[HamSat] Echo Update Information

[Timothy Pickett]

ECHO
Catalog number: 28375
Launch date: June 29, 2004

Status: Commissioning

Analog voice downlink:  435.225 MHz FM
Analog voice uplink:    145.920 MHz FM 67Hz PL tone

Digital 9600 bps AX25 PACSAT Protocol Mailbox

Digital downlink:  435.150 MHz FM
Digital uplink:    145.860 MHz FM

ECHO Experimenter's Day Operation Wednesdays (UTC) 00:00 - 23:59
Default configuration will be:

Digital downlink:  2401.200 MHz  38.4 kbps FM
Digital uplink:    1268.700 MHz   9600 bps FM
1268.700 MHz uplink 9600 bps FM

The ECHO Operations committee will determine modes and schedules for
experiments.

July 4, 2004

Testing and checkout of ECHO is continuing.  ECHO's TX0 transmitter
can be heard transmitting 9600 baud FSK telemetry on a frequency of
435.150 MHz.  Command Stations are varying the output power of the TX0
transmitter.  During times when the satellite is in view of a command
station the power is likely to be set to a higher level, somewhere between 1
and 2 watts, depending on power budget and received signal strength.  During
the remaining time the power will be about 0.6 watts.

The command team continues to load software into Echo and as of Saturday, 03
July 2004 the file system and Whole Orbit Data software are operational.
Packets received which contain "LDR" are replies by ECHO to command stations
as they upload software to the satellite. The next step in the commissioning
process is to collect Whole Orbit Data (WOD) from the satellite through
Monday night. This will allow a good look at telemetry data for a complete
orbit.  WOD is needed to determine spacecraft attitude, configure the BCR,
and get a better look at the overall health of the satellite.

Lee McLamb, KU4OS, Senior Editor of the AMSAT News Service will be issuing
up dated bulletins over the next few days to advise you on the progress
being made during commissioning. At the proper time, when sufficient data
has been confirmed, Past President Bill Tynan will issue a bulletin giving
the AO-XX designation, updated Keplerian  Elements will be issued as soon as
they are received.

MEANWHILE please DO NOT Transmit to the satellite - commissioning must take
priority. A bulletin will be released when the satellite is open for general
use.

More information is available at:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/echo/