The APRS space channel was designed to support user applications that need satellite connectivity. All of them use UI packets since they are the most efficient (all data in one packet):
1) APRS user message contacts (texting and QSOs)
2) Remote position and status reporting of ham travelers beyond range of the terrestrial network
3) Remote sensor data experiments (ocean buoys or WX data projects)
Generally, I have learned that trying to criticize how others use ham radio is a dead end. So instead we try to nudge them towards proper operating practice such as the guidelines on how to use the ISS digipeater: http://aprs.org/iss-faq.html
The recommendations have always been:
* live operators use a beacon rate of 1 beacon per minute and live QSO packets as required.
* Remote travelers (live) should set one packet every 2 minutes (live and moving).
* For non-moving travelers and unattended data sources, we recommend one packet every 5 minutes.
These rates can show good success for a dozen live users, a half dozen live mobiles and nearly 2 dozen unattended beacons per pass and this is about the average load. Though people would see higher suggess if we could get those dead-woods to cut back their rates.
Yes, it is sad that some people transmit unattended beacons via the ISS at 1 minute rates. So what we need to encourage those unattended stations to cut back to one packet every 5 minutes. At that rate, their load is insignificant but they have a good chance of showing up on the heard log ( http://ariss.net) once a day and they exercise and demonstrate the utility of the channel for remote Amateur Radio Applications.
So It would seem OK for a few policeman to look for 1 minute unattended beacons and contact them to read the above FAQ page as their responsibility for using the channel.
Bob Bruninga,wb4apr
*From:* Robert McGwier [mailto:rwmcgwier@gmail.com] *Sent:* Thursday, April 21, 2016 12:11 PM *Subject:* Re: [amsat-bb] ISS Unattended Beacon Theory (UBT) - PROVE ME WRONG!
That is what it is now Bob. It is people on the ground doing the bleeping and they are using it as a pseudo bent pipe transponder doing demod/remod constantly unattended. is that how it was intended to be used?
Tell me how to stop this behavior without turning off UI? Or maybe you feel this is not a real impediment to comms. The originator of this thread seems to feel it is.
73s
Bob
On Thu, Apr 21, 2016 at 9:09 AM, Robert Bruninga bruninga@usna.edu wrote:
Do you mean turn it into another BLEEPsat of our own making?..
-----Original Message-----
Subject: ISS Unattended Beacon Theory (UBT) - PROVE ME WRONG!
We should turn off digipeating of UI frames. One bit flip and it ends. The ISS can beacon but this activity will end. Bob
On Tue, Apr 19, 2016 at 12:52 PM, skristof@etczone.com wrote:
A short exchange of name, QTH (Grid Square &/or state), then a QSL to acknowledge. Kind of like JT65 except faster than growing grass. I use... macros that can be set up with all the info, then sent with the
push of a button. It can be done if you're paying attention and catch the breaks between beacons. Steve AI9IN
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