RE: [amsat-bb] RUDAK testing - help please

["Howard Long" <howard@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Wayne

> This is a neat thing, but I strongly question
> the value of displacing transponder operations
> for 2 hours and 23 minutes of every orbit for
> a repetitive carrier level test.  If this is
> the only thing RUDAK is being used for, I
> think the time allocated to RUDAK should
> be reduced substantially.

I have to agree with you totally if this is indeed the sole use of the RUDAK
during this period. We've all been very patient about the GPS RUDAK
experiments over the past few months - although I have to say monitoring
many of the passes there wasn't much going on that I could see. However I do
see the need for a constant schedule too.

On the basis of obtaining continuing extremely valued support from NASA and
other agencies we have to accept that this will happen from time to time -
after all you never know when a launch opportunity might come up ;-)

But... not only is this 2 hours 23 minutes of transponder time, it is 2
hours 23 minutes of quality DX transponder time! I don't think many of us
realised that this extended regular transponder outage was to last as long
as it has.

On the subject of the RUDAK it's only been very recently publicised (please
excuse me if I missed something!) by Stacey that there is a problem running
the RUDAK at the same time as the transponder. If this is the case, when
taking the decision to withdraw transponder time for regular lengthy
periods, for the experimentation of a very limited number of stations,
please consider the (so far) silent vast majority who enjoy use of the
transponder.

As regulars will know I'm not often vocal about things, but as we are about
to come into another period of attitude adjustment (the spacecraft's
attitude, not mine!), is this the best time to be doing this?

Can we assume that the implementation of the 153kbps RUDAK downlinks would
reduce the transponder downtime?

Perhaps a publicised plan of projected RUDAK use over the next few months
would help?

Of course, please correct me if any of my axioms are incorrect - it wouldn't
be the first time or the last if I've misunderstood something.

73 Howard G6LVB


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