ARLA/CLUSTER: Desenvolvimentos do projecto AMSAT Phase 4 Ground

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Update on AMSAT Phase 4 Ground Terminal development

Phase 4 Ground is an AMSAT sponsored all-volunteer team providing an
ensemble of ground terminal solutions for the 5 GHz and 10 GHz 'Five
and Dime' band plan

“Five and Dime” is the 5GHz uplink 10GHz downlink strategy that AMSAT
has embraced for microwave satellite projects. Phase 4 is expected to
provide ground terminal solutions for Phase 4B geosynchronous launch
in late 2018 early 2019, the phase 3E high earth orbit satellite, and
also to provide receiver support for AMSAT’s entry into the NASA Cube
Quest Challenge.

There is a lot of range here. Cube Quest Challenge is going to the
moon, where the path loss will be substantial, and very large dishes
will be required to receive telemetry. Phase 4B has much lower path
loss, but we want to implement variable rate coding and modulation and
provide an emergency communications support role. Phase 3E is the
least specified of the three projects, but our goal is to design as
common an air interface between the three as possible. The user
terminals must be re-used.

Above all, operators should come to expect a high quality consistent
user interface that takes advantage of all that digital has to offer
across these AMSAT projects. This is an ambitious tall order, and we
need help in making it happen. We will continue to actively recruit
and welcome volunteers. Our goal is to have no bulky software
installations. The radio is accessed as if it was a web app.

Read the full story at
http://www.amsat.org/?p=4945

A video from the Palomar Amateur Radio Club presents a panel
discussion on the AMSAT Phase IV geosynchronous project
http://amsat-uk.org/2015/11/08/geosynchronous-ham-radio-project-video/