Re: [amsat-bb] NO-45 nearly operational (was: Re: NO-45, UI digipeat)

[K5OE@xxxxxxx]

Mike,
Sorry if it sounded like whining. I am THRILLED to have another active satellite to work... and in such an interesting mode:  mode J 1200 b UI.  The thing I really like about this mode is being able to work full duplex satellite mode (can't do that with NO-44 or ISS).  

The Doppler shift on the downlink does require some attention though, and since it does not have a constant downlink signal (like UO-14 or UO-22, for example), it can get away from you and you miss a few packets without realizing you need to retune as the satellite passes by.  Just a matter of getting used to a different operating method.

I use a hardware TNC, but the soundcard software available today will allow anyone who could work UO-14 or SO-50, and has a computer with a soundcard, to work this satellite without buying a single new piece of hardware (you may need some cables, etc.).  Here is a good link to get info on working this fun mode with no $ out of pocket:
http://www.qsl.net/soundcardpacket/

73,
Jerry, K5OE

> Sapphire (NO-45) is in the midst of a checkout/restoration process 
> expected to take about two more weeks.  At that point, we'll open him up 
> for amateur digipeating service using the same framework as PCSAT.
> 
> You can track status updates on the PCSAT page: 
> http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pcsat.html
> 
> This will be somewhat of a haphazard 'payload' as Sapphire wasn't 
> originally intended for digipeating.  So we'll probably see some of the 
> problems in missed digipeating mentioned below.
> 
> 73,
> Mike Swartwout, KE6YNJ
> Sapphire operations lead
> 
> P.S.  Jerry -- sorry for the aggravation.  Power & manpower constraints 
> forced us to only one on-board transmitter, so it has to work as both 
> beacon and data downlink.  Eventually, those CW pulses will mean 
> something; they'll contain status data.  When that change happens, we'll 
> publish the translation instructions.  For now, it's just a tracking beacon.
> 
> K5OE@aol.com wrote:
> 
> > Mineo,
> > 
> > ei7m writes:
> > 
> >>I confirmed 3 pulses every 20 seconds from NO-45.
> >> And I can digipeat via KE6QMD as follows.
> >> 
> >> > JE9PEL>CQ,KE6QMD* [23-Nov-03  12:52:39] <UI R>:
> >> > JE9PEL>CQ,KE6QMD* [23-Nov-03  12:53:27] <UI R>:
> > 
> > 
> > I also confirm the 3 pulses every 20 seconds, but today the digipeating is 
> > not working????  It worked FB yesterday.  Anyone else see any traffic?
> > 
> > These pulses are agravating because they trigger the DCD Sense when there is 
> > no real traffic from the bird, causing my B A command to force a beacon every 
> > 20 seconds also :-))
> > 73,
> > Jerry, K5OE
> ----
> Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
> Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
> To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to 
> Majordomo@amsat.org
----
Sent via amsat-bb@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Not an AMSAT member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe amsat-bb" to Majordomo@amsat.org