AMATEUR RADIO AND SPACE WEATHER CONDITIONS PAGE
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HAM SATELLITES
An activity that I enjoy a lot is like hunting. Except the targets move five thousand times faster.
Learning and perfecting the art of hitting a fast moving, low-earth-orbit satellite with a radio signal, and communicating
with other ground stations is a fascinating and rewarding hobby. This page is dedicated to this and
other aspects of ham radio. A few of these satellites can be contacted with low power (5 watts) using
portable hand-held dual band radios and simple 1/2 wave whip antennas.
$150 dollars can buy the required minimum equipment to start working satellites.
A really good program for tracking satellites can be found at the bottom of this page.
If you are interested, I would highly recommend it.
My modest but effective 2-axis UHF 5-element beam antenna. It can be pointed at any spot in the sky. Works suprisingly well transmitting 1 watt output power.
It can handle 200 watts, but I will "stack" a 2nd identical twin next to it before running any higher power than 5 watts.
If co-phased with a twin beam antenna, the reception ability goes way up, allowing weaker signals to be read.
It can hit ground repeaters 50 miles away with full quieting on 5 watts in its current form. Same 50 mile contact on 1 watt
has only about 10% background noise, and still very clear. This antenna setup cost me about 200 to build...with a single weld on the main mast,
and simple bolt together construction. Antenna rotator position controls are in the house on the radio table,next to my tranceivers and computer.
I still position them manually during a flyover, having to sweep them in steps every couple minutes to follow the satellite as it streaks overhead.
Its an intense multi-tasking experience for sure, watching the tracking screen, the antenna controls, and the two radios while writing down call-signs,
tuning the radio for doppler-shift...while re-positioning the antennas over 10 times during a 7 minute passover. Its pretty involved.
Eventually I will have software from the computer that runs the satellite locator tracking software controlling the two rotator units,
with steady antenna tracking to follow the satellite path.This allows one to concentrate more on actually making contacts.
The addition of a small 25 watt RF amplifier will give the ability to hit more distant stations and the higher and weaker satellites.
Here is the upgrade, 1 year later...a stacked twin beam....
A counter balance had to be added to the boom for countering the forward weight of the antennas, and keeping the Y-axis rotator from tipping forward on its own.
Heres my "world record" AO-51 satellite radio contact - The QSL card from Venezuela...(confirmation from other station)
Although you must be a licensed ham radio operator 1st, entry level licenses are not that difficult to obtain with a little study time and a few brains.
Of course, this isnt a hobby sought after by people dis-interested in radio, space or science. So chances are pretty good you can do it if you try!
www.hamtestonline.com is a good starting point. Such a good point actually, I passed my technician test using the free trial version.
So you know the pay version of their practice tests are only better.
My favorite satellite so far is Amsat Oscar-7 (AO-7), mostly because of its background story.
Launched in 1974, it went silent in 1981 after battery shorts killed its onboard power supply clamping its voltage
to ground. This prevented its solar cells from powering the systems while in sunlight also.
So for 21 years it orbited, circling the earth once an hour, dead... Until the shorted battery decayed enough that
the closed circuit finally opened again. The date of this event isnt known exactly, but the satellite was heard again by
a ground station in 2002, as the power supply became functional again while the satellite is in direct sunlight.
When AO-7 is in daylight, its powered up and works in varying degrees of capacity.
When it goes behind the earths shadow, its dead again until its orbit carries it back to the bright side where its solar cells
begin to generate enough power for operation. When the satellite comes back to life an error occurs that makes its
mode of operation random. Sometimes only the beacon is transmitting, sometimes the linear transponder is in Mode A or inverted Mode B.
I heard its Mode-U beacon signal today on a near overhead pass using a small dual band handheld connected to the 5 element UHF Sat antenna.
She's soon to be the oldest operating earth orbiting satellite in space. Pretty cool if you ask me!
The satellite with the strongest signal is actually the International Space Station (ISS) but I will reserve another webpage to that subject by itself.
The second strongest satellite is Amsat Oscar-51 (AO-51). Its one of the more complex and functional of the bunch also.
4 VHF receivers, 2 UHF transmitters, 6 modems, and 56 telemetry channels make this craft quite a package.
Mozhayets (RS-22) and Yubileiny (RS-30) are beacon-only satellites, but are reliable signal sources that can be heard
with a scanner or small handheld transciever using a simple radio mounted antenna.
International Space Station (ISS) - "Zarya"
Pretty much the crown jewel of human achievement in space, and
the best Ham satellite in orbit right now...
The initial installation of the ISS ham radio gear. (in the Zarya module)
~velcro and tie-downs~
Current Keplerian Elements
ARISS 1 25544U 98067A 10078.29189975 .00024650 00000-0 17147-3 0 8018 2 25544 51.6481 332.1158 0007732 66.1178 34.1115 15.74207467649319 LIVE SATELLITE TRACKING
Weekly Satellite Report
While the system is in cross-band repeat mode the packet system is turned off and vice-versa.
The ISS daily crew schedule can be found at http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/timelines/. Remember that the crew operates on UTC time. The timelines are sent to the crew in Russian, and partially translated for ground controllers in America. No all-English translations are available at this time.
Current ARISS News is available at the ARISS page. Additional information is available at: http://www.issfanclub.com/.
Detailed Description
ARISS is the acronym for Amateur Radio on the International Space Station. The ARISS program is a join program operated by NASA, AMSAT, the ARRL and various worldwide agencies and is steered by an international committee.
The purpose of ARISS is to provide ISS to earth contacts between the crew of the ISS and schools, radio amateurs and others who may benefit from amateur radio contacts.
Frequency Information
| Mode V/V Crew Contact (Regions 2 & 3): Operational | |
| Uplink: | 144.4900 MHz FM |
| Downlink | 145.8000 MHz FM |
| Mode V/V Crew Contact (Region 1): Operational | |
| Uplink: | 145.2000 MHz FM |
| Downlink | 145.8000 MHz FM |
| Mode V/V Packet (Worldwide): Operational | |
| Uplink: | 145.9900 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS |
| Downlink | 145.8000 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS |
| Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater (Worldwide): Operational | |
| Uplink: | 145.8000 MHz FM |
| Downlink | 437.8000 MHz FM |
| Mode V APRS (Worldwide APRS Digipeater): Operational | |
| Simplex: | 145.8250 MHz FM 1200 BPS |
| Downlink | 145.8250 MHz FM 1200 BPS |
| Mode V Imaging: Operational | |
| Downlink | 145.8000 MHz SSTV |
| Mode U/V (B) FM Voice Repeater (Worldwide): Operational | |
| Uplink: | 437.8000 MHz FM |
| Downlink | 145.8000 MHz FM |
Astronauts working the ARISS ham radio station (attached to wall of Zarya module with velcro)
Current Keplerian Elements
AO-51
1 28375U 04025K 10068.55435415 .00000038 00000-0 24060-4 0 6223
2 28375 98.0582 67.7441 0085148 39.8425 320.8968 14.40672773299169
November 29, 2011
It is with a heavy heart I report that AO-51 has ceased transmission and is not responding to commands. The last telemetry data indicated that the third of six batteries was approaching failure to short, and observations indicate the voltage from three cells is insufficient to power the UHF transmitters. The IHU may continue to be operative. Initial tests with the S band transmitter were also not positive, although more attempts are in order. We have tried leaving the satellite in an expected state where if voltages climb high enough, the 435.150 transmitter may possibly be heard.
The command team will regularly attempt communications with the satellite over the coming months (and years). There is always the possibility that a cell will open and we could once again talk to our friend while illuminated. (like AO-7 did - after 21 years)
Thanks to all who helped fund, design, build, launch, command, and operate AO-51. It's 7 year mission has been extraordinary. Please support AMSAT's Fox-1 project, and other AMSAT projects worldwide with your time and money.
For the AO-51 Command Team,
73, Drew KO4MA
AMSAT-NA VP Operations
Current Keplerian Elements From previous NPOPM web page:
Frequency Information
Broadcast: PECHO-11 BBS: PECHO-12
Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater (QRP): Non-Operational
Uplink:
145.8800 MHz FM
Downlink
435.1500 MHz FM
Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater: Non-Operational
Uplink:
145.9200 MHz FM-----
(PL - 67Hz)
Downlink
435.3000 MHz FM
Mode V/S FM Voice Repeater: Non-Operational
Uplink:
145.8800 MHz FM
Downlink
2401.2000 MHz FM
Mode L/U FM Voice Repeater: Non-Operational
Uplink:
1268.7000 MHz FM-----
(PL - 67Hz)
435.3000 MHz FM
Mode L/S FM Voice Repeater: Non-Operational
Uplink:
1268.7000 MHz FM
Downlink
2401.2000 MHz FM
Mode L/U PacSat BBS: Non-Operational
Uplink:
145.860 MHz 9600 bps, AX.25
Uplink:
1268.700 MHz 9600 bps AX.25
Downlink
435.150 MHz 9600 bps, AX.25
Downlink
2401.200 MHz 38,400 bps, AX.25
RS-30
1 32953U 08025A 10068.56383522 .00000010 00000-0 00000-0 0 5465
2 32953 82.4974 91.6345 0018018 323.8403 36.1461 12.43004146 81361
LIVE SATELLITE TRACKING
Detailed Description
Frequency Information
Mode U TLM Beacon: Operational
Simplex:
435.2150 MHz CW
Simplex:
435.3150 MHz CW
RS-22
Current Keplerian Elements
1 27939U 03042A 10068.63882257 .00000086 00000-0 25297-4 0 292
2 27939 97.9073 298.2659 0014095 18.8560 341.3163 14.63389140344398
LIVE SATELLITE TRACKING
Mode U TLM Beacon: Operational
Downlink
435.3520 MHz CW
Current Keplerian Elements
AO-27
1 22825U 93061C 10068.88657920 .00000037 00000-0 31322-4 0 4774
2 22825 98.4750 19.4597 0008064 196.5765 163.5168 14.29288913857867
Weekly Satellite Report
Frequency Information
| Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater: Operational | |
| Uplink: | 145.8500 MHz FM |
| Downlink | 436.7950 MHz FM |
Current Keplerian Elements
AO-7
1 07530U 74089B 10068.60448188 -.00000027 00000-0 10000-3 0 7236
2 07530 101.4093 88.3160 0012137 109.1646 251.0732 12.53577915615975
Weekly Satellite Report
Frequency Information
| Mode V/A (A) Linear Transponder (Non-Inverting): Semi-Operational | |
| Uplink: | 145.8500 - 145.9500 MHz SSB/CW |
| Downlink | 29.4000 - 29.5000 MHz SSB/CW |
| Mode V/A (A) TLM Beacon: Semi-Operational | |
| Downlink | 29.5020 MHz CW |
| Mode U/V (B) Linear Transponder (Inverting): Semi-Operational | |
| Uplink: | 432.1250 - 432.1750 MHz SSB/CW |
| Downlink | 145.9750 - 145.9250 MHz SSB/CW |
| Mode U/V (B) TLM Beacon: Semi-Operational | |
| Downlink | 145.9775 MHz CW |
| Mode U Beacon: Semi-Operational | |
| Downlink | 435.1000 MHz CW |
| Mode S Beacon: Non-Operational | |
| Downlink | 2304.1000 MHz CW |
Some favorite satellites workable from earth with 5 watts output power and simple antenna systems.
link- Satellites for Beginners article from Dave Long - ZS5FR - good stuff!
really cool-link-Sounds from space! listen to actual conversations and beacons from ham satellites!
really cool-link-Listen to a QSO (conversation) done over the Saudi Oscar-50 (SaudiSat 1-C) satellite.
AO-51 orbit screen showing its "footprint" or usable radio range as the orange colored circle drawn on the ground under the satellite.
Most of these satellites are low earth orbit or "LEO" and cross overhead from horizon to horizon in a matter of minutes.
So knowing where they are at is important. The lower the satellite, the faster it will be seen crossing the sky.
Satellite tracking software is useful for locating and tracking your targets.
AO-51 ECHO - far edge pass, limit of range.
Red dot is my location, Dallas Tx. (EM-12)
( This software I use is free and located at the very bottom of this webpage ! )
link- Ham Radio CW vs. Kids texting on JAY LENO SHOW
------------------------------------------------------------------------------SATLOG----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
< DOWNLOADS >
Free SatScape satellite tracking software (auto-updating) --- (good stuff)
( step- 1 ) If you want to use SatScape, make sure the latest Java platform is installed 1st...( link below )
http://java.com/en/download/dt_verify.jsp?plugin=true&latest=false&users_jre=1.6.0_17
( step- 2 ) Now download and install SatScape here ! ( link below )
http://www.satscape.co.uk/java/satscape/Satscape.jnlp
NOW ENJOY tracking earth-orbiting space objects and satellites!
- I will add installation setup tips, and operating instructions here soon -
I had to include this...KC2UHB (satgirl) Her homebrew dual band beam antenna works as good as anything out there.
Satgirl demonstrates how to position your antenna for satellite use if using a hand-held radio (talkie)
You obviously need a speakermic or earbuds with a mic to effectively use a talkie like this...
