10 Dec 2008
Bob Bruninga, WB4APR
UPDATE 10 Dec 08: PCSAT is getting old. It can only operate during the week long winter periods of full sun. Even then, an overload
will lose its parameters and the power budget will be lost until the next year. So do not overload PCSAT.
Use of W3ADO-1 DIGIPEATER is not authorized during these restoration periods, because that is the crashed call, and indicates
PCSAT is in power-negative mode! Use only the path of ARISS or WIDE2-2.
SERVICE
PCsat, NO44 provides a worldwide position, status and messaging service for mobile and handheld amateur radio satellite users.
Grade of service depends on user adherence to Power levels, transmission Period, and Precedence criteria. (Both are currently
not working to full design, so note changes below).
POLICY STATEMENT
PCsat are open systems in accordance with the ITU regulations for the Amateur Satellite Service. To provide the best overall
throughput for the largest collection of users, the PCsat digipeater is protocol driven and requires that all users adhere to
the fundamental protocol requirements. Users that adhere to these published protocol and operating standards are very welcome.
AGREEMENTS
You may use PCsat if you adhere to the following agreements:
1) PCsat is for ATTENDED LIVE UI digipeating only. No CONNECTIONS either TO or THROUGH PCSAT is authorized. Unattended
operations are not welcome (except for validated experiments, Antarctic WX stations and floating environmental buoys.
2) Keep informed of the current protocol requirements via the PCsat web page www.aprs.org/pcsat.html or via bulletins in the
downlink. Since the 3 Oct 2001 activation, the requested routine uplink rate is only 1 routine position/status packet
per minute. One-line messages may be somewhat more frequent in a dialog context.
3) The PCSAT and your objective is to get mobile/HT position or status digipeated once or so per pass and to relay a few
messages or Email as needed. Share the resource. Minimize your transmissions.
4) The PCSAT digi responds to PCSAT-1, ARISS, APRSAT and WIDEn-N. With ISS on the same frequency and also suppoting these same
generic aliases, using ARISS,ARISS or WIDE2-2 is recommended. The default W3ADO-1 callsign is a distress callsign and is
not authorized during potential operating periods (Nov – Mar). When PCSAT has no hope of recovery (APR-OCT), that callsign
may be used since the satellite cannot be recoered anyway.
Like the terrestrial network, PCsat does callsign-substitution of its own MYCALL to indicate that it has digipeated the packet.
The ISS does not do callsign insertion on WIDEn-N so ARISS is receommended if you want confirmation of digipeat via RS0ISS.
6) Use only the authorized power levels, channel and periodicity for your station class and precedence as posted and published below.
STATION CLASS PWR BAUD UPLINK PERIOD DIGIPATH DOWNLINK -------------- --- ---- ------- ------- -------- --------- Terminal Packet 50W 1200 145.825 2 min APRSAT 145.825 APRS Base stn 50W 9600 435.250 2 min APRSAT 145.825 Mobile 50W 9600 435.250 various APRSAT 145.825 Handi-Talkie 5W 1200 145.827 various APRSAT 145.825
The UHF receivers are kept off to conserve power, due to the failure of the -Z solar panel on launch. Thus the only public
uplink on PCsat is 145.825 MHz. The un-published uplink for the 144.39 downlink system is available for anyone with special
needs.
PCsat can hear well a 5 Watt station using a decent antenna when no one else is colliding with the uplink.
7) Routine operations after dark via PCsat are not welcome. Do not use PCsat in the dark unless you have a high priority requirement.
8) Use the shortest possible packets. Mic-E protocol or APRS compressed is preferred (typically 30 bytes or so). ALso
Use a short TX Delay (TXD) of about 150 ms or less if possible.
9) Determine your own precedence based on your current communications requirements for each pass. In general, all use is routine except
for special circumstances. Typical Special usage is for demonstrations, and long term events. Priority usage may be for VIP demos
or special one-time events. Use good judgment, being fair to all other users. To alert other users to your precedence/priority, Set
your period and position comment as follows:
STN CLASS PRECEDENCE PERIOD ICON POSITION COMMENT
----------- ---------- ------ ----- ------------------------
Mobile/HT Emergency .2 min any EMERGENCY
Priority .5 min any PRIORITY
Special 1 min any Special
Routine 2 min any Off-duty,Enroute,...,etc
Termnl Pkt* ALL X * 2 N/A Short BText
Base Stns ALL X * 2 House Off-Duty
GPS Traker ALL X * 2 GPSxyz N/A
Notice that terminal packet stations, base stations, and NMEA Trackers are requested to minimize QRM by setting their packet rates to the next longer period (twice as long) for any given precedence to account for their longer packets. CRASH MODE: Whenever PCsat crashes to W3ADO-1, we ask that all user transmissions other than Emergency and Priority traffic cease. CRASH mode sets the W3ADO-1 call, turns on the two backup UHF receivers and cross connects the transmitters and sets the Telemetry nits to 11111111. *** During normal OPS periods. DO NOT USE W3ADO-1 callsign! *** During the summer you may use W3ADO-1 since there is no chance of recovery except during full sun periods in the late fall and winter. Remember, for now, no unattended operations are authorized. Also night time operations via PCsat will kill it. ACCEPTANCE If you accept the conditions of operation for PCsat and Sapphire, please sign this document and post it in your primary wallpaper location and enjoy! SIGNATURE: _______________________________________ Date: _______________________