[FARC] Saturday May 17, 2008 8:30 - 8:45 PM EDT - GO-32 Party

Tue May 6 18:14:26 EDT 2008

What is a GO-32 party?
Something I just made up today.  GO-32 is a 9.6kbps crossband APRS
digipeater (among other things) that I was able to work with my
Kenwood TM-D710 and a standard mobile antenna.  The trouble with GO-32
is that it isn't one of the more popular APRS satellites so things
don't get gated to findu.com, and the thrill of seeing your own
position beaconed will wear off quick.  So having a schedule with
several hams is a great way to work the bird, and share the experience
with others at the same time, as well as see something other than your
own position report!

What do you need?
Rig/TNC
I'll be using the Kenwood TM-D710.  The TM-D700 and TH-D7A & TH-D7AG
will also work.  The Kenwood TS-2000 should work as well - but will
need software like XASTIR or UI-View for APRS functions.  Other packet
setups with 9600 bps capabilities will work too, again, for APRS
functionality you'd need to use an APRS software client.  Even without
APRS software, it will be possible to monitor packets with a regular
terminal with the TNC set to monitor.

Antenna
A 19" whip with a ground plane should work great.  A small yagi will
improve the receive on 70cm, as long as you can aim it.

Why May 17, 2008 between 8:30 & 8:45 PM EDT?
Well, the satellite makes nearly a perfect pass over Frederick, and it
is a pretty good pass for folks in Dayton as well.  Passes that go
right overhead are the easiest to work with a 50 watt mobile when tx
is 2m and rx is 70cm because the 19" antenna has some pretty good gain
in the upward direction on 70cm.  Of course, when it is straight up,
it is not so good, but it is only straight up for less than a minute.

Pass Details:
8:33, heading 162 deg, elevation 10 deg, set receiver about 435.235
8:35, heading 162 deg, elevation 30 deg, set receiver about 435.230
8:38, heading 77 deg, elevation 85 deg, set receiver about 435.225
8:41, heading 350 deg, elevation 30 deg, set receiver about 435.220
8:43, heading 350 deg, elevation 10 deg, set receiver about 435.215

Uplink Frequency:
145.85 MHz All APRS messaging (or fixed station non-Mic-E positions).
. Only TOCALLs that begin with "APxxxx".

145.93 MHz All APRS Mic-E positions and status(D7, D700 and D710s with
comment set to "Committed, Special or PRIORITY"...

The reason for these uplink distinctions is due to GO-32 hardware that
will only digipeat a packet on 145.85 that has a TOCALL beginning with
"A". (All APRS fixed station packets and all APRS messages including
D7 and D700's) . The 145.93 channel will only accept packets that
begin with a digit between 1,2,3,4,5,6,7. . But fortunately the D7 and
D700's do this naturally as long as the position comment is set to
"committed, SPecial or PRIORITY"...

More details about working the GO-32 satellite:
Bob Bruninga's web site, you'll want to read this if you plan on
operating this satellite.
http://web.usna.navy.mil/~bruninga/GO32-ops.html

If you are interested and need some help getting setup, please let me
know, especially if you have a Kenwood TM-D710, since that is what I
used, I pretty much know how to set it up, but I'll be happy to work
with anyone interested.  If anyone has an IGATE that they can set to
receive on 435.225 at 9600 bps, that would be great, especially if you
can be around to adjust for doppler!

73 de Joseph Durnal NE3R