender upon my return from vacation in July.
Ha...I just received several fairly good-quality color photos of the
original Sputnik transmitters! At first glance it looks as though they
used two subminiature pencil tubes! The quartz crystal looks very
similar to our HC-18/u package. The RF portion is very simple in
appearance. In fact, it reminds me of something you'd find in a 1950's
ARRL Mobile Radio Manual! ;o)
The fellow who sent these apparently has a contact with one of the
original Sputnik (non-electronic) hardware designers; who is said to
be "still very much alive." My contact is going to make an inquiry
with his Russian contact about the transmitter.
Very cool...
73/72,
Mike, AA1TJ
