"Steven L. Finberg" <w1gsl@athena.mit.edu> (03/16/90)
I am looking to set up a data link, probably full duplex, between a high altitude ultra long duration atmospheric research aircraft and a ground station. On the order of 4800 bits per second of data is to be transfered. Both telemetry and control is being communicated so the transfer must be real time. Over most of the proposed flight paths any number of synchronous comm sats would be visible to both aircraft and the ground control. What is the availability of low bandwidth transponder channnels, who rents them out, how much do they cost? Who makes the "ground" stations? Light weight and an omni directional nontracking antenna for the aircraft would be a big plus. What are the coverage areas of the satellite receivers? Are their footprints only aimed at land areas? Thanks in advance. Steve Finberg PO Box 82 MIT BR, Cambridge MA 02139 617-258-3754 w1gsl@athena.mit.edu