Could the two channels used for casual crew to ham contacts (144.49/145.80 & 145.20/145.80) be programmed to send a subaudible tone?
The subaudible tone would only be on the downlink from the ISS and not required for uplink stations. Let me be very clear on this, I am not asking for the subaudible tone squelch to be turned on at the ISS, just a subaudible tone encoded into the transmission from the ISS on 145.80 and only on the two channels used for crew to ham communications.
The subaudible tone would not be sent on the packet repeater channel (145.99/145.80) or other channels that use 145.800 as the downlink.
This would allow those of us who would like to monitor 145.80 for contacts with the crew to set our own receiver subaudible tone squelch. We then would only hear signals from the ISS when a crew member was making contacts. The squelch would not open for packet, etc.
For those who want to hear everything, nothing would change.
Darrell VA7TO
On April 29, 2007 04:40 pm, Patrick McGrane wrote:
Greetings
I read rogers mail pushing for packet on ISS. I have a different opinion to express. For years, the ISS transmitted a very unchallenging Packet mode devoid of real communications with the crew. After listening for many passes for years waiting to hear a crewmember call CQ the packet noise began to grow on me like chinese water torture. To me, without the capability to communicate with the crew, the aprs packet mode is frivolous robotic stuff. Sorry, But I'm not the military type. I realize the crew is busy, or otherwise uninterested, but I prefer to communicate with the crew or others directly. I'm thankful for the times the d700 was placed in cross-band repeat mode. It was the next best thing to talking to the crew. Please use it in the future.
Thank you, 73, patrick N2OEQ