[amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

2011-11-12 Thread DF2MZ

William,

you have a good point there, that needs some discussion indeed.

Actually I do support the participation of radio amateurs in this kind 
of scientific effort. I find it very interesting and I am willing to 
spend some time and even money on it.


However, I am frequently quite frustrated because these projects are 
often not well documented. So me and many others waste a lot of time 
just by finding out the signal parameters, modulation, how to decode, etc.
It is often difficult to find TLEs and up-to-date information about the 
project and the status of the satellite.


I think some of the project teams should pay more attention to provide 
as accurate as possible information and documentation to the amateur 
radio community. They have endless opportunities for that on the internet.


Cheers
Edgar
DF2MZ



Am 12.11.2011 12:32, schrieb William Leijenaar:

Hello AMSATs,


As we all know OSCAR is the abbreviatie of Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur 
Radio.
To my opinion the function of  OSCAR satellites is to facilitate communication 
between amateur radio stations using amateur radio frequencies and/or do 
experiments on those radio frequencies.

Can someone tell me how it is possible that many of the newer small satellites 
get a license to use ham radio satellite frequencies for only broadcasting data 
?
Many of these satellite
  missions are even not ham related, and those satellites only have a broadcast 
(downlink) radio onboard.
Is this nowadays seen as amateur radio communication ?

The word Education I read in many of the university CubeSat projects. Doing 
experiments on ham radio frequencies is like education, and I fully support this even 
when it is only available as a downlink at a CubeSat.
When it comes to the education of building a satellite, with no ham related 
experiments, and where the amateur frequencies and the amateur community is 
used to collect only none ham payload data, I don't see this as a ham satellite.
Then a 433MHz remote control toy-car should also be named a ham radio. We just 
ask one of those ISS astronauts to throw this toy-car out of the space station 
and we have another amateur satellite :o)

I just wonder where is the border between an OSCAR and a satellite that uses 
ham radio frequencies for downloading its (none ham)
  payload data ?

73 de PE1RAH, William Leijenaar
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[amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

2011-11-12 Thread Stefan Wagener
Would recommend reading the info on AMSAT's website!

http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html


Stefan, VE4NSA



On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 6:13 AM, DF2MZ edgar.kai...@t-online.de wrote:
 William,

 you have a good point there, that needs some discussion indeed.

 Actually I do support the participation of radio amateurs in this kind of
 scientific effort. I find it very interesting and I am willing to spend some
 time and even money on it.

 However, I am frequently quite frustrated because these projects are often
 not well documented. So me and many others waste a lot of time just by
 finding out the signal parameters, modulation, how to decode, etc.
 It is often difficult to find TLEs and up-to-date information about the
 project and the status of the satellite.

 I think some of the project teams should pay more attention to provide as
 accurate as possible information and documentation to the amateur radio
 community. They have endless opportunities for that on the internet.

 Cheers
 Edgar
 DF2MZ



 Am 12.11.2011 12:32, schrieb William Leijenaar:

 Hello AMSATs,


 As we all know OSCAR is the abbreviatie of Orbiting Satellite Carrying
 Amateur Radio.
 To my opinion the function of  OSCAR satellites is to facilitate
 communication between amateur radio stations using amateur radio frequencies
 and/or do experiments on those radio frequencies.

 Can someone tell me how it is possible that many of the newer small
 satellites get a license to use ham radio satellite frequencies for only
 broadcasting data ?
 Many of these satellite
  missions are even not ham related, and those satellites only have a
 broadcast (downlink) radio onboard.
 Is this nowadays seen as amateur radio communication ?

 The word Education I read in many of the university CubeSat projects.
 Doing experiments on ham radio frequencies is like education, and I fully
 support this even when it is only available as a downlink at a CubeSat.
 When it comes to the education of building a satellite, with no ham
 related experiments, and where the amateur frequencies and the amateur
 community is used to collect only none ham payload data, I don't see this as
 a ham satellite.
 Then a 433MHz remote control toy-car should also be named a ham radio. We
 just ask one of those ISS astronauts to throw this toy-car out of the space
 station and we have another amateur satellite :o)

 I just wonder where is the border between an OSCAR and a satellite that
 uses ham radio frequencies for downloading its (none ham)
  payload data ?

 73 de PE1RAH, William Leijenaar
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[amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

2011-11-12 Thread i8cvs
- Original Message -
From: William Leijenaar pe1...@yahoo.com
To: amsat-bb@amsat.org
Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 12:32 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

On Saturday, November 12, 2011 12:32 PM, William Leijenaar wrote:

Hello AMSATs,

As we all know OSCAR is the abbreviatie of Orbiting Satellite Carrying
Amateur Radio.
To my opinion the function of OSCAR satellites is to facilitate
communication between amateur radio stations using amateur radio
frequencies and/or do experiments on those radio frequencies.

Can someone tell me how it is possible that many of the newer small
satellites get a license to use ham radio satellite frequencies for only
broadcasting data ?
Many of these satellite  missions are even not ham related, and those
satellites only have a broadcast (downlink) radio onboard.

Is this nowadays seen as amateur radio communication ?

The word Education I read in many of the university CubeSat projects.
Doing experiments on ham radio frequencies is like education, and I fully
support this even when it is only available as a downlink at a CubeSat.
When it comes to the education of building a satellite, with no ham related
experiments, and where the amateur frequencies and the amateur community is
used to collect only none ham payload data, I don't see this as a ham
satellite.
Then a 433MHz remote control toy-car should also be named a ham radio.
We just ask one of those ISS astronauts to throw this toy-car out of the
space station and we have another amateur satellite :o)

I just wonder where is the border between an OSCAR and a satellite that uses
ham radio frequencies for downloading its (none ham)
payload data ?

73 de PE1RAH, William Leijenaar

Hi William, PE1RAH

Yes, I agree with you, but you and I we are talking always to the same
people and some of them probably with their own interest as they are
closely connected to some CubeSat projects.

Most of them have no satellite ham spirit since they did not make the
experience we did with OSCAR-6-7-8 + the RS + the FO and than with
OSCAR-10, OSCAR-13 and AO40

My experience is, that they even don't want our support and advise..
from experience here in Italy, they don't trust and know everything better
anyway.. they even don't trust other Universities within the same
country, they see it more as a competition rather than a cooperation..

Every time I writeto my opinion the function of OSCAR satellites is
to facilitate two way communication between amateur radio stations using
amateur radio frequencies and/or do experiments on those radio frequencies
I get insult from the above people because probably you and I we are
considered as two of those old RF dinosaurs that like to experiment into
space RF circuits building equipments and antennas  from the VHF to
Microwave.

I believe that things will change only when a HEO satellite will be in
orbit, hopefully P3E, because everyone will switch to it abandoning the
actual non ham payloads and will stop to collect telemetry data for no
ham related experiments.

Best 73 de

i8CVS Domenico

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[amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

2011-11-12 Thread John Heath
Just my 2 cents worth,

Whichever side of the debate you happen to be on, and I can see both sides,
there is one thing to be said in favour of the so called beep sats

They keep our frequencies warm whilst we wait for bigger and better satellites

73

John 

G7HIA




From: i8cvs domenico.i8...@tin.it
To: William Leijenaar pe1...@yahoo.com; Amsat - BBs amsat-bb@amsat.org
Sent: Saturday, 12 November, 2011 19:55:25
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

- Original Message -
From: William Leijenaar pe1...@yahoo.com
To: amsat-bb@amsat.org
Sent: Saturday, November 12, 2011 12:32 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

On Saturday, November 12, 2011 12:32 PM, William Leijenaar wrote:

Hello AMSATs,

As we all know OSCAR is the abbreviatie of Orbiting Satellite Carrying
Amateur Radio.
To my opinion the function of OSCAR satellites is to facilitate
communication between amateur radio stations using amateur radio
frequencies and/or do experiments on those radio frequencies.

Can someone tell me how it is possible that many of the newer small
satellites get a license to use ham radio satellite frequencies for only
broadcasting data ?
Many of these satellite  missions are even not ham related, and those
satellites only have a broadcast (downlink) radio onboard.

Is this nowadays seen as amateur radio communication ?

The word Education I read in many of the university CubeSat projects.
Doing experiments on ham radio frequencies is like education, and I fully
support this even when it is only available as a downlink at a CubeSat.
When it comes to the education of building a satellite, with no ham related
experiments, and where the amateur frequencies and the amateur community is
used to collect only none ham payload data, I don't see this as a ham
satellite.
Then a 433MHz remote control toy-car should also be named a ham radio.
We just ask one of those ISS astronauts to throw this toy-car out of the
space station and we have another amateur satellite :o)

I just wonder where is the border between an OSCAR and a satellite that uses
ham radio frequencies for downloading its (none ham)
payload data ?

73 de PE1RAH, William Leijenaar

Hi William, PE1RAH

Yes, I agree with you, but you and I we are talking always to the same
people and some of them probably with their own interest as they are
closely connected to some CubeSat projects.

Most of them have no satellite ham spirit since they did not make the
experience we did with OSCAR-6-7-8 + the RS + the FO and than with
OSCAR-10, OSCAR-13 and AO40

My experience is, that they even don't want our support and advise..
from experience here in Italy, they don't trust and know everything better
anyway.. they even don't trust other Universities within the same
country, they see it more as a competition rather than a cooperation..

Every time I writeto my opinion the function of OSCAR satellites is
to facilitate two way communication between amateur radio stations using
amateur radio frequencies and/or do experiments on those radio frequencies
I get insult from the above people because probably you and I we are
considered as two of those old RF dinosaurs that like to experiment into
space RF circuits building equipments and antennas  from the VHF to
Microwave.

I believe that things will change only when a HEO satellite will be in
orbit, hopefully P3E, because everyone will switch to it abandoning the
actual non ham payloads and will stop to collect telemetry data for no
ham related experiments.

Best 73 de

i8CVS Domenico

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[amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

2011-11-12 Thread William Leijenaar
Hi Stefan,

So the answer on my question if my 433MHz toy car, when I put it into space, 
can get an OSCAR number is YES!
According to the AMSAT website you mentioned of course... :-P
- My question was not specific if these satellites can or can't get an OSCAR 
number.
My intention was more if they should be scheduled as a ham-sat (and with that 
using ham frequencies).

I would recommend you to read the following IARU website!
http://www.iaru.org/satellite/prospective.html
(especially section VI. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES) 
It says the following:

Organisations building satellites should compare their mission plans to 
the requirements of the amateur-satellite service. Then, they should 
determine if it is possible to comply with the requirements of the 
amateur-satellite service or if licensing and operation should be in 
some other radio service which is more consistent with the nature and 
requirements of the mission. 

A. The purposes of an amateur satellite should be: 
(1) To provide communication resources for the general amateur radio community 
and/or 
(2) To conduct technical investigations in all respects consistent with the 
Radio Regulations. [See RR S1.56 and RR S1.57.]

I have great doubts with many off those CubeSats, if they comply to number 
(1)
The only communication resources they provide is for themselves by a cheap 
downlink system, by using hams to receive data for them. This is not for the 
general amateur radio community as mentioned in number (1)...

The option they have is to go to some other radio service which is more 
consistent with the nature and requirements of the mission.

73 de PE1RAH, William




Would recommend reading the info on AMSAT's website!
 http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html 
Stefan, VE4NSA
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[amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

2011-11-12 Thread KE7OSN
I would like to first say that yes, many of these Cubesats projects do a
really poor job of providing information about themselves and they have a
lot of room for improvement.

Second that amateur bands are used not only for the fact that there are
already established ground stations, but because getting licensed on some
other piece of spectrum is a substantial investment of time and money, and
many of the student projects simply don't have excessive reserves of
either. Granted many of them would love to move off amateur bands, find a
little open spectrum in the GHz range where they can blast data down at
some incredible speed, in which case they could move more data in a few
seconds then they could collect in a day, which makes things many design
issues much easier. Alas when you tell a student to start filling out
paperwork that may get a response before they graduate, and until then
there isn't much they can do until they can lock down that parameter,
chances are if they are smart they will run off to do something else like
build a race car, or a robot and you loose someone else in the next
generation of rocket scientist.

Thirdly I have been reading the AMSAT-BB's for several months and I can see
why there wouldn't be many people working on CubeSats hanging around. In
order for anything productive to come of discussions like this, people from
the CubeSat community need to be more involved but they aren't going to be
inclined to do so when the conversations reads like dialog from Grumpy Old
Men. Nano and Pico Satellites aren't a simple evolution
of existing technologies but a large paradigm shift, one which I don't
think anyone even now fully understands.  When you don't have
thoughtful discussions between both sides issues don't get addressed, and
everyone's feelings get hurt. I would suggest using cubesat.org as a
starting point.


Anthony Odenthal
KE7OSN
President Amateur Radio Club at OSU


On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 13:34, William Leijenaar pe1...@yahoo.com wrote:

 Hi Stefan,

 So the answer on my question if my 433MHz toy car, when I put it into
 space, can get an OSCAR number is YES!
 According to the AMSAT website you mentioned of course... :-P
 - My question was not specific if these satellites can or can't get an
 OSCAR number.
 My intention was more if they should be scheduled as a ham-sat (and with
 that using ham frequencies).

 I would recommend you to read the following IARU website!
 http://www.iaru.org/satellite/prospective.html
 (especially section VI. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES)
 It says the following:

 Organisations building satellites should compare their mission plans to
 the requirements of the amateur-satellite service. Then, they should
 determine if it is possible to comply with the requirements of the
 amateur-satellite service or if licensing and operation should be in
 some other radio service which is more consistent with the nature and
 requirements of the mission.

 A. The purposes of an amateur satellite should be:
 (1) To provide communication resources for the general amateur radio
 community and/or
 (2) To conduct technical investigations in all respects consistent with
 the Radio Regulations. [See RR S1.56 and RR S1.57.]

 I have great doubts with many off those CubeSats, if they comply to number
 (1)
 The only communication resources they provide is for themselves by a cheap
 downlink system, by using hams to receive data for them. This is not for
 the general amateur radio community as mentioned in number (1)...

 The option they have is to go to some other radio service which is more
 consistent with the nature and requirements of the mission.

 73 de PE1RAH, William




 Would recommend reading the info on AMSAT's website!
  http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html 
 Stefan, VE4NSA
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 Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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[amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

2011-11-12 Thread Stefan Wagener
Thanks,

Cubesats working within the amateur radio frequency spectrum are
commanded by licensed ham radio operators with the same rights and
requirements as all of us. Many of them use the frequencies to
downlink vital satellite information as well as scientific experiment
data. All of this is well within the amateur radio service rules and a
very positive contribution by our community to science and education.
Your question are valid and they need to be addressed in a
constructive, supportive environment where the community works
together. I would encourage you attend one or more of the many annual
cubists conferences and engage these folks. You certainly have enough
to offer!

Now having said that, cubesats are a wonderful addition, not a threat
and show the diversity of our community. I am always amazed by the
ignorance displayed and self-proclaimed expert label used by some as
an argument to deny parts of our community their right to use small
satellites with amateur radio on board. Interestingly, none of the
amateur radio operators working with cubesats have ever argued against
HEOs or denied the rest of us that right by questioning how and why we
use the spectrum!

Fortunately, AMSAT NA and AMSAT UK and many others have recognized the
potential and the inclusiveness of the community.

Enough said,

Stefan, VE4NSA



On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 3:34 PM, William Leijenaar pe1...@yahoo.com wrote:
 Hi Stefan,

 So the answer on my question if my 433MHz toy car, when I put it into space, 
 can get an OSCAR number is YES!
 According to the AMSAT website you mentioned of course... :-P
 - My question was not specific if these satellites can or can't get an OSCAR 
 number.
 My intention was more if they should be scheduled as a ham-sat (and with that 
 using ham frequencies).

 I would recommend you to read the following IARU website!
 http://www.iaru.org/satellite/prospective.html
 (especially section VI. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES)
 It says the following:

 Organisations building satellites should compare their mission plans to
 the requirements of the amateur-satellite service. Then, they should
 determine if it is possible to comply with the requirements of the
 amateur-satellite service or if licensing and operation should be in
 some other radio service which is more consistent with the nature and
 requirements of the mission.

 A. The purposes of an amateur satellite should be:
 (1) To provide communication resources for the general amateur radio 
 community and/or
 (2) To conduct technical investigations in all respects consistent with the 
 Radio Regulations. [See RR S1.56 and RR S1.57.]

 I have great doubts with many off those CubeSats, if they comply to number 
 (1)
 The only communication resources they provide is for themselves by a cheap 
 downlink system, by using hams to receive data for them. This is not for the 
 general amateur radio community as mentioned in number (1)...

 The option they have is to go to some other radio service which is more 
 consistent with the nature and requirements of the mission.

 73 de PE1RAH, William




Would recommend reading the info on AMSAT's website!
 http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html 
Stefan, VE4NSA
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 Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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[amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

2011-11-12 Thread John
Not to mention the cost of launch to HEO. No one with the capability is giving 
it away or discounting it.

John 

Sent from my iPod

On Nov 12, 2011, at 8:43 PM, Stefan Wagener wagen...@gmail.com wrote:

 Thanks,
 
 Cubesats working within the amateur radio frequency spectrum are
 commanded by licensed ham radio operators with the same rights and
 requirements as all of us. Many of them use the frequencies to
 downlink vital satellite information as well as scientific experiment
 data. All of this is well within the amateur radio service rules and a
 very positive contribution by our community to science and education.
 Your question are valid and they need to be addressed in a
 constructive, supportive environment where the community works
 together. I would encourage you attend one or more of the many annual
 cubists conferences and engage these folks. You certainly have enough
 to offer!
 
 Now having said that, cubesats are a wonderful addition, not a threat
 and show the diversity of our community. I am always amazed by the
 ignorance displayed and self-proclaimed expert label used by some as
 an argument to deny parts of our community their right to use small
 satellites with amateur radio on board. Interestingly, none of the
 amateur radio operators working with cubesats have ever argued against
 HEOs or denied the rest of us that right by questioning how and why we
 use the spectrum!
 
 Fortunately, AMSAT NA and AMSAT UK and many others have recognized the
 potential and the inclusiveness of the community.
 
 Enough said,
 
 Stefan, VE4NSA
 
 
 
 On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 3:34 PM, William Leijenaar pe1...@yahoo.com wrote:
 Hi Stefan,
 
 So the answer on my question if my 433MHz toy car, when I put it into space, 
 can get an OSCAR number is YES!
 According to the AMSAT website you mentioned of course... :-P
 - My question was not specific if these satellites can or can't get an OSCAR 
 number.
 My intention was more if they should be scheduled as a ham-sat (and with 
 that using ham frequencies).
 
 I would recommend you to read the following IARU website!
 http://www.iaru.org/satellite/prospective.html
 (especially section VI. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES)
 It says the following:
 
 Organisations building satellites should compare their mission plans to
 the requirements of the amateur-satellite service. Then, they should
 determine if it is possible to comply with the requirements of the
 amateur-satellite service or if licensing and operation should be in
 some other radio service which is more consistent with the nature and
 requirements of the mission.
 
 A. The purposes of an amateur satellite should be:
 (1) To provide communication resources for the general amateur radio 
 community and/or
 (2) To conduct technical investigations in all respects consistent with the 
 Radio Regulations. [See RR S1.56 and RR S1.57.]
 
 I have great doubts with many off those CubeSats, if they comply to number 
 (1)
 The only communication resources they provide is for themselves by a cheap 
 downlink system, by using hams to receive data for them. This is not for the 
 general amateur radio community as mentioned in number (1)...
 
 The option they have is to go to some other radio service which is more 
 consistent with the nature and requirements of the mission.
 
 73 de PE1RAH, William
 
 
 
 
 Would recommend reading the info on AMSAT's website!
 http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html 
 Stefan, VE4NSA
 ___
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 Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
 Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
 
 ___
 Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
 Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
 Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb

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[amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

2011-11-12 Thread Colin Hurst
Stefan,
I wholeheartedly support your comments.
We made a conscious decision many years ago, that in retirement, we would
support the Cubesat Program by downloading their telemetry, to give
something back to the hobby.
Being licensed nigh on 50 years ago and being part of the Amateur Satellite
Service for most of those, I would like to think that these young Cubesat
designers may become the Amateur Satellite builders of the future, but I
doubt I that may be around to reap their rewards. Then again I have been
mistaken before.
Personally I do not care if a satellite has an OSCAR moniker, we just
download whatever telemetry is available from the current Cubesat satellites
to assist them in their ongoing analyses.

This is not the first time this has been raised, as I remember a few years
back, Bob Bruninga raising the topic in respect to one of the satellites he
was involved in.

Best regards,
Colin VK5HI.





-Original Message-
From: amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-boun...@amsat.org] On
Behalf Of Stefan Wagener
Sent: Sunday, 13 November 2011 13:14
To: William Leijenaar
Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: OSCAR or not OSCAR ?

Thanks,

Cubesats working within the amateur radio frequency spectrum are commanded
by licensed ham radio operators with the same rights and requirements as all
of us. Many of them use the frequencies to downlink vital satellite
information as well as scientific experiment data. All of this is well
within the amateur radio service rules and a very positive contribution by
our community to science and education.
Your question are valid and they need to be addressed in a constructive,
supportive environment where the community works together. I would encourage
you attend one or more of the many annual cubists conferences and engage
these folks. You certainly have enough to offer!

Now having said that, cubesats are a wonderful addition, not a threat and
show the diversity of our community. I am always amazed by the ignorance
displayed and self-proclaimed expert label used by some as an argument to
deny parts of our community their right to use small satellites with amateur
radio on board. Interestingly, none of the amateur radio operators working
with cubesats have ever argued against HEOs or denied the rest of us that
right by questioning how and why we use the spectrum!

Fortunately, AMSAT NA and AMSAT UK and many others have recognized the
potential and the inclusiveness of the community.

Enough said,

Stefan, VE4NSA



On Sat, Nov 12, 2011 at 3:34 PM, William Leijenaar pe1...@yahoo.com wrote:
 Hi Stefan,

 So the answer on my question if my 433MHz toy car, when I put it into
space, can get an OSCAR number is YES!
 According to the AMSAT website you mentioned of course... :-P
 - My question was not specific if these satellites can or can't get an
OSCAR number.
 My intention was more if they should be scheduled as a ham-sat (and with
that using ham frequencies).

 I would recommend you to read the following IARU website!
 http://www.iaru.org/satellite/prospective.html
 (especially section VI. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINES) It says the following:

 Organisations building satellites should compare their mission plans 
 to the requirements of the amateur-satellite service. Then, they 
 should determine if it is possible to comply with the requirements of 
 the amateur-satellite service or if licensing and operation should be 
 in some other radio service which is more consistent with the nature 
 and requirements of the mission.

 A. The purposes of an amateur satellite should be:
 (1) To provide communication resources for the general amateur radio 
 community and/or
 (2) To conduct technical investigations in all respects consistent with
the Radio Regulations. [See RR S1.56 and RR S1.57.]

 I have great doubts with many off those CubeSats, if they comply to number
(1)
 The only communication resources they provide is for themselves by a cheap
downlink system, by using hams to receive data for them. This is not for the
general amateur radio community as mentioned in number (1)...

 The option they have is to go to some other radio service which is more
consistent with the nature and requirements of the mission.

 73 de PE1RAH, William




Would recommend reading the info on AMSAT's website!
 http://www.amsat.org/amsat/amsat-na/oscar.html 
Stefan, VE4NSA
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