[amsat-bb] Re: RAFT Commanding URGENTLY needed

Wed May 23 19:35:51 PDT 2007

Hi Bob
I saw you at Dayton but you had too many people around you. I will try to 
activate raft at 0500 to night

nick
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Bruninga" <bruninga at usna.edu>
To: <bruninga at usna.edu>; <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 1:35 PM
Subject: [amsat-bb] Re: RAFT Commanding URGENTLY needed

> URGENT RAFT COMMANDING NEEDED:
>
> Tonights two RAFT Radar passes are:
> The first is over Alabama at 05:40:50 UTC
> That is 01:40 AM EDT and 00:40 AM CDT (just after midnight)
>
> The second Radar penetration is over New Mexico
> At 07:09:35 UTC or 02:09 AM CDT and 01:09 MDT
>
> The web page now has a sign up post for commanders and
> monitoring stations.  But it is manual, so send me an email of
> you can do this.  And read the page in detail.  Just check to
> see if you have a better than 10 degree shot at RAFT in the
> minute prior to that instant.  Use LATEST keps, since drag is
> HIGH on re-entry.  Thanks, Bob, WB4APR
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> Sent: Tuesday, May 22, 2007 5:32 PM
>>
>> * We still URGENTLY need a command station in the
>> * Southern USA From Arizona to Georgia, or from Texas
>> * to 40 deg or so N.LAT to command RAFT.
>>
>> See Map:
>> http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/craft/save-raft.html
>>
>> Reentry is in 8 days and we still need to perform this Radar
>> Fence test.  Passes are uncomfortably between 2 and 4 AM.  I
> am
>> preparing a web page as fast as I can so that I don't have to
>> answer as many emails.  Here is the WEB page (work in
> progress).
>> But at least it now has a MAP of where stations can be.
>>
>> If you have a good 2m beam station with preamp and are in the
>> footprint as shown above, then check the web page later this
>> evening as the web page develops and start getting ready if
> you
>> think you can do it.  We really need an all hands effort here.
>>
>> Thanks
>> Bob, WB4APR
>> US Naval Academy Satellite Lab
>>
>>
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > From: amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org
>> > [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of Robert
>> Bruninga
>> > Sent: Tuesday, May 15, 2007 6:15 PM
>> > To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
>> > Subject: [amsat-bb] RAFT Packet Operator assistance
>> Desparately needed
>> >
>> > We desperately need some AMSAT OSCAR class stations in the
>> > Central USA to complete the RAFT radar fence test ASAP.
>> >
>> > Deorbit is in the next two weeks, much earlier than previous
>> > predictions, and so we will not get another comfortable
>> evening
>> > pass window.  Prime passes now are occurring around 4 AM and
>> > moving earlier (sorry).  Before, we asked for Southern USA.
>> Now
>> > we realize that someone in most central states have command
>> > potential.  Anyone within about 1000 miles E/W of North
> Texas
>> or
>> > 600 miles north and south are ideal!
>> >
>> > Station requirements:
>> > 1) OSCAR class tracking 2m beam for up/downlink 145.825
>> > 2) Standard AX.25 1200 baud packet
>> > 3) Simple HYPERTERM text commanding
>> > 4) Familiarity with TNC's and TNC commanding
>> > 5) Prepared to record 1 minute of audio heard on downlink
>> >
>> > Unfortunately I am going to Dayton this weekend, but we have
>> to
>> > really be ready for this next week and get this test done.
>> None
>> > of the principals involved in this design can do it because
> we
>> > all live too far away from the 216.98 MHz RADAR fence
>> > transmitter in North Texas.
>> >
>> > See WEB:
> http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/ande-raft-ops.html
>> >
>> > Thanks, WB4APR, Bob
>> >
>> > -----Original Message-----
>> > Sent: Tuesday, April 24, 2007 1:23 PM
>> > Subject: RE: [amsat-bb] RAFT Packet Operator assistance
> needed
>> >
>> > We only have 7 days left in this operating period and really
>> do
>> > need a good OSCAR station in the Southern USA in a line from
>> AZ
>> > to GA to conduct this test of RAFT flying through the 80
>> > megawatt radar transmitter beam originated in north Texas.
>> >
>> > There is only one viable pass per day per command station
>> > location in the early evening....  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" (record) the tone when we pass through the radar
> beam.
>> >
>> > Commands are a simple CONNECT XXXX at the cmd: propt, then
> an
>> > exchange of passwords, and then sending a simple typed
> command
>> > at the right time.
>> >
>> > RAFT can he HEARD just fine on ALL FIVE passes leading up to
>> > this last pass per day, so you can test your RECEIVE
>> capability
>> > on any pass, but can only command in the dark (due to
>> > overcharging on batteries makes uplink receier deaf)...
>> >
>> > If anyone can conduct this test please let us know.  Only
> one
>> > person per pass can attempt this, so we want the best gun at
>> the
>> > stick.  Fully conversent at the TNC "cmd:" prompt and
>> preerably
>> > with experimence with the KPC3+ remote-sysop command mode.
>> >
>> > Bob, WB4APR
>> > USNA Satelite Lab
>> >
>> >
>> > > ----- Original Message ----- 
>> > > 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 past 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) Familiar 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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>
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>>
>>
>
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