JOINT ISS/PCSAT OPERATIONS TEST 23 October 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- WB4APR The ARISS team has agreed to a limited test of the ISS packet system as a dual-hop constellation with PCsat. This means that the ISS packet system will be temporarily QSY'ed to the 145.825 MHz simplex frequency of the PCsat digipeater so that the two satellites can operate together. The objective is to see if the satellites can be used to relay packets from each other to extend the range via a dual-digipeat hop. THe duration of the test will be about a week or more depending on the needs of the ARISS radio. If the crew wants to operate voice, they will QSY back to 145.800. The precise scheduling of this test is hard to predict but it could be any day now (8 Oct). SO if ISS users do not hear ISS on 145.800 as usual, they should check to see if it is on 145.825. If so, QSY and operate normally there. That means, UI digipeating of very brief user packets is welcome. But use your tracking program to also look for DUAL-HOP possibilities with PCsat. IF you are in range of ISS, and ISS can see PCsat, then set your unproto path to UNPROTO CQ VIA RS0ISS,W3ADO-1. IF you are in range of PCsat and PCsat can see ISS, then set your unproto path to UNPROTO CQ VIA W3ADO-1,RS0ISS IF (and only if) The USNA Command station has been able to command PCsat to activate its other aliases on YOUR pass, then PCsat (and ISS) will both also respond to the path of ARISS,ARISS or WIDE,WIDE. In this case, either satellite will respond. But this setting only lasts to the next eclipse. If you are not 100% knowledgible about how UNPROTO path works, please do not transmit, but just see if you can capture one of the successful packets from someone else. Please do not XMIT too much. The probabilities of success are very very limited by QRM, so it would be best if each person only transmitted a few packets a minute and let others have a chance. And if you live in a good REMOTE location, far from the USA and Europe, then your best contribution will be to LISTEN to see if you receive any dual-hop packets. If too many people begin transmitting more often, then the test will fail. SUCCESSFUL packets will be received like this: >From ISS to PCSAT: SENDER>CQ,RS0ISS,W3ADO-1*:.... >From PCsat to ISS: SENDER>CQ,W3ADO-1,RS0ISS*:.... If anyone captures such a packet, then please report it. You can also look for potential successful packets on the ISS and PCSAT web pages: http://www.ariss.net http://pcsat.aprs.org BUT REMEMBER, that PCsat has now entered eclipse season and ONLY works in full sunshine, so do not attempt any transmissions via PCsat in the DARK or even in the first sunshine. Give it 10 minutes after entering the sun to charge up enough to be able to digipeat. Originally this test was to have both ISS and PCsat using the generic APRS digipeater aliases of WIDE so that users could use UNPROTO CQ VIA WIDE,WIDE. But since PCsat cannot remember its settings orbit-by-orbit due to nearly dead batteries, it is best if you use the exact callsigns noted above. Successful dual hop packets were reported on both 12 and 22 October when both spacecraft were over the USA. Except for a 6 day outtage on ISS, Both spacecraft have seen numerous opportunities every day.. If ISS or PCsat passes over your location during any of these time frames, and PCsat is in the sun, there is a good possibility that you might be able to do a dual-hop packet from one to the other spacecraft. Enjoy the test. Limit your transmissions. Concentrate on what you can capture... de WB4APR@amsat.org, Bob PCsat WEB page http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pcsat.html ISS-APRS FAQ: http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/iss-faq.html