[HoustonHam] FW: ARLS002: A new voice Oscar...FM to DSB-SC!

[Chris Boone]

SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS002
ARLS002 AO-16 Satellite Serves as Voice Repeater

ZCZC AS02
QST de W1AW
Space Bulletin 002  ARLS002
>From ARRL Headquarters
Newington, CT  January 23, 2008
To all radio amateurs

SB SPACE ARL ARLS002
ARLS002 AO-16 Satellite Serves as Voice Repeater

Launched in January 1990, AMSAT-OSCAR 16 (AO-16) -- a digital satellite --
has been unavailable for use while the command team dealt with a serious
computer problem.  The satellite has since been recovered, and is now a
voice repeater, at least for an unspecified "test period" using FM voice on
the uplink, but SSB voice on the downlink.

Since AO-16 was recovered approximately six months ago, the command team --
Bruce Rahn, WB9ANQ, Jim White, WD0E, and Mark Hammond, N8MH
-- attempted to reload the satellite software almost a dozen times without
success.  The team performed a series of memory tests that pointed toward a
hardware failure that prevented the spacecraft software from restarting
successfully.

AMSAT Vice President of Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, said, "After
concluding that the spacecraft computer system was damaged, and as
discussions about decommissioning were taking place, Jim recalled a series
of low-level commands that Tom Clark, K3IO, included in the spacecraft
design during construction.  One of these commands allows an uplink receiver
to be directly tied to a downlink transmitter.  The twist is that the uplink
is regular FM, but the downlink via the BPSK transmitter is DSB (Double
Sideband no carrier so an AM rcvr will not demod it).  Mark placed the
satellite in this mode early this week and did some testing."

Glasbrenner also said the satellite hears very well; the reduced bandwidth
by using either USB or LSB on the ground station receiver "allows for a very
robust downlink.  Tuning the downlink is just like on a linear transponder,
meaning it is tight and with fast Doppler.  Uplink tuning is not required,
just as with the FM mode V/U satellites.  My personal observations include
being able to access and hear the satellite within one degree of the
horizon, much lower than any other current bird for my location [in
Florida]. This should be an easy satellite with omni antennas and a 70 cm
preamp."

Glasbrenner said that he would like to open the satellite to general use for
a test period.  The uplink is 145.920 MHz FM, and the downlink is 437.026
MHz SSB +/- Doppler shift.  He asks that users restrict their uplink power
to a reasonable power level, and do not transmit without being able to hear
the downlink; all general single-channel guidelines apply.  Please submit
reports via e-mail at, ao16 at amsat.org.  "Enjoy this bird's new life!"
Glasbrenner said.
NNNN
/EX