Hi Rick,
I'll see if I can offer any additional tips. I'm sure if you have questions other guys will have some also.
... set up UISS with SoundModem to work with my Flex5000A.
There are some changes in UISS settings to work with Soundmodem (Figure 10 in the article) which you likely have made. I start Soundmodem first followed by starting UISS. When UISS starts it shows a message that it connected with Soundmodem:
Connected to Server 127.0.0.1 Port1 with SoundCard Ch: A;
On the UISS main screen I set these pulldowns (you can manually type in the values if they aren't in the pulldown menu):
To as CQ Via as ARISS TX Text/Data as =4211.29N/08827.08W-Greetings (my lat/long, the "-" is the code for the house symbol on the map, and Greetings is whichever text you want to use for CQing. When I click the Text/Data F5 button it transmits.
On the Soundmodem settings I've selected AFSK AX.25 1200bd and I left that little window set at 1700 which seems to be a default.
One note about the soundcard packet applications is they will only display packets that are 100% correct with no checksum errors. I miss the feature on hardware packet where you could PASSALL to the screen including the incomplete packets. Some packets sound "good" but if it contains a checksum error the software won't display the message.
I don't know if the Flex 5000 needs any additional interface settings. I've observed what Alan mentioned that Soundmodem on receive is pretty tolerant of levels. I'm seeing different sound levels on receive here between different computers. I know my FT-857D is sensitive to transmit sound levels and I need to use the Windows audio mixer slider to keep the FM deviation within limits.
On another computer running an SDRPlay for receive I've observed that VBcable always seems to run with higher levels but Soundmodem decodes OK.
... clues how to set up UISS for terrestrial APRS packet on 144.390 to enable me to test this setup by getting some feedback that shows things are working?
When I listen on 144.390 for testing all I see is the raw APRS data. I don't transmit on 144.390 since I'm not active on APRS (cool maps though). The raw APRS packets look like:
1:Fm W9RCG-2 To APU25N Via K9ESV-10*,WIDE2* <UI C Pid=F0 Len=61> [09:43:58R] [+++] =4307.10N/08807.20W#APRS&DIGI @ Menomonee Falls, WI {UIV32N}
I find it useful to see some test signals on 144.390. In the mishmash of callsigns and routes you can tell who transmitted the packet by the asterisk. The only path information you need for ISS packet is the UNPROTO set to CQ VIA ARISS. I found that the settings to decode terrestrial packet transfer directly to receiving packets from the ISS and PSAT even though the content details differ between terrestrial and space.
The map on http://www.ariss.net/ only shows that stations that were received by a satgate station. Sometimes half of my packets aren't gated via satgate to the internet even though I received my own (and others) packets directly at my station. This web page will still show you if you were satgat'ed without you sending APRS information. You'll see your transmitted text without position information. If you transmitted position information that would be displayed on the map portion of the web page. (That map is zoomable so you can get close-ups on your area.)
I guess it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyways, tracking the Doppler shift on 437.550 is important on both the transmit and receive legs. Packet on 145.825 will be easier once they get the chance to install the new Ericsson radio.
-- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM [email protected]