Does anyone do Satellite packet? If so what kind of TNC is needed.
As a tangential response, our next satellite which will do the same APRS packet relay as PCSAT and the ISS will use the new Byonics all-on-a-board Packet TNC/Radio/Telemetry system. This makes it possible to build a packet satellite out of a single 3.4" square board and 5 NiCd' batteries and that is all you need for a tiny APRS satellite.
The board is called the MT-TT4 which is a Microtracker APRS system. It has a transceiver, and not just a transmitter. It has all the functions of a KPC-3 including APRS digipeating, APRS telemetry and it even has a KEYBOARD interface and a MULTI-LINE text display for APRS messaging. See http://www.byonics.com/microtrak/mt-tt4.php
We are ordering a bunch of them on the APRS Space Channel of 145.825 and hope to encourage other schools and universities to consider including one of these packet transponders in their missions. If we can get up to a dozen of these in space, we will have almost global coverage 24 hours a day from anywhere on the planet!
Can a Kam KPC-3+ used for VHF packet work?
Absolutely. It is one of the best TNC's for setting up an APRS digipeater. Look at the USA map in this month's QST to see the whole USA coverage map for APRS. If your area does not have good converage, please consider setting up a digipeater to serve travelers when they are in your area.
Are there many birds that forward messages around the globe like years ago when pacsats were famous?
Not really, but the ISS, and PCSAT and the others we hope to fly do something similar, but the messages are not "forwarded" but are LIVE anywhre on the planet. Any packets relayed in the footprint, are picked up by volunteer grounds sattions and fed live into the internet where they go everywhere on the globe. Then the go from the internet back to RF in the area of the intended recepient. Please take a look at this Universal Ham Radio Text Messaging System: www.aprs.org/aprs-messaging.html
Bob, WB4APR
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