[aprssig] RAFT/ANDE Progress report

Francisco Rogerio Fontenele Aragão frfaragao at gmail.com
Fri Jan 5 16:55:59 EST 2007


Hi Bob

It never had a satelite like PCSAT. Yesterday I was able to repeat my packet
using 100mW with THD7 + AL-800. Elevation was 5 degree.  Is there a PCSAT3
in the future?

73, Francisco
PT2TD

====================================================

2007/1/5, Robert Bruninga <bruninga at usna.edu>:
>
> ANDE and RAFT APRS satellites are operatonal.  There is a local
> TV clip now on
> the web page where the students discuss their satellite
> projects.  See
> http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html
>
> Both signals are weak and require a beam and high elevations to
> hear them.  As of this time, RAFT speech is enabled for special
> testing only in accordance with the User Service Agreement:
> http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande/ANDEcontract.txt
>
> During a 58 degrees max elevation pass, at about 45 degrees
> elevation, PA3GUO reports a successful voice packet via RAFT.
> The MP3 file is on the ANDE-RAFT-OPS web page above.  A high
> elevation pass is usually required.
>
> PLEASE NOTE!  RAFT is underpowered for this voice mission, and
> so this capability should only be used by special demo stations
> and for special events or tests.  The downlink is very weak and
> needs a beam and a high elevation pass to hear it.  DO NOT
> TRANSMIT A VOICE PACKET IF YOU CANNOT HEAR THE DOWNLINK.  You
> must adhere to the user service agreement above to use this
> capability.
>
> When ACTIVATED, RAFT will speak an APRS formatted MESSAGE
> addressed to the callsign of TALK.  This APRS Message packet was
> Transmitted by PA3GUO:
>
> >   PA3GUO-8>APRS,RAFT*::TALK   :henk says hello
>
> First the packet is digipeated (lets you know it received it).
> Then (up to 10 seconds later), it should SPEAK the packet.  In
> this case RAFT spoke:
>
> >  "PA3GUO" + "says" + "henk says hello"
>
> Although the Speech synthesizer is ENABLED, it is normally OFF.
> To use it, someone in the footprint has to activate the voice
> module with a CONNECT REQUEST to "RAFT".  On hearing a connect
> request, (the connecting station can do nothing else), RAFT
> responds in voice with "Welcome to TextSpeak".  At that point,
> RAFT will speak any APRS formatted MESSAGES from anyone to TALK.
> Again, notice that if you see the successfully DIGIPEATED
> packet, then it will speak it, although there might be up to a
> 10 second delay.  If you see such a successful APRS MESSGE to
> TALK digipeated, then everyone should hold off until it gets a
> chance to speak it.
>
> Notice the APRS MESSAGE format carefully.  The callsign TALK is
> bracketed with colons and is padded to 9 characters with 5
> spaces on the end.
>
> Oh, This speech was enabled with simply the connection of an off
> the shelf $200 text-to-speech module connected to the serial
> port of the spaeccraft KPC3+ TNC.  Kantronics made a slight
> software mode to replace the normal packet header with "CALLSIGN
> SAYS" before the packet is sent out the serial port.
> With this mod, you can use a radio, TNC and this voice module to
> create "voice at a distance"...  But the high cost of the voice
> module will probably prohibit much terrestrial applications..
>
> Bob Bruninga, WB4APR
> US Naval Academy Satellite Lab.
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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>



-- 
Francisco Rogerio F. Aragão
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