[HamSat] AO-51 Echo Update

[Timothy Pickett]

AO-51 ECHO
Catalog number: 28375
Launch date: June 29, 2004

Status: Testing
Curent Mode: FM Repeater, V/U until December 1st UTC then 38k4 Digital on
V/U

Analog voice downlink:  435.300 MHz FM
Analog voice uplink:    145.920 MHz FM 67Hz PL tone
                       1268.700 MHz FM 67Hz PL tone

Digital Downlinks: 435.150 MHz FM, 38k4 Digital, PBP, 1 watt output
           2401.200 MHz FM  38k4 bps, AX.25
Digital Uplink: 145.860 MHz FM, 9k6 Digital, Pacsat Broadcast Protocol
(PBP)

Broadcast Callsign:  PACB-11
BBS Callsign:        PACB-12

Future Operating Modes:

Dec 29
Experimenters Wednesday
FM Repeater, V/S, ON, Using 67hz Tone on the Input
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS OFF, TXA OFF
We will use the tone as a test to clear the QRM. The 67hz PL Tone will
be needed or you uplink signal to pass your signal through the
Satellites IFC. The transmitter will not be PTT'd.

Dec 30
FM Repeater, V/U, High Power Mode ON
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS OFF, TXA OFF

Jan 2 Kid's Day on Amsat Echo
Uplink: 145.880 mhz FM voice, 67hz tone
Downlink: 435.300 mhz FM voice
The event will run from approximately 1600 UTC 02 Jan to 0345 UTC 03
Jan. We ask that all amateur radio stations give this short time window
to promote satellite operations with kids. If not actually showing a kid
how to make contacts via AO-51, then providing a station to contact, or
stepping aside to allow others to make contacts with the kids. During
the event please limit contacts to stations that are operating with kids
at the microphone.

Jan 3
FM Repeater, V/U, High Power Mode ON
--Uplink: 145.920 mhz FM, 67 hz PL Tone
--Downlink 435.300 mhz FM, Output 2.3+ watts
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS OFF, TXA OFF

Jan 5
Experimenters Wednesday
FM Repeater, L/S, ON
--Uplink: 1268.700 mhz FM, No PL Tone
--Downlink 2401.200 mhz FM
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS OFF, TXA OFF

Jan 6
FM Repeater, V/S, ON
--Uplink: 145.920 mhz FM, No PL Tone
--Downlink 2401.200 mhz FM
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS OFF, TXA OFF

Jan 12
Experimenters Wednesday
38k4 Digital Downlink, V/U Mode
--Uplink: 145.860 mhz FM, 9k6 PBP Digital
--Downlink: 435.150 mhz FM, 38k4 PBP Digital, 1 watt
FM repeater OFF

Jan 13
FM Repeater, V/U, ON
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS, OPEN for Users

Jan 19
Experimenters Wednesday
9k6 Digital, V/U, High Power, PBP BBS
FM repeater OFF

Jan 20
FM Repeater, V/U, ON
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS, OPEN for Users

Jan 26
Experimenters Wednesday QRP Mode
--Uplink: 145.880 mhz FM voice, 67hz tone
--Downlink: 435.300 mhz FM voice
Limitied to QRP stations only. See the QRP requirments noted below.

Jan 27
FM Repeater, V/U, ON
9k6 Digital, V/U, PBP BBS, OPEN for Users


AO-51 ECHO LOW POWER STATION (QRP) REQUIRMENTS:

To attempt to keep this simple a low power station will be defined as a
station which can deliver no more than 10 watts to a vertical or
handheld
antenna.

Some examples of Low Power Stations:
1) Using an HT (barefoot, no amplifier) with 10 watts or less output
into
any type of vertical whip antenna (rubber duck, etc) or handheld beam
antenna (arrow type).
2) Using a mobile station with 10 watts or less output into car mounted
mobile whip antenna(s).
3) Using a base station at 10 watts output into a vertical
omnidirectional
antenna on the side of the house.

Examples that are NOT Low Power Stations:
1) Any type of high gain beam antenna, KLM, M2, Cushcraft, etc.
2) Any station transmitting over 10 watts into any type of antenna.

How well we operate the satellite within these guidelines will determine
how much we can run this mode in the future. So lets try and do this
right!