Amateur radio satellites?

slipknot · Post by **slipknot** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 11:27 pm

Hi all.

Ive heard rumors that there are satelites that amateur radio operators can use for extreme distance talk. what bands are these satelites usualy on?

WPXZBP · Post by **WPXZBP** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:14 am

Yes - they operate on a range of frequencies (look up AMSAT on Google or on something like Wikipedia for specifics) and you can work them with your F-call. 2m & 70cm are very popular for amateur satellites but many are on other bands.

Be advised - they can require good (ie $$$) antenna systems.

slipknot · Post by **slipknot** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:46 am

would a Directional Antenna work perhaps? Yagi?

WPXZBP · Post by **WPXZBP** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:34 pm

Yes, or a quagi.

slipknot · Post by **slipknot** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 1:38 pm

ooo , never heard that one.
Thanks WPX

Post by **robbage** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:17 pm

If you're adept at making stuff, there are piles and piles of sites with designs for antennae to use with 2m and 70cm sat, Yagis and quagies included. Even the folded inverted V dipole J-pole combo antenna

slipknot · Post by **slipknot** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:23 pm

robbage wrote:If you're adept at making stuff, there are piles and piles of sites with designs for antennae to use with 2m and 70cm sat, Yagis and quagies included. Even the folded inverted V dipole J-pole combo antenna

Does anyone here talk on ameture radio satelites?

WPXZBP · Post by **WPXZBP** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:02 pm

Have done. Try http://www.amsat.org.

Post by **robbage** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:38 pm

slipknot wrote:LOL Thats a Coat hanger, Really does that work?

With a little modification it would do as a UHF, and has been many times, no doubt. I was being a smartarse though.

Blinky · Post by **Blinky** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:14 pm

robbage wrote:
slipknot wrote:LOL Thats a Coat hanger, Really does that work?
With a little modification it would do as a UHF, and has been many times, no doubt. I was being a smartarse though.

A replacement AM/FM antenna on the car also.

Post by **robbage** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:34 pm

I found one on GIS but it was a dead link. It was bend to the shape of Australia

Blinky · Post by **Blinky** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:43 pm

Blinky wrote:
robbage wrote:
slipknot wrote:LOL Thats a Coat hanger, Really does that work?
With a little modification it would do as a UHF, and has been many times, no doubt. I was being a smartarse though.
A replacement AM/FM antenna on the car also.

Ok..got a little off topic there I guess... so back to topic.

here's my latest satellite antenna

Post by **playworth** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:16 pm

haha lucky it wasnt storm wen You had it out like that. hahaha

* lighting stuck *

slipknot · Post by **slipknot** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:20 pm

Even the one about the australian coathanger. Nice one Blinky! Does anyone know what satelites can be hit from australia? orbating or sationary over Aus.

Blinky · Post by **Blinky** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:33 pm

slipknot wrote:Lol, Agknowlaging everyones replies , Thanks everyone, even the one about the australian coathanger. Nice one Blinky! Does anyone know what satelites can be hit from australia? orbating or sationary over Aus.

If they are up there and their status is operational then they can be heard or worked. The AMSAT site mentioned earlier has a page that shows the status and frequencies for uplink and downlink of the various satellites.

Next thing would be to get a satellite tracking program to see when they are within range. My personal favorite is WXTrack ( http://www.david-taylor.pwp.blueyonder. ... xtrack.htm ) but there are a load of others. Orbitron is popular ( http://www.stoff.pl/ ) and Nova ( http://www.nlsa.com/ ).

After that its a case of listen and see what you can hear.

Others no doubt have their own favorites. Maybe they will post the names or URL's here for you.

Phil