[aprssig] PCSAT2 Digipeater 2 hops

[Robert Bruninga]

So, why two digipeaters on ISS now?

ANS:  Experimentation.

1) THough the PCSAT2 system is optimized for
1200 baud, 9600 baud digipeating is also
enabled if you want to try it (same ALIAS of
VIA ARISS, but the callsign for 9600 is
PC2TLM)...  If you have a D7 or D700, just
use the menu to change from 1200 to 9600.

2) Or try cross-baud.  Use the alias of VIA XBAUD
and you may be able to go up 1200 and come down
9600 or vice versa

3) The original PCsat is entering a period where
it does get near noon passes in the northern
hemisphere (which is the only time it gets enough
sun to work).  If there is such a pass and the ISS
is also in view, you can try a 2 hop path up via
PCsat on 145.825 and then see if ISS picks it
up for another hop.

If someone will work out the possible times when
both will see each other, and if PCsat is near
45 deg north latitude and near similar longitudes
as the sun, within 30 minutes prior to the 
conjunction, let me know and we can try to 
command PCsat to conserve power during THAT
ONE pass only to improve its transmit power
for such a 2 hop pass..

Bob


>>> Robert Bruninga 08/31/05 5:02 PM >>>
The PCSAT2 side-A system has been operated for 
4 weeks in PSK-31 mode, and will now be changed 
from PSK-31 mode to UI/APRS Packet digipeater mode.

http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pec/pc2ops.html 

In this mode, the uplink is 145.825 and downlink
is 435.275 +/- 10 KHz doppler to avoid any 
interference with the 145.800 ARISS operations.
The system is 1200 baud with the callsign of
PCSAT2 and alias of ARISS, so the same setting
as you use for normal ARISS packet, should work
here too if you use the ARISS alias.

Again, refer to the PCSAT2 operations page and
the User Service Agreement for this mode.
Specifically, unattended beacons are not authorized.
The digipeater is for human communications, not
blind beacons.

http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pec/useragreemt.txt 

Bob Bruninga WB4APR
USNA Satellite Lab