Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] Email via Satellite Simulated
Emergency Test
I can see this would be very handy in a ham rich environment where the down linked message would likely to be received. This is great for Europe and N. America. Places like Asia, Australia, Africa and Oceania are less likely to have much success getting the word out since no one in the footprint would be listening.
Yes, but all it takes is one ground station in an entire country to link it up. Also PCSAT has a little-used save-and-dump mode for such cases... But the keys are unpublished, because the save-and-dump mode should be reserved for only those remote areas...
But PCSAT is only a demo. We hope that other schools and satellite builders will always include a 145.825 digipeater for this kind of mimimal essential communications.
Bob, Wb4APR
Kenneth - N5VHO
-----Original Message----- From: amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces@amsat.org] On Behalf Of Robert Bruninga Sent: Monday, November 05, 2007 4:02 PM To: 'Amsat-BB' Subject: [amsat-bb] Email via Satellite Simulated Emergency
Test
The value of sending an Email via APRS Satellite in an
emergency
is that it is a set-and-forget outward bound communcations
mode.
Perfect for real emergencies.
You don't need anything but a 2m radio and a TNC. No special software. No special hardware, no satellite predictions, and
no
time consuming operating.
Just set the Email message in your TNC beacon, turn it on, and then return to all the emergency tasks at hand. Think
Katrina.
You wanted to report your status, but had no time for the
tedium
of "operating" to find a means to get your traffic out. There was just too much else to do...
In real emergencies, those affected have far too much else to
do
than to try to make a satellite contact to report back their location and status. But using an APRS beacon allows you to
set
up your outgoing message (or email), with no knowledge
required
about satellite pass times. Sooner or later an APRS satellite will pass over your location and your beacon and EMAIL will
get
in without any effort on your part.
Your emergency health and welfare email will not only get relayed by the satellite to a SATgate, but should then be automatically emailed to the intended recepient. You did not need any special software, no satellite predictions, no
special
hardware other than a TNC and 2m radio.
This is the ideal first-response health-and-welfare-status reporting mechanism. Put your beacon on the air and then do
all
the rest of the emregency work you have to do, and do not get burdened with having to sit and "operate" to try to get your message out.
The Satellite Simulated Emergency Test web page shows you how
to
use any TNC to set up your outgoing EMAIL...
http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/sset.html
Try it with your old TNC. Anyone can do it. But the format must be correct for the packet that you place in your
BECONTEXT:
BT :EMAIL :email@address.com your_message_goes_here...
Where 4 spaces are required after the word EMAIL and then the "email@address.com" must be the intended recepient.
Its only one line. But in an emergency, ONE LINE is exceptionally valuable, and has a great chance of getting through.
Not only will it get delivered (if the infrastructure works)
but
you can also just check the downlink yourself to see if it got through on:
Try it this week while PCSAT is working!
Bob, WB4APR
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: