[aprssig] PCSAT2 Operations Guidance II

[Robert Bruninga]

Since the purpose of the PCSAT series of amateur
satellites is to encourage the development of more
satellites for mobile communications, we decided
to further modify the recommended operations 
plan for PCSAT2 to allow some testing from mobiles
in the user service agreement:
http://www.ew.usna.edu/~bruninga/pec/useragreemt.txt 

We added paragraph 1b below:

1) PCSAT2 is for users and data applications.  It is NOT 
for UNATTENDED  beaconing of fixed text from fixed 
stations.... except for remote data or environmental
sensor experiments at low rates...

1b) However, since the PCSAT series of satellites were 
designed [to] promote a... capability for mobiles, the 
unatteneded beaconing from a vehicle at a 5  minute 
rate for the purpose of assessing antenna or success 
statistics is authorized. 

The caution still applys, however, IF PCSAT2 is using it's
2m downlink on 145.825, to make sure you are not 
transmitting during a pass when the ISS crew is using 
voice.

Our goal is to have enough Amateur Satellites always
listening on 145.825 AX.25 packet to relay short
position and message data from mobiles anywhere on
the planet, especially when they are out of range of
the installed terrestrial packet infrastructure and
Internet.

We also need more unattended ground stations listening
on the PCSAT2 downlinks and feeding the data into
the global APRS intrenet system.  If you have a spare
receiver, and TNC, you are welcome to put it on either
of these downlinks:  435.275 routine (PC2), or 145.825
(PC1 and sometimes PC2), or 145.825 for ARISS.

de WB4APR, Bob
USNA Satellite Lab