You see, Dave, this is way more information that I have managed to gather in the whole of 2015. Thank you so much for that!

Fair enough, I didn't go to the symposium, but a whole lot of other people didn't go, and we have no way to know otherwise, which I find a shame.

All your points are well understood. I only and very dearly hope that what's possibly flying on the HEO is NOT the digital voice thing they are talking about for the geostationary one. Fine on the 5/10 frequency combination. That'll be a nice challenge!

One thing I don't understand: if they remove the engine, how does the HEO bird get into high orbit?

Thanks again and 73.

Pete MM0TWX

On Sat, Dec 26, 2015 at 4:14 PM, David G0MRF [email protected] wrote:

Hi Pete.

So, it's a lot of changes from the old P3E but then the plans for that are 15 years old.....So pretty much dead.

The spaceframe for P3E is tested for flight (same as AO-13) Virginia tech are proposing to remove the engine and add a commercial payload but keep the general concept of an amateur radio satellite. All the transponder designs are 20 years out of date...So dustbin for them In their place goes a set of 10G transmitters and 5GHz receivers as the basis of a digital transponder.

Not all new. A-NA are also using the same transponder technology on a hosted payload going to geosync orbit to cover the Americas.

So that's one geosync hosted payload and another high earth orbit sat built around the P3E spaceframe. Both are 5G up and 10G down

(Don't hold your breath though....these things have a habit of not quite working out as planned...but we all hope they will)

73

David G0MRF

-----Original Message----- From: Pete Parisetti [email protected] To: amsat-bb [email protected] Sent: Sat, 26 Dec 2015 15:32 Subject: [amsat-bb] What on earth (or in space...) is going on?

I have been sucked into a discussion that makes me feel like I have spent the last six months in a coma...

In a nutshell:

QUOTE

Now, let me remind you of the latest developments, as seen from a casual but highly interested observer like myself, and you will tell me if this is a sad joke or what.

1. From the AMSAT newsfeed, on July 25 we learn that "AMSAT-NA, AMSAT-DL,

and Virginia Tech Announce Potential Phase-3E Opportunity".

2. In the following months there has been absolutely NO FOLLOW-UP, no

information whatsoever on this potentially crucial piece of information.

3. A couple of days ago, completely out of the blue, we learn that "AMSAT

Ground Terminal Development Expands to Texas".

Hello? WTF is going on here? The P3E launch opportunity has morphed into a geostationary satellite (never heard a thing about that). The projct has morphed from a P3E "old school" satellite into this digital monster (never heard a thing about that). Things have developed to such an extent that now "ground terminals are being expanded"...

UNQUOTE

Here's a link to the thread:

http://forums.qrz.com/index.php?threads/first-amateur-radio-in-geosynchronou...

73 HNY Pete MM0TWX _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. 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