AO-16 Satellite Serves as Voice Repeater

Launched in January 1990, AMSAT-OSCAR 16 (AO-16) -- a digital satellite
-- has been unavailable for use while the command team dealt with a
serious computer problem.  The satellite has since been recovered, and
is now a voice repeater, at least for an unspecified "test period" using
FM voice on the uplink, but SSB voice on the downlink.

Since AO-16 was recovered approximately six months ago, the command team
-- Bruce Rahn, WB9ANQ, Jim White, WD0E, and Mark Hammond, N8MH
-- attempted to reload the satellite software almost a dozen times
without success.  The team performed a series of memory tests that
pointed toward a hardware failure that prevented the spacecraft software
from restarting successfully.

AMSAT Vice President of Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, said, "After
concluding that the spacecraft computer system was damaged, and as
discussions about decommissioning were taking place, Jim recalled a
series of low-level commands that Tom Clark, K3IO, included in the
spacecraft design during construction.  One of these commands allows an
uplink receiver to be directly tied to a downlink transmitter.  The
twist is that the uplink is regular FM, but the downlink via the BPSK
transmitter is DSB (Double Sideband).  Mark placed the satellite in this
mode early this week and did some testing."

Glasbrenner also said the satellite hears very well; the reduced
bandwidth by using either USB or LSB on the ground station receiver
"allows for a very robust downlink.  Tuning the downlink is just like on
a linear transponder, meaning it is tight and with fast Doppler.  Uplink
tuning is not required, just as with the FM mode V/U satellites.  My
personal observations include being able to access and hear the
satellite within one degree of the horizon, much lower than any other
current bird for my location [in Florida]. This should be an easy
satellite with omni antennas and a 70 cm preamp."

Glasbrenner said that he would like to open the satellite to general use
for a test period.  The uplink is 145.920 MHz FM, and the downlink is
437.026 MHz SSB +/- Doppler shift.  He asks that users restrict their
uplink power to a reasonable power level, and do not transmit without
being able to hear the downlink; all general single-channel guidelines
apply.  Please submit reports via e-mail at, [log in to unmask]  "Enjoy
this bird's new life!" Glasbrenner said.
NNNN
/EX