AO-40 is currently at ALON/ALAT = 20/0 and we continue to advance toward 45/0. We are holding the current position for the moment, but the next jump of approximately 10
degrees (ALON ~30) will come in about another
week.
At that time we will discontinue the K-band window and move the U/L -> S2 passband window to later in the orbit, as well.
We are running FEC on as many orbits as possible, working around the need for pictures and other command functions. FEC mode requires loading the IHU-2 each orbit and this is not always possible; however most orbits have FEC active.
We have modified the FEC routine to allow the option of
cycling between normal mode telemetry including message blocks and event blocks, and FEC mode telemetry (A-blocks only). With this option, the normal mode is currently active from 0 to 16 minutes of the hour, and the FEC mode is active for the remainder of the hour. This allows time for users to read the message blocks and for event blocks to be collected. During transition between these two modes, up to 1 minute of beacon idling (hex50) may be heard before the new mode starts.
– –W4SM for the AO-40 Command Team
Klla: