[amsat-bb] Re: ideas

[Bruce Robertson]

Quoting Anthony Monteiro <aa2tx at comcast.net>:

> At 06:44 PM 1/13/2007, Bruce Robertson wrote:
> 
> >Quoting Anthony Monteiro <aa2tx at comcast.net>:
> >
> > > Here is a wild idea for you. The Nintendo DS Lite
> > > video game has a built-in wireless Instant Messaging (IM)
> > > capability that runs at 2.4GHz using standard WiFi. It would
> > > be really cool for kids to be able to chat with other kids via
> > > satellite using their Nintendo game.
> > >
> ...
> >That's a great wild idea, Tony! How would WiFi's modulation scheme
> react to
> >the doppler shift?
> 
> Hi Bruce,
> 
> A Nintendo game wouldn't be able to directly hit
> a satellite but I was thinking that some kind of
> hack using a cheap Linksys WiFi box could be used as a
> groundstation and it would include whatever
> was needed to talk to the satellite.
> 
> The sat links do not even need to be on 2.4GHz as you
> could just send the IM text up and back via a low-speed link
> and translate back to WiFi for the Nintendo in the Linksys.
> 
> 
> 73,
> Tony AA2TX
> 

I see. These are interesting ideas. I wonder if a cubesat project such as
this would provide a workable test-bed for one or more layers of the
proposed Eagle text-messaging service, which then could be bridged in
software to the ground-based messaging you propose. 

I'm not sure if this is what you have in mind, but some Linksys WiFi boxes
have enough RAM to run a stripped-down version of Linux. The trick would be
to get the data into them. The WRTSL54GS has a USB port, reputedly for
network storage, but it might be hackable in order to get serial data from
a TNC or other demodulator using a USB-to-serial bridge.

It might be in AMSAT's interest to partner with a Cubesat project to
explore this. I understand the processing power onboard a cubesat would be
much less; but just as Suitsat II will test the SDX, a flying testbed for
SMS would be great. It would make for an excellent sales-pitch at
conventions, etc.: imagine a table with a radio, demodulator and hacked
WiFi box, and a couple of laptops. When the bird is in range, a
Jabber-based messaging program comes alive with contacts across N. America.
for 8 minutes or so. Then the pitch: you can help make this system work for
hours-on-end across a large part of the globe with your donation to Eagle. 


73, Bruce VE9QRP