AMSAT publications generally use the "new designators" developed prior to the launch of AO-40, though sometimes with a parenthetical reference to the old mode designation.
For example, from the website post regarding the selection of RadFxSat-2 (Fox-1E) for a CSLI launch:
"The Fox-1E spacecraft bus will be built on the Fox-1 series but will feature a linear V/U (Mode J) transponder “upgrade” to replace the standard FM repeater which Fox-1A through D have carried."
Several parts of the website (such as the frequency guide) also use a less known custom with the second letter in lower case (to indicate that the second letter is 'down').
Eventually I would hope we would move away from "five and dime" or "nickel and dime" to using C/X in reference to 5 GHz uplinks and 10 GHz downlinks.
Regardless, I do think using letters to indicate uplink and downlink is both meaningful and useful. I especially appreciate the history behind the A, B, and J designations (A and B originating with AO-7's two transponders and J originating with AO-8's JAMSAT built transponder) and use those in general conversation with other satellite ops since it's even easier than saying U/V or V/U. The downside with U/V and V/U is it can get confused. For example, I know that a well-known but poorly-informed purveyor of amateur satellite information consistently confuses the two in his materials.
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Wed, Jul 6, 2016 at 12:04 PM, Peter Laws plaws0@gmail.com wrote:
On Mon, Jul 4, 2016 at 2:59 PM, Peter Laws plaws0@gmail.com wrote:
I thought AMSAT was moving away from Modes A, B, J, etc, but they seem too entrenched and still appear in current pubs.
I don't much care which designators are used but I would like to see AMSAT pick one and stick with it. If the organization wants to move away from A/B/J/KT/whatever, and towards a combination of uplink and downlink band letters, great, but then it needs to be a complete break.
Or simply conclude that no one could handle the new style and just go back to A/B/J/etc and come up with new single letters for the new combinations.
Or are we *really* going to stick with "nickel and dime"? Mode C/X sounds way better to me.
All that said, I keep finding more stuff for my table. I didn't really realize that the "hole" in our 13 cm S band was taken up mostly by the pay radio monopoly (who are on the ground as well as in the sky). Lots of other services nipping at our heels, too.
Putting new satellites on C/X is a good idea on many levels.
-- Peter Laws | N5UWY | plaws plaws net | Travel by Train! _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb