The FUNcube/AO-73 Amateur Radio transponder will be active full time (with low-power beacon) on weekends. FUNcube’s controllers will switch to full-time transponder mode during the first suitable pass over the UK on Friday, typically between 1930 and 22:30 UTC. (If this is not possible, the switch will be made on the first suitable pass on Saturday, typically between 0930 and 1200 UTC. Controllers will switch off full-time transponder mode during a suitable pass on Sunday evening, typically between 1930 and 2230 UTC. (If this is not possible, the switch will be made during the first suitable pass on Monday, typically between 0930 and 1200 UTC. This schedule is totally reliant on the availability of command stations.

AO-73’s telemetry downlink frequency is 145.935 MHz BPSK. The SSB/CW inverting transponder uplink is 435.150-435.130 MHz LSB, and the downlink is 145.950-145.970 MHz USB. Use a maximum uplink power of 5 W into a 7 dBi gain antenna.

More information will be available on the FUNcube website. Comments are user reports are welcome. — Thanks to Jim Heck, G3WGM, via AMSAT News Service