Maybe someone can explain why Eagle could not use the L Band for its digital uplink instead of S Band? Then you would have a L/C mode and many users already have a L band uplink capability.
Les W4SCO
Eagle will carry a payload that it is hoped will revolutionize Amateur Satellite communications and Ham Radio as a whole. Initially called C-C Rider, I will call it the Advanced Communications Package (ACP) because it no longer uses C-band for both uplink and downlink. This package will be designed to bring satellites and DX to you and to many other Hams who have never been able to use a satellite or operate DX before. This is because the ground station antenna will be small, power levels reasonable, many modes will be supported (from Voice and CW to Video and data communications), the ground station will be affordable and the signal quality will be superior. Much of this is accomplished through the use of digital techniques so it will require all new equipment on the ground. AMSAT will design the ground station equipment and publish everything so you can buy it, copy it, sell it, or build it.
The Eagle band plan has been the subject of much discussion, of late. Eagle is still in the design phase and the band plan is not finalized, so don't worry just yet. The confusion was the result of the ACP (C-C Rider) team realizing that they had to find another band for the uplink. They chose S-band for some good reasons but that recommendation is under review by the whole Eagle team and is not yet final. There should be a final announcement at the AMSAT Symposium in a few weeks. I encourage everyone to come to the Symposium and meet your AMSAT officials and learn what is really happening in AMSAT.