[amsat-bb] Re: RAFT Commanding URGENTLY needed

Wed May 23 20:46:50 PDT 2007

Nick and Dieter,

I just loaded the latest KEPS set and it is 22 seconds earlier
than I posted this afternoon.  I am now getting 05:40:28 or so
UTC.  I hope I am right?  If anyone gets a different or better
answer, please speak up.  My keps are 23 May at 1900z or so...

I think we can plan on it always being slightly earlier than we
anticipate since keps are always at least a half day old...

Bob

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Nick Pugh [mailto:quadpugh at bellsouth.net] 
> Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 10:36 PM
> To: bruninga at usna.edu; amsat-bb at amsat.org
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Re: RAFT Commanding URGENTLY needed
> 
> 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
> >> >
> >> > _______________________________________________
> >> > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those
of
> >
> >> > the author.
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> >> >
> >>
> >>
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those 
> of the author.
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> 