[SMCARA] Fwd: SuitSat---A Challenge for those with Big Ears

[A.J. Farmer (AJ3U)]

Hi J.R.,

Actually, hope has not been given up yet.  SuitSat is actually getting
stronger on every pass.  We have gone from reports of silence
overnight, to reports of weak signals, and now to reports of hearing
the voice greeting and SSTV startup tones.

I tried copying it on the last pass at 10:30AM EST and heard an FM
carrier when it was directly overhead, but that was all.

The going theory is that the batteries in the suit were very cold at
the start and are slowly warming thus increasing the output of the
transmitter.

I think http://www.suitsat.org may just be having temporary
difficulties.  Keep trying to access it.

I am now posting updates to my website.  I will also start including
upcoming pass times on my site to make it easy for everyone to know
when to listen.  You can see my updates here:

http://www.aj3u.com/blog/

A.J.





On 2/4/06, Robert Smullen <rsmullen at tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
> AJ et al,
>
> It appears that the suitsat.org group have given up hope...  the site
> appears to have been shut down, at least from what I see this morning.  So
> where can we find orbital position information to make it feasible to even
> try to listen?
>
> J.R. Smullen, WJ3R
> Parrish, Florida
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "A.J. Farmer (AJ3U)" <farmer.aj at gmail.com>
> To: "SMCARA" <smcara at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Saturday, February 04, 2006 9:11 AM
> Subject: [SMCARA] Fwd: SuitSat---A Challenge for those with Big Ears
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Frank H. Bauer <ka3hdo at comcast.net>
> Date: Feb 4, 2006 8:56 AM
> Subject: [amsat-bb] SuitSat---A Challenge for those with Big Ears
> To: amsat-bb at amsat.org
>
>
> All,
>
> I will be sending out a more detailed e-mail later today.  SuitSat is
> operating but it appears to be running at a much lower power than
> expected.  I have some recordings which demonstrate this to the point that
> you can definitely hear partials of the voices and can hear the Suit spin
> rate.
>
> Since we do not know how long this experiment will last, I would ask for
> those with powerful receive stations to listen for Suitsat---especially
> during direct overhead passes when the Suit is closest to your area.  If
> you can record this and send this to me, it would be most appreciated.
>
> During the 9:00 UTC pass in my area I took an arrow antenna outside with an
> HT and heard a partial of the station ID and another voice.  So I am
> certain that the system is operating, but for some reason is running lower
> power.  If it is not transmitting the full 0.5 watts, then the operational
> life will be significantly extended.  But if it is running 0.5 watts and it
> isn't getting to the antenna for some reason, then we have only a few short
> days to learn as much as we can.
>
> So please listen and let us know if you pick up anything definite.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Frank Bauer, KA3HDO
> AMSAT-NA VP for Human Spaceflight Programs
> ARISS International Chairman
> ----
> Sent via amsat-bb at amsat.org. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
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>
>
> --
> A.J. Farmer, AJ3U
> http://www.aj3u.com
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>


--
A.J. Farmer, AJ3U
http://www.aj3u.com