Is there any HAM operator near Los Alamitos, Ca that can help test the next APRS Satellite being integrated there?
All we need is someone to configure a radio to RX on 144.39 on a good outside antenna, and another radio to TX the audio on 145.825 (low power into a dummy load) near the spacecraft.
This will provide some “traffic” on the 144.825 channel (low power) to make sure the spacecraft does not do anything weird when it begins to see user packets.
I envision the volunteer to make a trip to the plant to set up this radio, and then come get it later after testing is complete.
It will take two 2m radios and GOOD audio response so that packets do not degrade as they are retransmitted on 145.825.
The trick will be giving it a high enough receive antenna so that it can hear plenty of source packets, and then to have the other TX on low power and into a dummy load placed near the spacecraft so that the 145.825 repeated packets don’t QRM the satellite channel outside the building.
Anyway, it is a challenge, but critical to making sure this APRS satellite is flight ready?
Anyone feel up to contributing some time and effort to the next APRS satellite?
Bob, WB4aPR