alf@ttds.UUCP (Thomas Sj|land) (01/21/85)
The following came to us from the Swedish teleconferencing system at the dec-10 "Oden" at QZ, Stockholm, using our homebrew gateway between their teleconferencing system and usenet. Though not concerning usenet directly it might be of some interest to people interested in satellite-issues, and shows some European activity (at least indirect) for a change. I translated the intro which was originally in Swedish. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Original: (Text 35050) 85-01-19 17.49 Danny Kohn STACKEN Newsgroup: Radio (and similar techniques) experience-exchange. The following information was collected from AMSAT in USA via TELEMAIL: Posted: Wed Jan 16, 1985 5:54 AM GMT Msg: EGIF-2004-6780 From: TCLARK To: amsat Subj: NK6K inputs on UoSAT DCE tests The following came in late last night from Harold Price, NK6K on the "other" network, DRNET and is relayed de W3IWI. It tells of the recent successes withthe PACSAT demonstration tests being conducted with the Digital Communications Experiment (DCE) aboard UoSAT-OSCAR-11: - - - - - - - - - - - M 29146 Harold Price (NK6K,2972) 1/14/85 12:29 AM TO: (Group 95) The following was copied off the UOSAT-OSCAR-11 satellite this evening. The messages were loaded from the University of Surrey England, and from NK6K, California. The message software was loaded into the DCE from LA over the weekend. The message system is a demo prototype developed by VE3FLL, for use this weekend. The " strings are for use by the lap computer bei ng used as a ground station computer by WA3ZIA/KH6. More info on the demo tomorrow. - NK6K "ALL UOSAT TEST MESSAGE" "ALL UOSAT DCE TEST MESSAGE FROM UNIVERSITY OF SURREY ENGLAND" "ALL UOSAT These messages are a test of the embryonic store and forward packet radio service on UoSAT-Oscar-11." "ALL UOSAT The tests are running on the Digital Communication s Experiment NSC-800 computer; assisted by the RCA 1802." "ALL UOSAT They form part of a proof-of-concept demonstration techniques by AMSAT; VITA; and INTER-PARES at the Pacific Telecommunications Cou ncil annual conference in Honolulu; Hawaii this weekend." "ALL UOSAT The demonstaration has been organised by Larry Kayser WA3ZIA; DCE software and support by Hugh Pett VE3FLL and Harold Price NK6K; UoSAT support and groundstation activities by Roger Peel G8NEF and Neville Bean G8NOB." "ALL UOSAT Thanks are also due to radio amateurs in Hawaii; the Los Angeles area and the Ottawa area for their assistance." "ALL UOSAT These messages are a test of the embryonic store and forward packet radio service on UoSAT-Oscar-11." "ALL NK6K DCE message system TEST message; from Redondo Beach; CA." - - - - - - - - (W3IWI note -- at the start of each packet, the ALL is the addressee while the second filed is the originator. All the packets with UOSAT as the sender were uplinked from Surrey, while the NK6K packet was uplinked from Harold). Posted: Wed Jan 16, 1985 9:38 PM GMT Msg: HGIF-2005-6224 From: MSWEETING To: AMSAT Subj: UO-11 DCE Expts Success in Hawaii CONGRATULATIONS - messages have been exchanged between Larry Kayser & Co. in Hawaii and UoS (UK) on the last orbit (2057 gmt 160185) using the Digital Communications Experiment on-board UoSAT-OSCAR-11. This has been hard work for all concerned - Harold, Larry, Hugh, Rick, Neville, Roger and Martin - but all well worthwhile. Discussions on the future development of the DCE will now take place soon. Thanks to all for their help. Martin + UoSAT Team Posted: Thu Jan 17, 1985 9:15 PM GMT Msg: EGIF-2006-8263 From: VITA To: AMSAT Subj: SUCCESS! VITA NEWS RELEASE JANUARY 17, 1985 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION* FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ANNE HEYNIGER, VITA PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER (703) 276-1800 BREAKTHROUGH IN LOW-COST TELECOMMUNICATIONS RADIO AMATEURS COMMUNICATE WITH LOW-ORBITING SATELLITE ----- -------- ----------- ---- --- -------- --------- USING A TINY SATELLITE NOW ORBITING THE EARTH OVER THE POLES AT AN ALTITUDE OF 429 MILES (690 KN), A TEAM OF TECHNICAL VOLUNTEERS FROM THE U.S. AND CANADA YESTERDAY SENT LETTER-PERFECT PACKET RADIO MESSAGES TO ENGLAND FROM HAWAII, AND RECEIVED REPLIES. THE TRANSMISSIONS REPRESENT A BREAKTHROUGH IN THE USE OF LOW ORBITING SATELLITES FOR WORLDWIDE COMMUNICATIONS. INTRODUCING THE NEW CONCEPT AT THE PACIFIC TELECOMMUNICATIONS COUNCIL'S ANNUAL CONFRENCE IN HAWAII, HIGHLY TRAINED TECHNICAL EXPERTS FROM PRIVATE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN THE U.S. AND CANADA SENT MESSAGES TO THE UNIVERSITY OF SURREY IN GUILDFORD, ENGLAND, WHERE THE SATELLITE (UOSAT-2) WAS BUILT. THE MESSAGES--DIGITIZED "PACKETS" OF INFORMATION--WERE STORED IN THE SATELLITE'S ON-BOARD COMPUTER. A FEW HOURS LATER, AS THE SATELLITE PASSED OVER GUILDFORD, THE LETTER-PERFECT MESSAGES WERE DOWNLOADED AND PRINTED OUT AUTOMATICALLY BY THE SURREY GROUND STATION'S SMALL PERSONAL COMPUTER. USING AMATEUR RADIO FREQUENCIES, INEXPENSIVE TRANSMITTERS AND RECEIVERS, AND PERSONAL COMPUTERS TO COMMUNICATE WITH A LOW-ORBITING BIRD, THE SYSTEM THAT WILL UTILIZE THIS TECHNOLOGY IN THE FUTURE (ALREADY KNOWN AS PACSAT), WILL OFFER TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORKING AT A FRACTION OF THE COST OF CONVENTIONALTELE XES. ONCE OPERATIONAL, THE PACSAT SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD MUCH-NEEDED ACCESS TO LOW-COST, RELIABLE TELECOMMUNICA- TIONS. GROUND STATION EQUIPMENT, COSTING NOT MORE THAN $2000 AND CAPABLE OF OPERATING ON ATTERIES OR SOLAR POWER, CAN BE CARRIED IN A BRIEFCASE. THE FIRST FULL-SERVICE PACSAT SATELLITE IS SCHEDULED FOR LAUNCH ON THE SHUTTLE IN EARLY1987. SPEARHEADING THE DEELOPMENT OF THIS TECHNOLOGY ARE VITA (VOLUNTEERS IN TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE), A PRIVATE VOLUNTARY DEVELOPMENT AGENCY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THAT SPECIAIZES IN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER; AND AMSAT (RADIO AMATEUR SATELLITE CORP.), AN INTERNAIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HAM RADIO OPERATORS WHO ALSO DESIGN AND BUILD SATELLITES. INTERPARES, A PRIVATE CANADIAN AGENCY ENGAGED IN COMMUNITY-BASED DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORTS THE EFFORT IN CANADA. IN WASHINGTON, PCSAT INTERNATIONL APPLICATIONS MANAGER, DR. GARY GARRIOTT OF VITA, SAID OF TE CONTACT IN SPACE, "I JUST WISH THE PEOPLE COORDINATING FAMINE RELIEF IN ETHIOPIA HAD A PACSAT TO COMMUNICATE WITH. THEY COULD USE SOLAR ENERGY TO POWER THE RADIO. IT WOULD SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN GETTINGHELP TO THOSE REMOTE PLACES." END Posted: Fri Jan 18, 1985 6:28 PM GMT Msg: HGIF-2007-7384 From: MSWEETING To: DOCS Subj: UoSAT Bull #109 (Edited) **** UoSAT Bulletin-109 (Edited) 11th January 1985 **** UoSAT Spacecraft Control Centre, University of Surrey, England ** GENERAL NEWS ** * Digital Communications Experiment on UO-11 * The DCE on UO-11 successfully demonstrated digital message 'store-&-forward' techniques for the first time last week - with exchanges between UoS, NK6K (LA) and WH6AMX/WA3ZIA/VE3FLL in Hawaii - at the Pacific Telecommunications Conference held in Honolulu. Despite very poor weather in Hawaii making portable demonstrations difficult, messages were exchanged on 16 Jan around 2100 gmt and the Special Event Bulletin received from UO-9 during the Conference. ** UOSAT SPACECRAFT ** ** UoSAT-Oscar-11 Operations ** The major activity this last week has been associated with the Digital Communications Experiment. The DCE has been active since May 1984 when it was configured to provide the digital 'bypass' necessary to overcome the break in one of the uplink data paths that caused the communications problems just after launch last March. The provision of the 'bypass' by the DCE restored UO-11 to full operations and enabled the commissioning of the spacecraft to proceed. Software was developed by G8NEF at UoS over the last few weeks to enable the 1802 OBC to assume the role of providing the 'bypass' as part of its routine housekeeping functions (attitude control, whole-orbit surveys, packet communications, programmed command etc) and thus release the DCE to embark on its own experimental programme to demonstrate the feasibility of "mailbox" communications. Preliminary software was developed by WA3ZIA/VE3's group in Canada in conjunction with NK6K and loaded by NK6K into the DCE on UO-11 from the USA after the OBC had assumed responsibility for the 'bypass' functions on 090185. This preliminary test software enabled the DCE to support a very simple digital message 'store-&-forward' facility demonstrated regularly last week to coincide with the Pacific Telecommunications Conference. A great deal of hard work (& long hours) was necessary on both sides of the Atlantic to develop all the spacecraft & groundstation software and support hardware in order to mount this demonstration and get the DCE programme under way - thanks to all involved! The DCE is intended to provide an experimental facility to evaluate the hardware, software and operational protocols that will be required for a fully operational satellite 'mailbox' system called PACSAT - PAcket Communications SATellite. The DCE, with its limited up & downlink capabilities, will only be able to support an experimental rather than an operational facility, hence the DCE will only be available initially to a very limited number stations involved in the development of these experimental software, hardware & protocols. Later, it is hoped that additional stations may be authorised to use the DCE to help evaluate its capability to support global communications. It is anticipated that the additional stations will be selected on a regional basis and that further local users will be supported via 'local area networks' accessing the DCE through the authorised 'gateway' stations. The amount of downlink time made available to the DCE will be dependent on the other experiments active at any one time. Those interested in PACSAT concepts will be able to monitor progress by observing the DCE traffic and we shall endeavour to keep you up-to-date with developments.