SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS001
ARLS001 Echo satellite reopens for normal FM repeater, digital use

ZCZC AS01  
QST de W1AW  
Space Bulletin 001  ARLS001
From ARRL Headquarters  
Newington, CT  January 19, 2005
To all radio amateurs

SB SPACE ARL ARLS001
ARLS001 Echo satellite reopens for normal FM repeater, digital use

The Echo (AO-51) command team says that because no tsunami
relief-related emergency message traffic has been seen on the AO-51
Packsat Broadcast Protocol BBS (PBBS), it's configured the satellite
to permit normal FM repeater and 9k6 digital operation.

"The plan is to run in this mode until the end of January, unless
word is received from the disaster area that a different setup would
be useful," said the AO-51 command team's Mike Kingery, KE4AZN.
"Anyone who can help contact those in the disaster area and inform
them of the satellite resource is encouraged to do so."

Kingery says that if another AO-51 configuration can benefit the
disaster relief effort, AMSAT will adjust the satellite's operating
mode accordingly.

Because the switch to solely digital store-and-forward operation
pre-empted the satellite's use in FM repeater mode for Kid's Day
January 2, AMSAT now plans to reschedule its Kid's Day activity on
the satellite for an as-yet-unannounced Saturday in February.

The AO-51 FM voice uplink is 145.920 MHz (with 67 Hz CTCSS tone
required); downlink is 435.300 MHz. The 9k6 digital PBBS uplink is
145.860 MHz FM; downlink is 435.150 MHz FM.
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/EX