Speaker


October 27, 2015: Tom Mikkelsen WA0POD: Ham radio satellites and the new Fox-1A


Join us on Tuesday, October 27, for a presentation on amateur radio satellites. You will learn about AMSAT, the Amateur Satellite Corporation that plans, launches and coordinates amateur satellites. We will also take a look at some of our amateur satellite history and what the future looks like for amateur communications. We will cover the latest hardware trends in cubesats with recent and multiple International launches, and highlight AMSAT’s own Fox-1A satellite, now known as AO-85 since its successful launch on October 8th.

Tom Mikkelsen has a BSE degree and holds a FCC General Class Commercial License. He is active with the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and is a SMPTE Fellow, as well as being active with the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE), the Society of Cable and Television Engineers (SCTE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), Society of Satellite Professionals International (SSPI), and the Society of Television Engineers (STE). Tom holds an Advanced Class Amateur License WAØPOD and has been licensed since 1963.

Tom is a senior engineering operations executive focused on Media and Entertainment. He works for National TeleConsultants in Glendale, CA, and is actively involved with AT&T and DirecTV in a variety of technology projects as well as other major network and cable providers. He has held senior technology leadership positions with organizations such as Encompass Digital Media, one of the largest international network service providers, Qualcomm Inc., Starz Encore, Comcast/AT&T/ TCI, as well as Vyvx/Cycle Sat. His career also spans broadcast technology management experience with such prominent firms as the Journal Broadcast Group, Tribune Broadcasting (WGN-TV), and Motorola Communications.