Satgen44 A Packet of Fun. Pacsat reception performance checking The aim this week has been to check Pacsat reception, trying to print continuous telemetry from 7 to 9 of the 10 or so orbit passes per day available at this latitude (56N) .I noted that the telemetry usually includes the following every 10 seconds PACSAT-1>TIME-1 :PHT up time is 043/02:56:50. Time is Fri Jan 26 15:25:51 1990 .Using PASSAll OFF. In a perfect 13 minute pass one would hope to print 13x6 = 78 time checks In fact the score is far lower. I use a harsh system counting time from first whisper of signal to last. So I will never get 100% But at the moment after 38 orbits checked my batting average is below 25%. Although using Lusat not Pacsat I can push the average up to around 40% except on some orbits where I get zero printout despite receiving strong signals and having solid AFC lock. Date North to South orbits .Polar Orbits .South to North Orbits Max El 15 60 40 8 4 4 13 60 40 deg 24th 30% 22% 9% 7% 5% 16.6% 4%A 14%A - 25th - - 9% 26% 13% 5%A 41% 14% 15.5% 26th - 10.6% Zero 17.4% 28.6% - Zero 30% 55% 27th 26% 46% 22% - 17% 8% 62% 27% - 28th 7%s 7%s 25%L very disturbed all orbits rest of day no print 29th - - - 36%L 58%L 70%L 51%L 43%L 42%L L signifies monitoring Lusat,s is weak sig Pacsat Sec, rest are Pacsat Pri Clearly there is lots of room for improvement . Clues are orbits marked A were during Aurora. Zeroes occured when signal was strong AFC solid lock but TNC DCD and RUH modem Lock LED were flickering continually and scope check showed very rapid drop outs of signal every few seconds. Equipment used included 21 ele H beam, 48 ele beam AZEl , latter computerised plus 4 ele co linear. All with gasfet pre amps to ICOM 451 Rx to RUH Fuji modem,modified TNC 320 , IBM PS2/50. Would be interested to know how ops here in north, and further south score on similar checks. Orbit and results very different from JAS1-A, but understand JAS1-B is going to Pacsat type polar orbit. So should be interesting comparison. Not sure JAS1-B will go 1st Feb 0125, Muses launch was delayed. 1B may go 7th Am building DIY feed for 2m dish to copy 2401.1 and 2401.2 Pacsat, Dove S band beacons as they cross field of my dish. Will work out likely doppler before each attempt. Dove is clearly the sensation of the moment. Lots of UK ops enjoying tuning their terrestrial packet to 145.827 and printing Dove. Intend comparing Lusat and Pacsat performance next week. Get better copy Lusat on brief checks so far. Not sure about Uosat E.It goes on and off. Moon Orbiter... Japanese MUSES A is on its way to elliptical orbit which takes it to within 11,000km of Moon, where it will release MUSES B which has kick motor to put it into Lunar orbit hopefully by March 90. Does anyone know its downlink frequencies. Am preparing Lunar orbit software, just in case. 73 de John GM4IHJ@GB7MAC 31st Jan 90