Just saw a message over on the AMSAT BB that indicates that Dr. Charles Simonyi will be performing maintenance on both rigs during his upcoming stay on the ISS..... YAY!!!
George, KA3HSW
-----Original Message-----
>From: Dave Taylor <w8aas(a)comcast.net>
>Sent: Apr 6, 2007 7:05 AM
>To: Sarex <SAREX(a)AMSAT.Org>
>Subject: [sarex] Re: Marex news, ISS radio status
>
>Miles overstates the D700 problems. The memory channels didn't
>become corrupted; they are fine. Physically, the radio is fine.
>What happened was that the programmed operating modes (PMs, in D700
>terminology) were overwritten by unplanned (and unknown) changes,
>probably during the SSTV try-outs. Without reliable PMs, changing
>modes requires a lengthy and error-prone procedure to switch between
>packet operations and school contacts. Therefore, the radio was
>manually put in the school contact configuration and left there.
>That is its primary mission.
>
>Fixing the PMs does not require an OS load (whatever that means).
>The custom EPROM firmware, which modified some of the D700's
>functions for space use, doesn't need to be changed. The PMs are
>just operator configurations that can be reloaded from a computer via
>a serial port on the front of the radio, without disassembling
>anything. All that is needed is the computer, crew training, and
>scheduled crew time to do it (all of which are hard to arrange on ISS).
>
>-- Dave, W8AAS
>