* We need a volunteer command station for RAFT in the * southern states from Arizona through Texas to Georgia
Today was the first time I tried to command RAFT from Annapolis to enable the 216.98 MHz radar fence transponder and I timed out 30 seconds before the fence penetration. With RAFT's weak signal, it looks like it would be better to command from a southern state that is underneath the 216.98 MHz transmitter fan beam across the southern USA. With my OSCAR array, I still need a pass better than 15 degrees for success, which is too rare for me to occur while RAFT is passing through the fence.
So we need some help.
Requirements: 1) an OSCAR array on 2 meters with Preamp or very short coax cable 2) AZ/EL mount and tracking 3) AX.25 standard TNC at 1200 baud 4) Good understanding of basic TAPR-2 TNC functionality 4) any ole' PC that can run a DOS program 5) A recorder to record the downlink audio when RAFT flies through the fence 6) station location from Arizona to Georgia or southern states inbetween 6) persistence and dedication
You need access to your station during morning or afternoon passes. Right now they are about 5 PM local time but moving earlier every day by 20 minutes or so. Or you can do the morning passes which are now occuring at about 9 AM local time and moving earlier.
What you will do is try to meet one or both of the two passes, and send the command to turn on the RAFT radar fence transponder which will bring up the RAFT 145.825 downlink for about 1 minute which will provide you with the signals heard by the 216.98 MHz uplink receiver. You will record that audio for that 1 minute to capture a ping if it works.
Thanks! Bob, Wb4APR