[aprssig] PCSAT-1 digi ON, then off

[Robert Bruninga]

OOPS... Not so fast.

PCSAT-1 digipeater has been turned off.  We enabled it for users
on only the 2nd orbit after recovery, but lots of folks were out
there, and we are having problems keeping the PCSAT-11 and
PCSAT-1  transmitters isolated.  The relay keeps dropping out.

So I have turned all digipeating off until we have at least 12
hours of low usage to give the batteries time to fully charge.

RULE:  If you see packets from both PCSAT-1 and PCSAT-11 on the
same frequency, then STOP digipeating.  The transmitters are
cross connected and consuming TWICE the battery power (which we
don't have).  You can confirm what is happening prior to your
pass by checking the packets on http://pcsat.aprs.org  If you
see packets from both the -1 and -11 callsign via the same
satgates, then the transmitters are cross connected and should
not be used.  Also avoid any use after dark.

Bob, WB4APR

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Robert Bruninga [mailto:bruninga at usna.edu] 
> Sent: Friday, November 02, 2007 12:25 PM
> To: bruninga at usna.edu; 'amsat'
> Subject: AMSAT Mobile Satellites. PCSAT-1 recovered!
> 
> PCSAT-1 recovered!
> 
> PCSAT-1 responded to all RESTORE commands on the 1320Z pass
this
> morning.
> 
> On the next pass (now in full sun), she remembered it all and
> was fully operational (though the transmitters were again
cross
> connected meaning that relay had dropped out in the dark over
> Europe.  But we set the relay again and she should be fine.
> PLEASE limit all operations to DAYLIGHT hours only, and
PCSAT-1
> should be good for the next few weeks.  Also, on the same
> 145.825, you should also hear ANDE and ARISS.  That's 18
passes
> a day!
> 
> Please see downlink packets on http://pcsat.aprs.org
> As long as the callsign "PCSAT-1" is appearing, then she is
> holding up.  If W3ADO-1 appears, then she has lost it again...
> 
> PCSAT-11 downlink is on 144.39 over North America so all
mobiles
> on the normal APRS channel can be alerted when it is in
view...
> 
> And full details on
http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pcsat.html
> 
> Bob, WB4APR
> 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > Sent: Wednesday, October 31, 2007 10:58 AM
> > 
> > November should be a great Mobile Satellite Month.
> > 
> > There are 7 satellites you can work from your mobile FM rig,
> > including PCSAT-1 which should fully recover by this weekend
> and
> > last for 2 or more weeks.  So now is the time to get going
> with
> > live satellite contacts via these easy FM satellites, or
> setting
> > up a SATGATE (Igate).
> > 
> > DOWNLINK SATELLITE
> > -------- -------------------------------------
> > 145.825  ISS APRS digipeater
> > 145.825  PCSAT-1 (recovery expected 3 Nov)
> > 145.825  ANDE-1 (re-entry expected next month)
> > 435.225  GO-32 +/- 10 KHz and 9600 baud
> > 
> > 435.300  AO-51 *FM Voice* +/- 10 KHz
> > 436.795  SO-50 *FM Voice* +/- 10 KHz
> > 436.795  AO-27 *FM Voice* +/- 10 KHz
> > 
> > As you can see, there will be over 40 passes per day with 18
> for
> > the 1200 baud satellites, 6 per day for the 9600 baud GO32
and
> > 18 for the voice birds.  All 1200 baud pass times are
between
> > about 6 AM to 1800 local sun time in the Northern
Hemisphere.
> > GO-32 and AO-51 voice birds are in the morning and evening,
> > AO-27 is in the afternoon.  It is trivial to know when to
> > operate these birds WITHOUT A PC.  Please see the
> > manual-tracking page:
> > http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/MobileLEOtracking.html
> > 
> > The packet path on 145.825 is VIA ARISS for all three
> > satellites.  The path for GO-32 is VIA 4XTECH and uses two
> > different uplinks:  145.85 for APRS software and messages.
> > 145.93 for all Mic-E, D7 and D700 radios.  
> > 
> > That's more than one pass per hour on 145.825.  Lots of
> contact
> > potential from your mobile...  
> > 
> > For APRS birds:
> > http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pcsat.html
> > http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/iss-faq.html
> > http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-ops.html
> > http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/GO32-ops.html
> > 
> > For AMSAT birds:
> > http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php
> > 
> > For many of these satellites, you don't even need a tracking
> > program. Just a slip of paper on the dashboard... See:  
> > http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/MobileLEOtracking.html
> > 
> > The best antenna is a 19.5" whip in the center of your roof.
> 5
> > dBi gain on the 2m uplink and almost 8 dBi gain for the very
> > weak UHF downlink (above 25 degrees)...
> > 
> > Watch for special event info.
> > 
> > WB4APR, Bob
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of

> > the author.
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> > 
> 
>