Hi Ryan!
I'm with you on how to report on the AMSAT status page. If I don't see my packets being digipeated when using my TH-D72 or TM-D710, I mark my reports as "Downlink Only". If I see my packets being digipeated, or I see other stations using the digipeater, I'll go with "Uplink and Downlink Active".
As for the pass times, they gradually move earlier in the day. I have what should be some decent passes this afternoon, and I hope to work one or two of them from the Prescott Hamfest in north-central Arizona later with my TH-D72 & Elk - same setup I used last week, when I worked you via FalconSat-3.
73!
Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK http://www.wd9ewk.net/ Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK
On Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 2:28 PM, Ryan Noguchi via AMSAT-BB < amsat-bb@amsat.org> wrote:
I've been reporting my observations on the AMSAT Live OSCAR Satellite Status page. For the FM and linear satellites, it's a no-brainer: if I hear live traffic on the bird, or if I hear myself being transponded, then clearly "Uplink and Downlink Active" is appropriate.
However, for the packet satellites, what's the criteria for reporting the uplink as active? The past two days, I've received continuous streams of non-APRS packets from FalconSat-3 on two passes, but despite manually sending my beacons many times on each pass, I don't get digipeated (at least no iGate seems to be picking up the traffic) and I don't receive any APRS packets from anyone else. My TH-D72A is properly configured per Patrick WD9EWK's excellent tutorial, and I've made QSOs earlier in the week with the radio in the same configuration it's in now. The only difference seems to be that I'm working FS-3 much earlier in the day, on a weekday, than I have in the past. I'm just using a TH-D72A, so for all I know, a dozen ops are having a grand ol' time on the BBS.
I've been reporting these passes as "Downlink Only." Is that appropriate? I seem to be the only one this week who reported FalconSat-3 as anything but open for business. I'm planning to try one or more passes later today.
73, Ryan AI6DO