[amsat-bb] Re: RAFT PSK-31 is enabled

[Robert Bruninga]

RAFT PSK-31 passes are not beginning to occur around midnight in
the northern heisphere.  Analysis shows RAFT didn't get above 40
C over the weekend when the PSK-31 transponder was on.

Although the 10m receiver noise is hearable in the 145.825 FM
downlink, no one has reported hearing a 10m signal yet.  So this
experiment continues until we hear a big gun.  Anyone is
authorized to bring up the tranponder as noted in the original
post below.

The one thing we do know is that RAFT is most reponsive to being
brought up in the dark.  Do not even bother during the day.  Its
command receiver appears to be distorted then and will not come
up.

Bob
WB4APR

> -----Original Message-----
> From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org 
> [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Bob Bruninga 
> Sent: Saturday, January 27, 2007 11:25 AM
> To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
> Subject: [amsat-bb] RAFT PSK-31 is enabled
> 
> RAFT lives!
> 
> Throught overnight sleepless efforts, RAFT was finally 
> commanded into PSK-31 mode by the combined efforts of 
> DK3WN, PA3GUO, and PE1ITR and others.
> 
> The problem has been that the RAFT command receiver is 
> deaf when the bus voltage is over 8.1 volts.  But at 
> night in the dark, it works OK.  SO here is how to work 
> RAFT PSK-31. (we have heard no signals yet, and do not 
> know if the HF wire antenna got deployed.  So we welcome 
> MAX power on the 28.120 USB PSK-31 uplink.  Listen with 
> FM on 145.825 downlink.  It is very weak and needs a 
> beam.
> 
> Someone in the footprint needs to bring up the PSK-31 
> transponder with their own TNC command on 145.825 
> uplink.  Just send C RAFT.  This connect request packet 
> will activate the PSK-31 transponder for about 90 
> seconds.  You will not get an ACK however.
> 
> You may TX on 28.120 USB PSK-31 with max power throughout 
> the pass until we find out if the HF RX is working.
> 
> Oh, notice that the "C RAFT" probably will not work in 
> the daytime since the BUS voltage is above 8.1V and so 
> the command receiver is deaf.  But you are welcome to try.
> 
> Good luck!
> I am on slow dialup this weekend, so will have little comment.
> 
> Bob, Wb4APR
> USNA RAFT command station.
> 
> ---- Original message ----
> >Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:56:52 +0100 (CET)
> >From: "Rob Hardenberg" <rob at itr-datanet.com>  
> >Subject: Re: AW: AW: RAFT trials Jan 27 night over Europe >
> >
> >I was listening on the psk31 downlink the 435UTC pass with 
> >the psk decoder but couldn't also detect your signal. The 
> >2m downlink is OK with spinrate qsb between S4 and S9+. 
> >Its noisy with computer signals in the waterfall display, 
> >but the signal strenght is good for psk demodulation.
> >
> >I didn't try the 10m uplink yet but if its ok the I will 
> >try tomorrow 28/1. I use also a dipole and 100W.
> >
> >The 6:10UTC pass was not tracked here because of sleep.....
> >
> >!S 04:35:37 !RAFT>BEACON,SGATE/1 
> :T#375,081,002,036,036,107,10000000,999
> >!S 04:36:38 !RAFT>BEACON,SGATE/1 
> :T#378,081,002,037,036,105,10000000,999
> >!S 04:36:58 !RAFT>BEACON,SGATE/1 
> :T#379,081,002,036,035,104,10000000,999
> >!S 04:37:18 !RAFT>BEACON,SGATE/1 
> :T#380,081,002,036,035,104,10000000,999
> >!S 04:37:37 !RAFT>BEACON,SGATE/1 
> :T#381,080,002,037,036,103,10000000,999
> >!S 04:37:47 !RAFT>BEACON,SGATE/1 :>RAFT is on 145.825  US 
> Naval Academy
> >!S 04:37:58 !RAFT>BEACON,SGATE/1 
> :T#382,080,002,036,035,103,10000000,999
> >!S 04:38:17 !RAFT>BEACON,SGATE/1 
> :T#383,081,002,036,036,102,10000000,999
> >!S 04:38:37 !RAFT>BEACON,SGATE/1 
> :T#384,081,002,036,035,101,10000000,999
> >!S 04:38:57 !RAFT>BEACON,SGATE/1 
> :T#385,080,002,036,035,101,10000000,999
> >!S 04:40:47 !RAFT>BEACON,SGATE/1 :>RAFT is on 145.825  US 
> Naval Academy
> >
> >73 Rob PE1ITR
> >
> >Mike Rupprecht schreef:
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> 0435UTC pass:
> >>
> >> RAFT PSK transponder was ON for 98 seconds.
> >> I could not hear my own signal. Worked with (only) 
> >> 100watts and dipole /vertical R6000 antenna. Downlink 
> >> is very noisy but we can see the spin rate.
> >>
> >> I think we need big guns......
> >>
> >> 73, Mike
> >>
> >> If you connect to RAFT, you will never get an answer 
> >> from the satellite  TNC. So it is important to DISCONNECT 
> >> the own TNC.
> >>
> _______________________________________________