[amsat-bb] Re: Is there anyway to get a linear transponder on the ISS?

[M5AKA]

---- On Thu, 30/5/13, Ing. Pavel Milanes Costa <co7wt at frcuba.co.cu> wrote:
> There is a FM repeater in U/V mode, but last time on for it
> back a years from now (2008?)
> 
> That time I read in some place of the internet that the FM
> repeater was a power hungry device onboard, and that's why
> it was turned off...
> 
> They do not want to listen, or no body said to them that
> just turning the TX Power Down will fix this... or kind of...

Hi, 

I believe the FM repeater referred to is the original Kenwood D700 which was also used for the school contacts, SSTV and Packet Radio. Due to convection cooling not working in zero gravity it was prone to overheating even when turned down to the lowest power level which I recall was 5 watts output. I've never heard anyone refer to the D-700 as a "power hungry device".

The Kenwood D700 eventually malfunctioned and is no longer used, a replacement D700 was being sent up and is presumably now onboard the ISS, anyone know it's status ?

73 Trevor M5AKA