We desperately need some AMSAT OSCAR class stations in the Central USA to complete the RAFT radar fence test ASAP.
Deorbit is in the next two weeks, much earlier than previous predictions, and so we will not get another comfortable evening pass window. Prime passes now are occurring around 4 AM and moving earlier (sorry). Before, we asked for Southern USA. Now we realize that someone in most central states have command potential. Anyone within about 1000 miles E/W of North Texas or 600 miles north and south are ideal!
Station requirements: 1) OSCAR class tracking 2m beam for up/downlink 145.825 2) Standard AX.25 1200 baud packet 3) Simple HYPERTERM text commanding 4) Familiarity with TNC's and TNC commanding 5) Prepared to record 1 minute of audio heard on downlink
Unfortunately I am going to Dayton this weekend, but we have to really be ready for this next week and get this test done. None of the principals involved in this design can do it because we all live too far away from the 216.98 MHz RADAR fence transmitter in North Texas.
See WEB: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html
Thanks, WB4APR, Bob
-----Original Message----- Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 1:23 PM Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] RAFT Packet Operator assistance needed
We only have 7 days left in this operating period and really do need a good OSCAR station in the Southern USA in a line from AZ to GA to conduct this test of RAFT flying through the 80 megawatt radar transmitter beam originated in north Texas.
There is only one viable pass per day per command station location in the early evening.... The trick is to command the satellite to turn on its downlink carrier and Radar receiver exactly 30 seconds prior to passing through the fence and then having an audio recorder running to "hear" (record) the tone when we pass through the radar beam.
Commands are a simple CONNECT XXXX at the cmd: propt, then an exchange of passwords, and then sending a simple typed command at the right time.
RAFT can he HEARD just fine on ALL FIVE passes leading up to this last pass per day, so you can test your RECEIVE capability on any pass, but can only command in the dark (due to overcharging on batteries makes uplink receier deaf)...
If anyone can conduct this test please let us know. Only one person per pass can attempt this, so we want the best gun at the stick. Fully conversent at the TNC "cmd:" prompt and preerably with experimence with the KPC3+ remote-sysop command mode.
Bob, WB4APR USNA Satelite Lab
----- Original Message ----- Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 12:32 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] RAFT Packet Operator assistance needed
We need AMSAT operator help with the RAFT satellite Test. We need somone with a 2m beam and familiarity with packet that lives in the Southern USA from Arizona to Georgia (AZ, NM, TX, OK, MS, ALA, GA).
RAFT is past its mission life time half-way point, and we have not been able to find anyone in the above footprint to help us conduct the primary mission which was for the satellite to detect its own passing through the DOD's radar fence. When it flies through the North American Space-Object fan beam, we should hear about 1 second tone that anyone can hear on the downlink.
Due to its low orbit and small footprint, turning on the Radar Transponder can only be done in the shared footprint between the radar transmitter in North Texas and the command station. The ideal command station has these atributes:
- Lives in AZ, NM, TX, OK, AK, LA, MS, AL, GA, W.FLA
- A reasonable 2m beam for ops on 145.825
- A packet TNC
- Familiar with dumb-terminal TNC operations such as
A. Connections, Converse, UNPROTO, etc B. Remote sysop logon to a Kantronics TNC
The objective of these southern command stations is to logon, send the command to activate the RAFT Radar receiver for 1 minute in anticipation of passing through the fence. Then hopefully recording any audio heard on the downlink (145.825). Of course, once the radar receiver is on, everyone in the footprint should be able to hear it.
For info, see the ANDE-RAFT operations page: http://eng.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html
Several AMSAT hams built this tiny Radar receiver as a possible common device for all future HAMsats, and we would like to get feedback on its performance. But they all live up North. If you have a beam and familiarity with TNC's please let us know.
Bob, WB4APR. US Naval Academy Satellite Lab