[amsat-bb] Re: Dual Hop

[Sil - ZL2CIA]

> 
> 
> Actually, they are intentinoally on the same frequency and they
> are intended to be dual or even triple hop possible (when
> PCSAT-1 is working)..  Notice that both satelites respond to the
> same path VIA ARISS.  SO you could use the path VIA ARISS,ARISS
> and get a dual hop.  This ia also why we invite any other
> university or amateur satellite builder to add more spacecraft
> on this 1200 baud relay channel (with IARU coordination of
> course).
> 

Bob,

Thanks for your reply.

I have already tried "via APRSAT,APRSAT,SGATE a 
number of times, but so far without successs. I 
wasn't sure if this was an acceptable practice, so 
I had been discrete about it.

I have been previously successful once getting a 
dual hop between PCSAT-1 and the ISS (when it was 
operating on 145.825 MHz)

The ANDE & RAFT satellites maybe be a little 
difficult with simple omnidirectional antennas, 
but both are a breeze with just a little more antenna.

I use nothing more than a horizontally polarised 6 
element beam. It's home built and that without any 
fancy tools. It's horizontally mounted and 
steerable in azimuth with a simple rotator. I 
mention this just to make the point that both are 
really pretty easy satellites to work with just a 
little more antenna.

Both satellites are very quiet down here and I 
very seldom see any other users. I end up gating 
my own packets. This does allow me to experiment 
since I'm not obstructing anyone else.

I'll persevere with further dual hop tests in the 
future now that I understand it's okay to do so.

I am of course aware of ANDE-1's rather finite 
power reserve and do keep that in mind.

Sil