[amsat-bb] APRS Messaging QSOs

[Robert MacHale]

I love the APRSAT space.

One of the factors in the past has been iGate (satGate) availability. The ability to verify contact after a pass is reaffirming and rewarding. My favorite is the TNC from Mobilinkd - http://www.mobilinkd.com/

I've been able to connect that to an Arduino for sending packets and sharing them on the Internet as an iGate (satGate).

Fun Stuff!

Robert MacHale
. KE6BLR FCC Licensed Radio Operator 
. http://www.aprsat.com/predict
. http://www.spaceCommunicator.club 
. Supporting Boy Scout Merit Badges in Radio, Robotics, and Space Exploration
Silly Joke: What did the little mountain say to the bigger mountain? Hi Cliff!
He who dares not offend cannot be honest. -- THOMAS PAINE

There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self. -- ERNEST HEMINGWAY






On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, 12:04:07 PM PDT, Robert Bankston via AMSAT-BB <amsat-bb at amsat.org> wrote: 





It's a shame that their are not more APRS messaging satellite QSOs being done via ARISS and other satellites.  Is this because... 
  * Lack of equipment?  * Erratic operational schedules?  * Proliferation of non-attended stations (beacons)?  * Too much button pushing?
Most ops you an HT and very few of those have APRS messaging capability.  Those HT's that do (including mobiles) are a bit clunky and require fast thumbs to complete all of the necessary steps to complete a QSO.  Of course the more you do it, the more second nature it becomes, but that circles back to the erratic scheduling.
One solution could be to develop an app or software with prescribed message formatting and QSO automation, similar to similar FT8.
  (click on target call in station list)  * [Target Call] [My Call] [My Grid]  * [My Call] [Target Call] (Target Grid]  * R [Target Grid]  * RR [My Grid]  (click on log QSO)
Single board computers could easily handle the task (even the Pi Zero), for those worried about keeping their station small. Only thing left would be a microarduino TNC or soundcard and a couple cables to the HT mic and earphone jacks.
Just a thought.
73, Robert KE4AL
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