PCSAT Recovery Status:
Still no joy on recovery. Still too many unattended stations overloading the bird while we are trying to command it.
I get command on the first ascending pass each day (PCSAT over atlantic, out of view of most USA). But next passes are impossible. Today, I plotted packet-attempts-by-PCSAT (noise bursts by ear) and noticed an astonishing 3 times heavier load over the USA compared to over the atlantic. Of these dozens of packet attempts, only 2 decoded.
But now that I can tell by ear the huge difference in attempted packets by PCSAT when it is over the USA, I can see why we are having problems. And the sun angle gets worse every day for a chance at recovery.
So don't hold your breath this operating period. Have fun on ISS, its working great! And if you have an unattended beacon via W3ADO-1, please turn it off. Thanks
Bob, Wb4APR
Would it be possible to allow some other responsible person, perhaps on an other continent, to command it ?
73, Dave. G1OCN AMSAT UK 5766 Portland. Dorset. IO80SM
-----Original Message-----
From Robert Bruninga
Sent: 12 December 2008 14:56 To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Cc: 'TAPR APRS Mailing List' Subject: [amsat-bb] PCSAT Recovery status
PCSAT Recovery Status:
Still no joy on recovery. Still too many unattended stations overloading the bird while we are trying to command it.
SNIPPED
Would it be possible to allow some other responsible person, perhaps on an other continent, to command it ?
Yes, I have some very goood volunteers in HI, JP, NZ, AU that do try also. But only the hawaii station has no QRM, but unfortunately he also can only use a hand held ARROW antenna on the side of the road, (or through his roof if it is raining) and so he has not been very successful.
There are not many OSCAR sattellite class stations on Hawaii since there is no one to talk to..
BUT, I just did a magnetic pole map of the world and realize that even though the -Z panel points down in the southern hemisphere, there is a possiblity over New Zealand. I think one of our volunteers may give it a try tonight.
See the new plots on the www.aprs.org/pcsat.html web page.
Bob, WB4APR
73, Dave. G1OCN AMSAT UK 5766 Portland. Dorset. IO80SM
-----Original Message----- From Robert Bruninga Sent: 12 December 2008 14:56 To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Cc: 'TAPR APRS Mailing List' Subject: [amsat-bb] PCSAT Recovery status
PCSAT Recovery Status:
Still no joy on recovery. Still too many unattended stations overloading the bird while we are trying to command it.
SNIPPED
"Why not list the stations heard?"
There should be a "Wall of Shame."
Roger WA1KAT
----- Original Message ----- From: "Robert Bruninga" bruninga@usna.edu To: amsat-bb@amsat.org Cc: "'TAPR APRS Mailing List'" aprssig@tapr.org Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 9:56 AM Subject: [amsat-bb] PCSAT Recovery status
PCSAT Recovery Status:
Still no joy on recovery. Still too many unattended stations overloading the bird while we are trying to command it.
I get command on the first ascending pass each day (PCSAT over atlantic, out of view of most USA). But next passes are impossible. Today, I plotted packet-attempts-by-PCSAT (noise bursts by ear) and noticed an astonishing 3 times heavier load over the USA compared to over the atlantic. Of these dozens of packet attempts, only 2 decoded.
But now that I can tell by ear the huge difference in attempted packets by PCSAT when it is over the USA, I can see why we are having problems. And the sun angle gets worse every day for a chance at recovery.
So don't hold your breath this operating period. Have fun on ISS, its working great! And if you have an unattended beacon via W3ADO-1, please turn it off. Thanks
Bob, Wb4APR
Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
"Why not list the stations heard?" There should be a "Wall of Shame."
Because of the dozens of packets being digipeated by PCSAT, none or maybe one or two have enough power to get heard. And often those are PCSAT's own packets. PCSAT has no battery capacity to maintain the 10W needed by the XMTRs. So a packet starts, but before even the TXD is up, the battery is dead, and noone gets a full packet.
I use the term "digipeated" here, meaning that the TNC heard it and the TNC keyed the transmitter and send over the audio, but the XMTR dies before the packet is hardlly begun. So you can hear them, but you cannot decode them.
Whereas conventionally when we use the term "digipeated" we are assuming the RF gets out the antnena at the XMT end...
Thanks Bob, WB4APR
On Dec 12, 2008, at 7:56 AM, Robert Bruninga wrote:
PCSAT Recovery Status:
Still no joy on recovery. Still too many unattended stations overloading the bird while we are trying to command it.
I tried to reach the station here in Colorado that was listed, but no joy -- no one has a current phone number for him since he moved up into the mountains.
I can't imagine he has much in the way of LOS from his QTH, since he lives in a deep valley, last I heard. If that helps you time your commanding, great.
Sorry Bob. I tried.
-- Nate Duehr, WY0X nate@natetech.com
participants (4)
-
Dave Aitch -
Nate Duehr -
Robert Bruninga -
Roger Kolakowski