Re: [amsat-bb] COMSAT PORTABLE SATELLITE UPLINK SYSTEM

[Arthur H Feller <afeller@xxxxxxxx>]

At 09:06 PM 04-04-01 -0400, you wrote:
>Stumbled on this while looking for something else on Ebay.
>
>http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1226239035
>
>Anybody know anything about the unit? Is it "interesting"?

It's the original version of an INMARSAT Standard "A" (analog voice 
telephone service plus telex) land earth station.  Essentially, it was a 
maritime mobile radio intended for ship use, but without a gimbal mounted 
antenna, adapted for use as a land earth station.  The two boxes are about 
65 pounds apiece.  The TCS-9000 was designed and manufactured by Mobile 
Telesystems, Inc. of Gaithersburg, MD.

Most INMARSAT operations have changed over digital these days.  Don't know 
if they'd allow this on the system any more.  NOTE: ALL earth stations, 
both land and maritime mobile, MUST be registered with your local 
administration and with INMARSAT before you can get service.  Just turning 
it on won't do any good.

Also, the land mobile version was designed with only the ability to 
originate routine calls.  There were three levels of precedence with the 
land mobile stations allowed to use only the lowest.

Otherwise, there are some neat parts inside and a good, collapsible, 
1-meter antenna.

Hope this helps.

73, art.....

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