[amsat-bb] AO-73/FUNcube Mode switch

[Jim Heck G3WGM]

Hi Folks,

  Just to let you know that I have just switched AO-73/FUNcube from 
Educational mode to continuous Amateur Mode, with the transponder on 24/7.

  Early this weekend partly because of the Easter Holiday, and party due to 
Ground Station Availability.

The plan is to revert back to normal Educational Mode after the Holiday 
either on Mon pm, and Tue am, UTC.

  Enjoy the transponder, and happy holidays!

73s Jim G3WGM and the FUNcube Team

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FUNcube frequencies and other details
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AO-73 FUNcube-1
The transponder is normally operational only when the satellite is in 
eclipse, ie the solar panels are NOT being illuminated. During weekends 
(from pm Fridays UTC to PM Sundays UTC) the transponder is operational 24/7.

When the transponder is switched off, the telemetry beacon is on full power, 
when the transponder is on the beacon it is on low power. During holidays, 
eg Christmas, New Year, Easter, etc, the transponder maybe activated for 
extended periods. Watch AMSAT-BB for announcements which are usually made on 
Friday evenings (UTC)

The nominal transponder frequencies are:
Uplink:   435.150 - 435.130 MHz LSB (Inverting)
Downlink:   145.950 - 145.970 MHz USB
Telemetry Tx: 145.935 MHz BPSK

(The passband may be up to 15kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Low 
temperatures give higher freqs!)


FUNcube-2 aka FUNcube on UKube
The FUNcube-2 sub-system continues to operate autonomously and, almost 
continuously, in amateur mode. The transponder is operational and the 
telemetry downlink is functioning with about 70mW output. The FUNcube-1 
Dashboard does not correctly display the telemetry but it does correctly 
decode the data and uploads it to the FUNcube Data Warehouse from where it 
can be examined. Most of the real time data channels are operational and 
these include battery voltages, temperatures and ADCS data coming via the 
main On Board Computer (OBC).

The transponder is interrupted for a few seconds every 2 minutes when the 
other transmitter sends its CW beacon and, occasionally, for a few seconds 
when the main OBC reboots (approx seven times each orbit).

The nominal transponder frequencies are:
Uplink:   435.080 - 435.060 MHz LSB (Inverting)
Downlink:   145.930 - 145.950 MHz USB
Telemetry Tx: 145.915 MHz BPSK

(The passband may be up to 10kHz higher depending on on-board temps. Low 
temperatures give higher freqs!)


EO79 FUNcube-3
Due to power budget constraints the transponder cannot be operational 24/7 
and an orbit specific schedule has been developed. The transponder will 
commence operation 27 minutes after the spacecraft enters sunlight and will 
stay on for a period of 25 minutes. This schedule may be modified in future 
months as a result of experience.

The nominal transponder frequencies are:
Uplink: 435.0723-435.0473 MHz LSB (Inverting)
Downlink: 145.946-145.971 MHz USB

Further detailed info on EO79 transponder frequencies is at:
 https://amsat-uk.org/2016/11/10/eo79-funcube-3-transponder-commences-regular-operation/EO88 Nayif-1 FUNcube-5EO88 is presently operating in autonomous mode. The transponder isoperational when the satellite is in eclipse, ie the solar panels are NOTbeing illuminated.When the transponder is switched off, the telemetry beacon is on full power,when the transponder is on the beacon it is on low power.The transponder frequencies are:Uplink:  435.045 – 435.015 MHz LSB (inverting)Downlink: 145.960-145.990 MHz USBTelemetry  Tx: 145.940MHzAll FUNcube transponders are sponsored by AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL. We are verygrateful for the assistance given by Innovative Solution In Space Bv, TheNetherlands.