[amsat-bb] Re: RAFT Packet Operator assistance needed

Tue Apr 24 11:13:13 PDT 2007

Bob,

This is Jonathan, KE5FSG from the CAPE team.  We are in Lafayette, 
Louisiana (rouphly -92, 30 Lat, Long).  We can try the pass tonight at 
8:30 and 10:00 CDT and about the same time tomorrow.  It looks like it 
will just barely be out of sun before it passes over the radar fence, 
but we can try.  After tomorrow, you will probably need someone further 
west.

I will be at our ground station tonight and tomorrow about those times 
anyway, so send me an email with any details I need to command and I 
will gladly try to help.  Am I correct that the uplink and downlink are 
both at 145.825 MHz?

We have a TS-2000 with 100 Watts on 2 meters and a M2  element 2MCP22 22 
element yagi with mast-mounted pre-amp.

Jonathan Wagner

Robert Bruninga wrote:
>> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] RAFT Packet Operator assistance needed
>>
>> In about a week the CAPE team work load will drop off 
>> and we will be able to help.  In the mean time we can 
>> on a night or two send a few commands to the sats.
>>     
>
> That would be great.  We only have a few days left during this
> operating period, because RAFT only works well in the DARK and
> it is getting earlier every day.  We have been in orbit for 4
> months have not found anyone in the Southern USA to do this
> simple test.  (needs an OSCAR array).   You did not mention
> where you are located.. 
>
> There is only one viable pass per day per location in the early
> evening.  Not knowing where you are, here are the Times CENTRAL
> Daylight Time are:
>
> 24th 9:57:36 PM West of Texas
> 25th 8:56:36 PM East of Texas
>      9:55:24 PM West of Texas
> 26th 8:22:42 PM East of Texas
>      9:52:06 PM West of texas
> 27th 8:19:18 PM East of Texas
>      9:49:12 PM West of Texas
> 28th 8:15:42 PM West of Texas
> 29th 8:11:56 PM West of Texas
> 30th 8:07:48 PM West of Texas
>  1st 8:03:36 PM West of Texas
>
> The trick is to command the satellite to turn on its downlink
> carrier and Radar receiver exactly 30 seconds prior to passing
> through the fence and then having an audio recorder running to
> "hear" the tone when we pass through the radar beam.
>
> Commands are a ssimple CONNECT XXXX at the cmd: propt, then an
> exchange of passwords, and then sending a simpel typed command.
>
> RAFT can he HEARD just fine on ALL passes and 5 of them occur
> every day before this last one.  So you can test your RECEIVE
> capability on any pass, but can only command in the dark (due to
> overchargin on batteries makes uplink receier deaf)...
>
> Bob
>
>
>   
>> nick
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Robert Bruninga" <bruninga at usna.edu>
>> To: <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
>> Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 12:32 PM
>> Subject: [amsat-bb] RAFT Packet Operator assistance needed
>>
>>
>>     
>>> We need AMSAT operator help with the RAFT satellite Test.
>>>
>>> We need somone with a 2m beam and familiarity with packet
>>>       
> that
>   
>>> lives in the Southern USA from Arizona to Georgia (AZ, NM,
>>>       
> TX,
>   
>>> OK, MS, ALA, GA).
>>>
>>> RAFT is at its mission life time half-way point, and we have
>>>       
> not
>   
>>> been able to find anyone in the above footprint to help us
>>> conduct the primary mission which was for the satellite to
>>> detect its own passing through the DOD's radar fence.  When
>>>       
> it
>   
>>> flies through the North American Space-Object fan beam, we
>>> should hear about 1 second tone that anyone can hear on the
>>> downlink.
>>>
>>> Due to its low orbit and small footprint, turning on the
>>>       
> Radar
>   
>>> Transponder can only be done in the shared footprint between
>>>       
> the
>   
>>> radar transmitter in North Texas and the command station.
>>>       
> The
>   
>>> ideal command station has
>>> these atributes:
>>>
>>> 1) Lives in AZ, NM, TX, OK, AK, LA, MS, AL, GA, W.FLA
>>> 2) A reasonable 2m beam for ops on 145.825
>>> 3) A packet TNC
>>> 4) A familiarity with dumb-terminal TNC operations such as
>>>   A. Connections, Converse, UNPROTO, etc
>>>   B. Remote sysop logon to a Kantronics TNC
>>>
>>> The objective of these southern command stations is to
>>>       
> logon,
>   
>>> send the command to activate the RAFT Radar receiver for 1
>>> minute in anticipation of passing through the fence.  Then
>>> hopefully recording any audio heard on the downlink
>>>       
> (145.825).
>   
>>> Of course, once the radar receiver is on, everyone in the
>>> footprint should be able to hear it.
>>>
>>> For info, see the ANDE-RAFT operations page:
>>> http://eng.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html
>>>
>>> Several AMSAT hams built this tiny Radar receiver as a
>>>       
> possible
>   
>>> common device for all future HAMsats, and we would like to
>>>       
> get
>   
>>> feedback on its performance.  But they all live up North.
>>>       
> If
>   
>>> you have a beam and familiarity with TNC's please let us
>>>       
> know.
>   
>>> Bob, WB4APR.
>>> US Naval Academy Satellite Lab
>>>
>>>
>>>
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> the
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>   