Beginning Friday, December 2, at 1600 UTC, the FASTRAC-1 satellite (FO-69) will be open for use as a packet radio digipeater. Anyone with a 1200 baud packet TNC and a VHF/UHF FM transceiver will have an opportunity to try it. If you own satellite tracking software, you’ll find the latest orbital elements on the FASTRAC Web site.

FASTRAC-1 receives at 145.825 MHz and transmits at 437.345 MHz. The digipeater alias is FAST1. To connect to ARRL Headquarters station W1AW through FASTRAC-1, for example, you would send the following packet:

C W1AW VIA FAST1

Reports of your results are welcome via e-mail, or at the FASTRAC Facebook page.

--Courtesy AMSAT-UK