ISS packet TNC now active

Maggie K3XS writes "Over this weekend, the 1200 baud AFSK packet TNC on board Space Station Alpha (AKA the ISS) was activated, and hams in the UK, Africa, Australia and the US (including K3XS!) have been successful in relaying UI packets (including APRS data) though the ARISS equipment on board the station.



It is believed that the intended configuration of the TNC was lost due to battery problems in the TNC. Correction of the configuation, so that digital messages can be sent to the Alpha crew, will need to wait until the crew has time to connect a laptop computer to the ARISS and restore the configuration paramaters to their intended values.



But until then, it should be possible to relay APRS data and other information contained in UI packets while the station is overhead, duing periods when the ARISS equipment is not in use for FM voice QSOs."