Hi All,
I can hereby confirm Tomorrows intended activation of the AMSAT-NL FUNcube-3 transponder on QB50p1 / EO-79.
Date and time: Monday 4th of May, activation around 0830 UTC for one orbit.
TLEs are in the normal repositories, COSPAR 2014-033-R, Object# 40025
We would like people to try the following frequencies if possible:
DOWNLINK: 145.960 USB
UPLINK: Tune to match downlink +/- 435.065 LSB The transponder is linear inverting, nominally 30kHz wide, and approx. 500mW output.
Also, If you find the transponder busy on those frequencies, feel free to move around and use the entire transponder passband.
The passband seems to have a “dip” in the middle which is bigger than expected, but we do welcome feedback about the usability. Also, please limit your uplink power, as it looks like this transponder is as sensitive as FUNcube-1. The spacecraft antenna is a monopole, so we would also be interested in signal fading reports.
The comissioning of the transponder done to date is very limited, three activations for 5, 10 and 8 minutes respectively. So your reports are greatly appreciated.
We do understand this is a very short notice, but hope that some of you will be able to participate.
This was a take-it-or-leave-it opportunity offered by the ISIS engineers for our consideration, and we are again very grateful to ISIS and VKI to give us this opportunity.
Wouter PA3WEG
FUNcube team
Uplink: 435.050-435.075 MHz LSB
Downlink: 145.945-145.970 MHz USB