The nicest configuration for a system great and easy for everyone, including both small low budget stations and pro stations would be a 2m FM uplink with CTCSS to avoid interference and a SSB 10m downlink. It can be easily done bypassing the audio output of one 2m radio used as receiver to a VOX compatible SSB 10m radio for transmission.
Such configuration can allow stations from all over the world to enjoy satellite comms even from those countries where modern high tech ham radio equipments are scarce (my own country is on this list and it is not alone on it) and yet provide a fun configuration for those pro and modern stations wishing to remember the good old days from the 10m downlink satellites that I have always heard about.
Regarding the "noise" and antenna difficulties of a 10m SSB downlink several fellows hams mention on previous e-mails. I can tell this: I live in a highly RF contaminated city, lots and lots of cheap poor shielded chinese switching power supply units on DVD players and old rusty power electricity aerial transmission lines. And, with a 15m dipole (yes, the wrong antenna for 10m) at just 9 feet above the roof I can easily hear the "moan" from RS-15 in a higher orbit than ISS. So, a SSB 10m downlink with 1 or 2 Watts of output in the ISS could be very nice in deed!!!
Of course, as several other fellows said NASA and other space agencies had other important things on mind. So my little advice is not to get worry about that. Let's just try to build something capable to provide fun to the higher number of hams and wait patiently for a "GO Flight".
This is just my very personal point of view and my little contribution to this rich topic.
73,
Raydel, CM2ESP
----- Mensaje original ----- De: M5AKA m5aka@yahoo.co.uk Para: co7wt@frcuba.co.cu, w7lrd@comcast.net, g0mrf@aol.com CC: amsat-bb@amsat.org Enviado: Fri, 31 May 2013 06:35:31 -0400 (CDT) Asunto: [amsat-bb] Re: Is there anyway to get a linear transponder on the ISS?
David, there is already an HF monopole (15-30 MHz) installed on the ISS has been since the early days.
I gather there are antennas for HF, 144, 435 feeding into the Russian Service Module and antennas for 144, 435, 1260 (2 antennas) and 2400 (two antennas) feeding into the ESA Columbus Module.
Some info on the Russian Service Module antennas at http://www.marexmg.org/hardware/antennas.html
73 Trevor M5AKA
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