WB4SON

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Configuring SatPC32 for an Icom IC-9700

Posted: 03 Feb 2020 11:35 AM PST
https://wb4son.com/wpblog/?p=4036


After ensuring that the latest Icom USB drivers have been installed (before
plugging the radio into the computer), the following are the basic steps
for configuring the radio and a new installation of SatPC32:

On the 9700 Menu/Set/Connectors/CI-V.Â* As the 9700 has some new features,
both standard CI-V as well as USB and LAN CI-V, we have to make some
adjustments.Â* I set the

CI-V Baud Rate to 19200
CI-V address set to the default (A2h).
Set the CI-V USB Baud Rate to 115200 (highest)
Set CI-V USB Echo Back ON (thats a critical setting, without that you will
see the 9700 update frequencies a single time, then not again).Â* The
default setting is OFF.


Within SatPC32 Setup/Radio Setup

Pick Icom, Model IC-9700.Â* Ensure proper COM port for the USB cable between
the radio and computer.Â* I saw two COM ports installed, and I chose the
lower port, COM3 in my case).
Pull down the Baudrate setting and ensure it is 19200.
Pull down the Addresses Setting and set both to $A2 using the up/down
arrows.
Store the settings


Within SatPC32 Use the ?/Auxiliary Files function to edit files

For DOPPLER.SQF, add HUSKYSAT-1,435799.7,0,USB,,0,BPSK Beacon and File/Save
For AmsatNames.txt, add 45117 19071GÂ* Â*HUSKYSAT-1 about the 99992 entry for
AO-85


In my distribution of SatPC32, Satellites/tle-new.txt had the HUSKYSAT-1



The above appeared to work.Â* When the C- was changed to C+ the downlink
frequency was transferred to the IC-9700, however it did not update so I
need to configure something else, Im sure.Â* So I was back to manually
adjusting for Doppler and only captured 11 frames, but at least I am
sending data.

(From https://www.amsat.org/tlm/leaderboar...d=0&db=FOXDB):



(From
https://www.amsat.org/tlm/ground_sta...station=WB4SON ):




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First Decodes of HuskySat-1

Posted: 03 Feb 2020 10:36 AM PST
https://wb4son.com/wpblog/?p=4027


A new satellite, HuskySat-1, was launched this past Friday, from a
departing Cygnus Supply Vehicle.Â* After leaving the ISS, the Cygnus was
boosted into a higher orbit, then the 3U HuskySat-1 was launched.Â* Basic
details a
HuskySat-1

-

Uplink:Â* Â* 145.910 145.940 MHz LSB/CW

Downlink:Â* 435.840 435.810 MHz USB/CW (inverting)

Telemetry: 435.800 MHz 1K2 bps BPSK

24049.00 MHz (U of Washington experimental downlink)

The latest version of FoxTelem software to decode the 1200 bps BPSK

beacon is available at:Â*https://www.amsat.org/tlm

On Sunday, Doppler measurements made by Nico PA0DLO indicated that
HuskySat-1 is NORAD Object 45117 (2019-071G).Â* The actual beacon frequency
is 435.79971 MHz.

I had purchased an IC-9700 months ago, but was so busy that I hadnt unboxed
it until this weekend.Â* In addition, my trusty ToughBook CF-30 laptops were
having issues updating Win10 beyond the 2018 Feature Update (due to old
graphic cards and no support from Panasonic).Â* I had purchased a used
CF-31, which was MUCH faster and so far has kept up with all the feature
updates.Â* So I figured I would configure it for the IC-9700.Â* Thus my
Saturday, and non-SuperBowl time on Sunday was spent gathering and
installing all the various software tools.

When I ventured downstairs today, I noticed that there was a pass around
18:02 UTC for HuskySat-1, so I quickly downloaded FoxTelem and scrambled
through the settings to get things ready to go for the pass.

Even though I was tuning the BPSK signal by ear, and manually adjusting for
Doppler (I dont have HuskySat-1 setup in SatPC32 yet), I was able to decode
30+ packets.
The Audio Tab of FoxTelem showing eye pattern
A Sample of the decoded Health Telemetry

Congratulations to the University of Washington team for a successful bird,
and to AMSAT as well.Â* The satellite is currently being commissioned and
will be running a Pulsed Plasma Thruster experiments along with 24 GHz high
speed data & imaging for the next month or so.Â* At the completion of the
experiments, the satellite will be turned over to Amateur use with a 30 KHz
wide linear Mode VU transponder.