Patrick,
The point is not that P3E will have mode-S, but that Eagle, that was part of the long-term AMSAT goal of having three HEO's in orbit, will not. Except for mode-UV there will not be any commonality between bands used on P3E and Eagle.
I'm not sure where you get the impression that no investment in ground station equipment will be needed. Do you have a 2400 MHz transmitter and 5-GHz receiver able to demodulate digital voice? How about 24-GHz 0r 47-GHz?
The point being made is many of us made the expenditure to have mode-S receiving stations out of necessity when the mode-V Tx failed on AO-40 very early in its short life.
Eagle will require investment in specially constructed mw gear (where do you get that it will not?)...unless you are satisfied with mode-UV. Fortunately, I kept all my AO-10/13 2m & 70cm equipment...likewise am keeping my mode-L and mode-S for P3E. I am just disappointed that I will not be able to use my mode-LS station on Eagle, as well.
73's Ed - KL7UW
At 04:49 PM 9/7/2006 -0400, McGrane wrote:
Greetings
Happy to have read about the design changes for eagle. Sorry so many people are upset about S band not being there. Wont it be on Phase 3E?
I was very impressed that the amsat design team wants to please a large number of users without requiring large investments in ground stations.
Better to accommodate as many as possible instead of evryone subsidizing a project for a select few high tech types.
I will continue to donate to eagle in the future. Thanks to the design committee, patrick N2OEQ
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb