My ISP has offered an “Advanced Website” to go with my subscription. Last year the speed was increadsed t the maximum possible for ADSL2+, this year they increased the max speed for the next lower level ADSL. They then had to offer something extra for mine.
So I took the offer , and moved the stuff from my “standard” homepage , plus added a few new items.
When STS122 had just been launched, I went out to see if I could spot it and the ISS. The ISS arrived right on time and was *very* bright and easy to see (I missed the Shuttle, though). I had also brought my scanner radio receiver with me, and just before the ISS went into the Earth’s shadow , I heard a carrier wave for a few seconds , followed by [chorosho] (Russian for “good”) and a few more words in Russian, since they were communicating with a ground station in Russia.
In the first few orbits after launch of the space shuttle(s) and the last few orbits before the re-entry (landing) the shuttle uses the frequency 259.700 MHz (AM) for clear voice communications.
A few weeks later, when the STS-123 was launched, I joined a group listening for the Shuttle “Endeavour”. but since the high power (10 Watts) transmitter of the spacecraft was out, they were only transmitting with the low power (0.25 watts) transmitter. with my simple antenna and a long cable in to the receiver the signal was lost here, but a few other people around in Europe did hear them.
Since then I have had a preamplifier mounted at the antenna , so the loss in the cable has been compensated.
In the last few orbits before re-entry I listened for Endavour again – and even with their low power transmitter it was audible here. Signals were weak and noisy, but a few sentences were clearly heard here. Next time I will have to do some recordings.
I know this happened last week, but the preparations for going to the Eastercon/Orbital2008 have overshadowed most other things. See also previous post.
I first became aware of Atrhur C. Clarke through the movie/novel “2001 – A Space Oddyssey” which made a considreable impression on my young self.
One of my favorite longer stories by Clarke is “Rendezvous With Rama”.
I have on my shelf a brick of a book with about 100 short stories by Clarke , I think I will slowly work my way through those.
At the convention I found a signed copy of “Tales From the White Hart”, and despite the (understandably rather high) price I just had to get it. Should read the short stories in that one, too.
I see Arthur C. Clark as one of the giants in science fiction, and a very influential science writer – one of the few science fiction writers with a scientific writer’s background.
It was good to see a last minute addition to the Eastercon programme of a panel discussion about Clarke’s influence in science as well as science fiction. On top of that, one of the panelists had been the secretary for Arthur C. Clarke for about a year, and he could bring light on theless public sides of the author. Nicely done.
He will be missed in the scifi community.
Here come my entries made to my LiveJournal directly from the Eastercon/Orbital2008 – covering the first 3 days.
Friday:
Arrived safe and sound at the Eastercon in London.
Friday meeting up with a lot of new people.
Having a Babylon 5 Ranger pin helps finding other B5 fans – or they spot me …
In the morning a nice discussion about the future of the Star Trek franchise. In the end we agree that tere is indeed a future for Star Trek (no real surprise there)
Being in London, which con will be without Doctor Who in its programme? Friday had a discusion about Russel T. Davies : Fanboy let loose ?
Of course he is both a fan and the one who revived the Doctor Who as a series.
Sunday Babylon 5 is on the programme , “The Lost Tales will be on the programme – my only regret it that it is at the same time as the Neil Gaiman as Guest of Honour. difficult choice. Well , I want to meet some B5 fans here , so I guess “The LOst Tales”it will be.
Just hope to Get to have my “Day of the Dead” script book signed by Neil Gaiman.
Saturday:
Morning panel : “Doctor Who – Trickstergod ?”
Paul Cornell , writer of the double episode of the new Doctor Who : “Human Nature/Family of Blood”
Paul Cornell is a very lively panelist , lots of fun to see/hear. the discussion touched on a similarity with the Doctor and the Shadows from Babylon 5 – both being a sort of “Agents of Chaos” – quite a thought.
Lots of people reacting to the Ranger Pin , so had lots of B5 talks. Sunday “The Lost Tales” will be shown in the video room, I will be there and hopefully get some more good B5 talk.
Got some pictures – will come later – of Ranger Hilary in a very well made costume.
How about a B5 Ranger meeting a Klingon – good fun (got a pic of that as well).
In the afternoon a good panel discussion of “Religion in SF” , always a subject to generate a good discussion.
Had the “Day of the Dead” script signe by Neil Gaiman . Asked him about his position on a collection of non JMS B5 scripts , his reply sounded positive to me.
Sunday morning now – so writing this directly from the con.
This afternoon a programme point not foreseen : A tribute to Arthur C. Clarke – Have to be there.
Sunday:
Essentially no people came to watch “The Lost Tales today , so I went to the Neil Gaiman Guest of Honour performance with the author reading a bit of his work , and questions from the floor. I was slightly surprised by the reply to the question of “free circulation” of his works. He apparently has no personal objection to that as such , since it gives more people the opportunity to read his works . You could see it as free advertising. On the other hand , some of the works, like audio books are not his own property , so he can not just say :”go ahead”.
A hastily panel discussion has been organised in the response to the death of Arthur C. Clarke’s influence in science, space exploration and science fiction. He was one reason for me – and many of the panelists/audience – to get into science fiction, as well as igniting the interest for space travel and science.
I have always had an interest in astronomy, and I could not resist going to a video presentation playing the two editions of BBC and Patrick Moore’s program “The Sky at Night”.
I have always found that he possessed an enthusiasm for the subject, and a very good sense for making the complicated scientific more understandable to the general public.
Of course – lots of talks to other fans – meeting people … very enjoyable.
I am off to the Eastercon/Orbital 2008 in London this Easter.
If I get the opportunity , I will write some posts directly at the con.
The only Babylon 5 related guest I know of is Neil Gaiman , who wrote the script for the 5th season B5 episode “Day of the Dead”.
If anyone reading this is coming to the con, my Nickname will be on my badge.
As we all know, a lot of science fiction involves space travel. We sometimes tend to forget that real life space travel already takes place, albeit on a somewhat limited scale.
This week end I did a little listening to spacecrafts on the radio. You may not believe it, but space communications is not as difficult as many people would think.
I was finding out when the ISS came over the horizon here and started listening to a relay station for ham (amateur) radio situated on the ISS. If there is not any spacewalks going on, the relay station is active listening on the 435MHz (uplink) band (70cm) and transmitting on the 145MHz (downlink) band (2m).
The downlink on 145.800MHz was clearly audible with a scanner radio and a simple whip antenna, as soon as I went out on the balcony of my apartment. On average the period with audible signals is 10 minutes per pass, shorter when the pass is near the horizon and longer when the station comes over my head.
Many years ago I sometimes set my receiver to 143.625MHz in order to listen for the MIR space station (yes – the Russian one), and have heard that one talking to the Earth station.
On some occasions it is possible to have a contact with one of the astronauts on the ISS, if they have the free time and interest. Almost all the astronauts have the license to transmit from up there.
In fact, the radio hams have several satellite relays orbiting the Earth, giving them the opportunity to try out space communications. Most of those are in a low Earth orbit, and therefore they are only useable for a short time. Some have a very elongated orbit (not really any right now), giving the opportunity for longer communication periods.
Most of us know about TV and communications satellites in the geostationary orbit (the satellite follows the Earth’s rotation and seems to be stationary over a certain point on the Earth). The dream of some radio hams is getting their satellite out there, giving 24/7 communications.
Just a dream … but maybe not any longer. There seems to be negociations going on between the AMSAT (Amateur Satellite) organisation and Inmarsat, about getting a lift with one of their satellites, and even sharing the power from the solar panels. We never know if this will come true, but I sure hope so.
Do not forget that the Space Station is a rather big satellite and is very easy to see when above the horizon. So – even if you cannot receive it on the radio you can go outside and observe a *real life* manned spacecraft. if you want to know when it can be observed at your place , go to Heavens Above and find out. it is a good idea to register, so you can have your location recognised when you log on.
Recently I registered for the Eastercon/Orbital2008 in London (Heathrow) .
I have been reading Neil Gaiman’s “Stardust”, since he is one of the guestes of honour at the con.
I like the story. For the signing I intend to bring the script book for the Babylon 5 episode “Day of the Dead” that he wrote.
In the pile of books I got just before Christmas I found China Miéville’s “Perdido Street Station”, since he is another guest of honour at the con. I have got through the first couple of chapters, but have not yet been caught up in the story. I have decided to work my way through the first part, and then decide if I want to continue. …. I know – I try not to judge a book by its first chapter , but I am afraid it is not really my type of story. The initial chapters are a little too much Dystopian for me.
Wishing you all a happy and prosperous New Year 2008.
I will be visiting a friend with no internet , so will be off for some days
Here’s to a lot of posting in 2008 …
…no worries – my friend is a scifi afficionado, so I will have my fun. probably going to watch second season of “The 4400” and some other stuff.
Count me lucky.I just got a really good early Christmas present.
I talked to a friend of mine on the phone the other day and mentioned my interest in scifi, and he promptly said he probably had something for me. He had collected a pile of books for an English speaking lady in Denmark, but it turned out most of it was SciFi, and she was not really interested. But they both thought that the books should find a home and not simply be dumped. So I received 4 shopping bags full of SciFi/Fantasy books, about 100 books by authors like::
Tad Williams, William Gibson, Bruce Sterling, Asimov, Heinlein, Alfred Bester, Stanislaw Lem, Michael Stackpole (Fortress Draconis), Frederik Pohl, Joe Haldeman, Robert Jordan, Larry Niven, Greg Bear, David Brin, Philip K. Dick, George R.R. Martin, Kim Stanley Robinson (the full Mars Trilogy) and more …
Most of the books I did not have already, so a very neat addition to my collection. Many of the books were even unread.
Another bag had some “normal” classic stories from Alexander Dumas and others.
Wow for an early Christmas gift! Now for finding some new shelf space.
I wonder when I get the time to read all this …
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate, and a Happy New Year 2008.
Just came across this info from Entil2001
Sad news as I have come to like “The 4400” as a solid story.
Let’s hope (there is always hope) for a speedy end to the writer’s conflict – and that the writers will get the recognition needed.