[amsat-bb] Standard for AMSAT status board observations of FS-3

[Mark L. Hammond]

Hi Devin, guess my advice is to use good judgment and logic :)  I’m no
expert on how we should report.  Just making the point about the possible
ambiguity in some reporting.

Mark N8MH

On Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 4:17 PM Devin L. Ganger <devin at thecabal.org> wrote:

> Mark,
>
> Serious question from a newbie:
>
> Case 1: I hear no traffic from the bird, and nothing I send digipeats. How
> should we report it?
> Case 2: I hear other traffic from the bird, but nothing I send digipeats.
> How should we report it?
>
> In case 1, are we supposed to assume that since we can hear traffic from
> other users, the uplink and downlink are both active?
>
> In case 2, how do we distinguish between "something is wrong with the
> bird" and "something is wrong with how I'm trying to send?"
>
> --
> Devin L. Ganger (WA7DLG)
> email: devin at thecabal.org
> web: Devin on Earth
> cell: +1 425.239.2575
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org> On Behalf Of Mark L. Hammond
> Sent: Friday, June 1, 2018 12:45 PM
> To: amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net
> Cc: AMSAT <amsat-bb at amsat.org>
> Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Standard for AMSAT status board observations of
> FS-3
>
> Hi All,
>
> I guess this Is a difference between the general user and me as a command
> station :-) if I see a report that it’s downlink only, it triggers a bit of
> anxiety regarding the operation of the satellite.
>
> If I were to listen to  AO-92, but was unable to hear myself when
> transmitting, should I report downlink only?  Different, but similar.
>
> I guess my point is this, not hearing anything doesn’t mean it’s not
> working. A report of Downlink only to me, anyhow, implies something is
> wrong with the satellite. See the subtlety?
>
>  Here’s another nuance, figure the status report is a satellite status
> report, not a users experience report.
>
>  In the end, it doesn’t really matter :-) I’m glad to see the reports are
> being made for our satellites. It’s helpful, sometimes even when it’s not
> very precise.
>
>
> Mark N8MH
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 12:17 PM Patrick STODDARD (WD9EWK/VA7EWK) <
> amsat-bb at wd9ewk.net> wrote:
>
> > Hi Ryan!
> >
> > I'm with you on how to report on the AMSAT status page. If I don't see
> > my packets being digipeated when using my TH-D72 or TM-D710, I mark my
> > reports as "Downlink Only". If I see my packets being digipeated, or I
> > see other stations using the digipeater, I'll go with "Uplink and
> > Downlink Active".
> >
> > As for the pass times, they gradually move earlier in the day. I have
> > what should be some decent passes this afternoon, and I hope to work
> > one or two of them from the Prescott Hamfest in north-central Arizona
> > later with my
> > TH-D72 & Elk - same setup I used last week, when I worked you via
> > FalconSat-3.
> >
> > 73!
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
> > http://www.wd9ewk.net/
> > Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Jun 1, 2018 at 2:28 PM, Ryan Noguchi via AMSAT-BB <
> > amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote:
> >
> > > I've been reporting my observations on the AMSAT Live OSCAR
> > > Satellite Status page. For the FM and linear satellites, it's a
> > > no-brainer:  if I hear live traffic on the bird, or if I hear myself
> > > being transponded,
> > then
> > > clearly "Uplink and Downlink Active" is appropriate.
> > >
> > > However, for the packet satellites, what's the criteria for
> > > reporting the uplink as active? The past two days, I've received
> > > continuous streams of non-APRS packets from FalconSat-3 on two
> > > passes, but despite manually sending my beacons many times on each
> > > pass, I don't get digipeated (at least no iGate seems to be picking
> > > up the traffic) and I don't receive
> > any
> > > APRS packets from anyone else.
> > >   My TH-D72A is properly configured per Patrick WD9EWK's excellent
> > > tutorial, and I've made QSOs earlier in the week with the radio in
> > > the
> > same
> > > configuration it's in now. The only difference seems to be that I'm
> > working
> > > FS-3 much earlier in the day, on a weekday, than I have in the past.
> > > I'm just using a TH-D72A, so for all I know, a dozen ops are having
> > > a grand
> > ol'
> > > time on the BBS.
> > >
> > > I've been reporting these passes as "Downlink Only." Is that
> appropriate?
> > > I seem to be the only one this week who reported FalconSat-3 as
> > > anything but open for business. I'm planning to try one or more
> > > passes later
> > today.
> > >
> > >
> > > 73, Ryan AI6DO
> > >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect
> > the official views of AMSAT-NA.
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> >
> --
> Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]
> _______________________________________________
> Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to
> all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
> expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official
> views of AMSAT-NA.
> Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
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>
-- 
Mark L. Hammond [N8MH]