After posting some thoughts a few days ago (RE: ISS, what the heck happened?), I have given the idea more consideration.
Proposal (ARISS on ISS): 1) Install a 100-KHz transponder unit on ISS, with usual digital beacon/engineering 2) It would run mode-UV 3) Installed internally in the ISS 4) Replace most of the current ISS ham radio equipment 5) Could be considered an upgrade/improvement to the existing ham radio on ISS 6) Use ISS power and existing ham radio antenna infrastructure (no solar panels)(no thermal requirements for space environ)(perhaps less radiation hardening) 7) Use batteries for stand-alone operation (recharged from ISS power) 8) Control commanded from ground (no intervention required by astronauts) 9) Local access for use of astronaut-hams 10) Provide emergency back-up comms for ISS (perhaps with a separate FM channel) 11) (perhaps) Use of existing ham-radio handheld on ISS on low-power to dedicated receiver which would activate astronaut repeater channel. 12) This FM channel could be used as FM ham repeater when not in use by astronauts (means world-wide monitoring for the astronauts as well as normal Leo FM activity) 13) Modular design for future upgrades and/or repair (easy installation by astronauts-plug*n*play) 14) Segmented pass-band to allow packet/APRS digipeating 15) Transmitters able to be shut down for eva and other critical missions either locally on ISS or from ground. 16) Perhaps a special Rx/Tx on ISS eva channel for cross-band repeat in event of loss of atmosphere emergency (help to sell the concept to NASA as a comms back-up). 17) No need for orientation (spin or de-spin), rad hardening, thermal structures (air-cooled), no propulsion, no launch requirements. 18) Easily maintained by supply from ground (repairs or upgrades). 19) Long-Life
Re-direct of either Fox or P3E efforts? (no launch requirement-rides as cargo to ISS)
73, Ed - KL7UW, WD2XSH/45 ====================================== BP40IQ 500 KHz - 10-GHz www.kl7uw.com EME: 50-1.1kw?, 144-1.4kw, 432-100w, 1296-60w, 3400-? DUBUS Magazine USA Rep [email protected] ======================================