1.   Why is this experiment being only run for 2 passes?
This is a Proof-of-concept experiment.  We just want to see if the new Kantronics KPC-9612 TNC on Mir will work as good with APRS as it does here on Earth.  The TNC settings required for satellite operation are much different than you would use here on Earth.
The Mirex team has been working to optimize the TNC settings for maximum Mail box performance.  Now that the Mail Box is stable, we have some time to experiment with other features of the KPC-9612 TNC.
If this short 2-pass APRS test is successful, then we may schedule Longer APRS tests in the future (and with more advanced notice).

2. Since it is so early on the West coast I doubt if many schools will be able to take advantage of this event here.
It is impossible to find an orbit which will satisfy the whole world. Orbits which are good for the east coast are bad for the west coast, and visa versa. The information we learn from this short test will help us plan for longer tests in the future.

3. Seems to me that this APRS  [2-meter mono band] experiment has more educational benefit than running the PMS in crossband mode for a month when only a handful of stations in the U.S. have that capability. ;-)
Mirex agrees.  2-meter Mono band FM satellite operations can reach over 75% of the Amateur Radio population world wide.  However, if you convert a satellite project to Split-Band (2-meter and 70 centimeter ) you will make the project inaccessible to 90% of the Amateur Radio Stations world wide.
Mirex is trying to keep satellite operations affordable.  The 2-meter mono band experiments are the best way for beginners to experiment in with satellite operations.  Mirex hopes that the International Space Station committee called ARISS (Amateur Radio International Space Station) will learn from the successful Mir Amateur Radio experiments. 
Mirex is the only Satellite Amateur Radio organization currently lobbying for 2-meter mono band experiments for the ISS.

NOISE ON CHANNEL
When the Mir crew is working on 70cm, they are using the SAFEX II repeater system.
This system can operate in three modes , Voice Conversation Mode, Repeater Mode and Packet  Mode -(never used).
There are no TNC's connected to the SAFEX II repeater system.
The Noise you heard was coming from the SAFEX II repeater.  Intermittently the system goes bonkers if the crew talks for long peroids of time without releasing the mic (the voice mode can run in a form of full duplex)
When u hear the noise mixed with the crews audio, just the them to power cycle the SAFEX to clear the problem.

Miles

Hi Jerry:
That's a good point.
We'll Murphy's law struck.
The Modem worked good the first week.  All of the TNC settings were correct and pre configured.
But the settings were not BURNED into the ROM as a default.
Then during the end of the first week of operations, the crew thought the TNC was Locked-up (December 10 time frame). One of the crew performed a Hard Reset to the modem.  This action erased all of the pre-configured TNC settings.
Including the access call sign and password for the Remote Sysop functions. (Next time we will burn in the call and  password).
For the past three months the mir crews have been extremely busy with other higher priority experiments.
Amateur Radio, is not their top item on their lists.  So, we just need to patiently wait for the crew to have some free time and reload a few parameters ( CD, Remote system op).

Miles WF1F

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