AO-85 high speed data/telemetry testing Dec. 29-30, 2015
Hello All,
Greetings. In an effort to test a new autobaud selection feature in FoxTelem 1.03, the Operations Team will be conducting some experimental sessions with AO-85 next week (Dec. 29 and 30, 2015).
Telemetry collectors in/near the US are encouraged to participate and help with testing the autobaud selection feature by installing the 1.03 test version available here: http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/test/
I suggest you do a clean/fresh install in a new folder so you can always go back to 1.02 if you prefer. (It's possible to upgrade only the new files, but if you have to ask how, you'd better not do it ;))
You'll see a new "Auto" button option, next to the Low and High speed buttons; use it.
Specifically, during the following passes we'll be switching from the current voice transponder operation with low speed telemetry, to high speed telemetry (Note: in high speed mode, voice operations are OFF). The switches will take place about every minute or two during the pass. Please avoid making contacts during these testing periods.
29.12.2015 AO-85 11:19 11:32 UTC 29.12.2015 AO-85 13:00 13:12 UTC
30.12.2015 AO-85 11:45 11:59 UTC
During 2016, two or three more Fox satellites are planned for launch into orbit, and these birds will need to operate in high speed data mode from time to time to download space photos, experimental data, etc. Taking advantage of some in orbit testing with Fox-1A/AO-85 will be very helpful to the further development of the FoxTelem ground station software. All the thanks go to Chris Thompson AC2CZ for his extraordinary efforts on the telemetry software (both client and server side)!
Feedback about your experiences will be appreciated. Email to the list is preferred so all can learn.
73,
Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]
Nice overhead pass of AO-85 just now; decoded 52 packets with v1.03a of FoxTelem in auto mode.
Question: Even though I heard a couple of stations attempting to work the voice transponder, there seemed to be a constant carrier that looked like data to me. Quite different from the sub-audio data that I have copied in the past. On the SDR waterfall, it occupied maybe 12-15k KHz of the RF spectrum, I believe. Has something changed since the last time I downloaded AO-85 telemetry? Any idea what I was seeing? Were BOTH the voice transponder and high-speed data on at the same time somehow?
IQ recording available if needed.
Thanks!
-Scott, K4KDR FM17es Montpelier, VA USA
On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 12:59 PM, Mark L. Hammond marklhammond@gmail.com wrote:
Hello All,
Greetings. In an effort to test a new autobaud selection feature in FoxTelem 1.03, the Operations Team will be conducting some experimental sessions with AO-85 next week (Dec. 29 and 30, 2015).
Telemetry collectors in/near the US are encouraged to participate and help with testing the autobaud selection feature by installing the 1.03 test version available here: http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/test/
I suggest you do a clean/fresh install in a new folder so you can always go back to 1.02 if you prefer. (It's possible to upgrade only the new files, but if you have to ask how, you'd better not do it ;))
You'll see a new "Auto" button option, next to the Low and High speed buttons; use it.
Specifically, during the following passes we'll be switching from the current voice transponder operation with low speed telemetry, to high speed telemetry (Note: in high speed mode, voice operations are OFF). The switches will take place about every minute or two during the pass. Please avoid making contacts during these testing periods.
29.12.2015 AO-85 11:19 11:32 UTC 29.12.2015 AO-85 13:00 13:12 UTC
30.12.2015 AO-85 11:45 11:59 UTC
During 2016, two or three more Fox satellites are planned for launch into orbit, and these birds will need to operate in high speed data mode from time to time to download space photos, experimental data, etc. Taking advantage of some in orbit testing with Fox-1A/AO-85 will be very helpful to the further development of the FoxTelem ground station software. All the thanks go to Chris Thompson AC2CZ for his extraordinary efforts on the telemetry software (both client and server side)!
Feedback about your experiences will be appreciated. Email to the list is preferred so all can learn.
73,
Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] _______________________________________________ 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
One comment about the "constant carrier". Remember that with FM, there *is* a constant carrier as long as "PTT" is "pressed". And on AO-85 the carrier stays on for 30 seconds after the last time it heard a 67-Hz tone. And in addition, there is no squelch on the receiver (for the same reason you turn squelch off when listening on the ground---to be able to pick up weak signals better). So I wonder if you hear the carrier still on and repeating noise from the the uplink when no one was talking? That is a pretty wide use of spectrum because it is pretty loud.
73,
Burns W2BFJ
On Sat, Dec 26, 2015 at 11:06 PM, Scott scott23192@gmail.com wrote:
Nice overhead pass of AO-85 just now; decoded 52 packets with v1.03a of FoxTelem in auto mode.
Question: Even though I heard a couple of stations attempting to work the voice transponder, there seemed to be a constant carrier that looked like data to me. Quite different from the sub-audio data that I have copied in the past. On the SDR waterfall, it occupied maybe 12-15k KHz of the RF spectrum, I believe. Has something changed since the last time I downloaded AO-85 telemetry? Any idea what I was seeing? Were BOTH the voice transponder and high-speed data on at the same time somehow?
IQ recording available if needed.
Thanks!
-Scott, K4KDR FM17es Montpelier, VA USA
On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 12:59 PM, Mark L. Hammond marklhammond@gmail.com wrote:
Hello All,
Greetings. In an effort to test a new autobaud selection feature in FoxTelem 1.03, the Operations Team will be conducting some experimental sessions with AO-85 next week (Dec. 29 and 30, 2015).
Telemetry collectors in/near the US are encouraged to participate and
help
with testing the autobaud selection feature by installing the 1.03 test version available here: http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/test/
I suggest you do a clean/fresh install in a new folder so you can always go back to 1.02 if you prefer. (It's possible to upgrade only the new files, but if you have to ask how, you'd better not do it ;))
You'll see a new "Auto" button option, next to the Low and High speed buttons; use it.
Specifically, during the following passes we'll be switching from the current voice transponder operation with low speed telemetry, to high
speed
telemetry (Note: in high speed mode, voice operations are OFF). The switches will take place about every minute or two during the pass.
Please
avoid making contacts during these testing periods.
29.12.2015 AO-85 11:19 11:32 UTC 29.12.2015 AO-85 13:00 13:12 UTC
30.12.2015 AO-85 11:45 11:59 UTC
During 2016, two or three more Fox satellites are planned for launch into orbit, and these birds will need to operate in high speed data mode from time to time to download space photos, experimental data, etc. Taking advantage of some in orbit testing with Fox-1A/AO-85 will be very helpful to the further development of the FoxTelem ground station software. All the thanks go to Chris Thompson AC2CZ for his extraordinary efforts on
the
telemetry software (both client and server side)!
Feedback about your experiences will be appreciated. Email to the list
is
preferred so all can learn.
73,
Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] _______________________________________________ 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
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
My goof - that's exactly what it was. Didn't recall that from the past but I don't think I've ever monitored a pass before with so little voice traffic. Thinking back, every single pass that I downloaded telemetry from in the past was nearly full of voice traffic.
Thanks!
On Sat, Dec 26, 2015 at 11:14 PM, Burns Fisher burns@fisher.cc wrote:
One comment about the "constant carrier". Remember that with FM, there *is* a constant carrier as long as "PTT" is "pressed". And on AO-85 the carrier stays on for 30 seconds after the last time it heard a 67-Hz tone. And in addition, there is no squelch on the receiver (for the same reason you turn squelch off when listening on the ground---to be able to pick up weak signals better). So I wonder if you hear the carrier still on and repeating noise from the the uplink when no one was talking? That is a pretty wide use of spectrum because it is pretty loud.
73,
Burns W2BFJ
On Sat, Dec 26, 2015 at 11:06 PM, Scott scott23192@gmail.com wrote:
Nice overhead pass of AO-85 just now; decoded 52 packets with v1.03a of FoxTelem in auto mode.
Question: Even though I heard a couple of stations attempting to work the voice transponder, there seemed to be a constant carrier that looked like data to me. Quite different from the sub-audio data that I have copied in the past. On the SDR waterfall, it occupied maybe 12-15k KHz of the RF spectrum, I believe. Has something changed since the last time I downloaded AO-85 telemetry? Any idea what I was seeing? Were BOTH the voice transponder and high-speed data on at the same time somehow?
IQ recording available if needed.
Thanks!
-Scott, K4KDR FM17es Montpelier, VA USA
On Fri, Dec 25, 2015 at 12:59 PM, Mark L. Hammond <marklhammond@gmail.com
wrote:
Hello All,
Greetings. In an effort to test a new autobaud selection feature in FoxTelem 1.03, the Operations Team will be conducting some experimental sessions with AO-85 next week (Dec. 29 and 30, 2015).
Telemetry collectors in/near the US are encouraged to participate and
help
with testing the autobaud selection feature by installing the 1.03 test version available here: http://amsat.us/FoxTelem/test/
I suggest you do a clean/fresh install in a new folder so you can always go back to 1.02 if you prefer. (It's possible to upgrade only the new files, but if you have to ask how, you'd better not do it ;))
You'll see a new "Auto" button option, next to the Low and High speed buttons; use it.
Specifically, during the following passes we'll be switching from the current voice transponder operation with low speed telemetry, to high
speed
telemetry (Note: in high speed mode, voice operations are OFF). The switches will take place about every minute or two during the pass.
Please
avoid making contacts during these testing periods.
29.12.2015 AO-85 11:19 11:32 UTC 29.12.2015 AO-85 13:00 13:12 UTC
30.12.2015 AO-85 11:45 11:59 UTC
During 2016, two or three more Fox satellites are planned for launch
into
orbit, and these birds will need to operate in high speed data mode from time to time to download space photos, experimental data, etc. Taking advantage of some in orbit testing with Fox-1A/AO-85 will be very
helpful
to the further development of the FoxTelem ground station software. All the thanks go to Chris Thompson AC2CZ for his extraordinary efforts on
the
telemetry software (both client and server side)!
Feedback about your experiences will be appreciated. Email to the list
is
preferred so all can learn.
73,
Mark L. Hammond [N8MH] _______________________________________________ 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
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
participants (3)
-
Burns Fisher -
Mark L. Hammond -
Scott