Bulletins from the Pacific Packet Radio Society - page 007

Experimentation/ Design/Technical -- 9
Computer conferencing --------------- 7
Electronic Mail ------------------------- 6
Resource Sharing --------------------- 3
Program sharing/User groups ------ 2
Packet Video ------------------------- 2
Packet DX & QSO's --------------- 2
Traffic Handling --------------------- 1
Packet Audio/Voice ---------------- 0
Games -------------------------------- 0

FILE QST.81.09.03.0.VE3QB

I asked Larry Kayser to give us a more complete description of the Ottawa- Vancouver satellite link, and here is his response:

TO: HM
FROM: LSK
SENT: 03 SEP 81 10:20:12
READ: o4 SEP 81 08:19:16

KA6M, Hank

This is a description of the satellite system we are trying to make work to Vancouver from Ottawa. I have drawn it out and will word-describe it to you.

At the Ottawa end we have a 222-34 MHz digital radio terminal running on 9600 BPS connected to the Terminal port on a VADCG micro board. The EPROM software on the VADCG board has been modified to interface to our terminal node software in EPROM in place of the VADCG terminal terminal software. The balance of the software in the VADCG board is standard - at least as Vancouver sees standardization. The output of the VADCG board is connected to an old WECO 202D type modem which is in turn connected to the Satellite earth station audio equipment via a 4 wire connection. The satellite station runs via our domestic satellite ANIK in the 12/14 GHz band and is an FM sub carrier on a video channel. The video is two way and part of the Knowledge Network experimental program here in Canada. At the far end another 202D is connected to the satellite earth station and then a short cable at RS232 is connected to yet another 202D modem. This second modem is connected to a 146 MHz radio and uses one of the RS232 signal leads to key the radio on and off. The site is easily accessible in Vancouver however in Ottawa the site is not repeat not accessible without prior arrangements and then only in the daytime when we are all at work.

At this time we can get packets to them part to most of the time. They are not able to get packets to us at all. The problems probably stack up something like this:

1. The timing characteristics of the 202D units are not well understood from a system perspective and in fact the "back to back" units are a real mish mash and Vancouver is working to put

Click for Original Graphic Image of this page.