[amsat-bb] Thoughts on ISS packet switch back to 145.825 MHz (long)

[Greg D]

Gabriel Zeifman wrote:
> It's not complicated. However much it may be insisted ISS packet is not
> SO-50, it is practically the same thing (single channel operating on FM).
Actually, the ISS digi is worse.

With voice communication, one can sometimes pick up the start or tail of
a call sign, as the astronaut demonstrated, and use that to filter a
second try.  With digital, any bits that get corrupted result in no
reception at all.

I hate to suggest this, and admit I am assuming a cause without
supporting evidence, but it might be necessary to remove the "vanity"
aspect of ISS digipeating, and take down or hide from general view the
reporting sites that support it.  While a useful tool for
troubleshooting, I suspect the vanity aspect of seeing your call in a
public list day after day from an unattended station may be too strong a
draw for some, resulting in the clogged channel.  The SatGates that
monitor for ISS and other APRS satellite traffic are still important
part of the infrastructure, so that the information can be datamined
from APRS-IS if you need it for troubleshooting.  But the consolidated
lists of who has been seen digipeating through the ISS, I think, may be
contributing more trouble than they are worth.

Greg  KO6TH