The RAFT and ANDE satellites are due to be launched from Shuttle Discovery after it undocks from the ISS. Like PCSAT and PCSAT-2, they will be transmitting telemetry and digipeating APRS packets on 145.825. We are in need of stations around the world to receive this telemetry and gate it to the APRS-IS.

You do not need a complex station to help out! A 2-meter receiver and omni-directional antenna will work just fine. If we have many stations with omni antennas that participate, it will be just as effective as a smaller number of stations that have full tracking antennas. When you are away from your home 2M station, put it to good use by setting it to 145.825 and gate the packets heard to the APRS-IS using software such as UI-View32 (http://www.ui-view.org). You can also use ALogger which was designed for this purpose. You can download ALogger here: http://www.billdiaz.dynip.com/Alogger204.zip

An easier option: If you have a TM-D700 radio, it is very easy to set up your radio to work as a SatGate to help capture these packets. You do not need an Internet connection at all for this setup! See details here:

http://aj3u.com/aprs/aj3u-10.php

Here is the operations website for ANDE and RAFT:

http://eng.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html

Access for digipeating is not granted until their primary mission is complete. Look for an e-mail from Bob (WB4APR) for a go-ahead to start digipeating.