Author: SM0TGU

Frn ANS kommer fljande info:

The July 18-25 Lesotho 7P8 DXpedition sponsor by the Lone Star DX Association and the Texas DX Society has added amateur satellite mode to its planned operations, DXpedition Leader Charles Frost, K5LBU/7P8TA has announced.

The operation will be on the AO-40 satellite. The uplink will be U–band (70cm). Equipment including antennas and a down converter were donated by Wayne Estes, W9AE, and a spare down converter donated by Bruce Paige, KK5DO. For additional 7P8 satellite information and news click on
http://www.amsatnet.com

We re glad to offer such a needed mode from Lesotho, Frost said, adding that those wanting to make a contact with the DXpedition take it easy on us because none of us are satellite operators, but we are willing to try our best at giving everyone who wants one a 7P8 QSO.

Operations will be will be at the Hotel Mount Maluti
http://www.seelesotho.com/mountmaluti.htm near Mohale s Hoek (30.16 S and 27.48 E).

QSLs will be handled by each operator separately via their home calls as each will have their own 7P8 call.

QSL routes are: 7P8CF–K5LBU–Frosty; 7P8TA–WW5L–Tom; 7P8MJ–W5MJ–Madison; 7P8NK–VA7DX–Neil; 7P9DA–K4SV- Dave; and 7P8IZ–W0IZ–Igor.

For additional information contact Frost at frosty1@pdq.net or Tom Anderson at WW5L@gte.net.

Klla: ANS 201

Fljande info frn ANS:

If you have been following AO-40 telemetry on the Goddard server recently, you may have seen curious A-blocks with the message:

+——————————————————-+
~~ RECONSTRUCTED FROM DECODED FEC BLOCK ~~
+——————————————————-+

These blocks were decoded by Stacey Mills, W4SM, using a modification of the G3RUH MK II 400 BPS PSK demodulator, and a new version of the P3T telemetry decoding software program. The modification to the demodulator, developed by G3RUH, involves the addition of an 8 bit ADC, with minimal changes. For more details, see:

http://www.jrmiller.demon.co.uk/products/p3adc.html

With this modification, the MK II demodulator can continue to function in standard or hardware mode or, with the flip of a switch, can output ADC data at 9600 BPS, 1 byte per bit of telemetry data. P3T will also function in standard mode as before, but now includes the option for ADC input. In ADC input mode, P3T expects a serial port data stream as detailed above of one 8-bit byte per bit of telemetry data. In this mode, it will decode standard format telemetry blocks and will also handle all FEC decoding processes, generating a reconstituted A-block with the header as seen above. Eventually, P3T will be further modified to accept ADC data from a soundcard.

The performance of this system really has to be seen to be fully
appreciated. In FEC mode with even a modest receiving setup, every single block should be properly error corrected if the squint is less than 90 degs. FEC blocks that are barely audible or with severe spin-modulation fading will decode correctly. The P3T software is in final beta testing and will be available within a few days. This system will be demonstrated live at the upcoming AMSAT-UK meeting in Surrey by G3RUH using a solo RHCP patch antenna (no dish).

Ombyggnadsbeskrivning

Klla: ANS 201