Working Satellites for newbies

[Bonez]

Hi all,

I've currently been doing a bit of research on working Amateur satellites with very small, portable setups, such as a handheld transceiver for uplink and a scanner for the downlink.

I'm using some software called GPredict which is an open source Linux based amateur radio satellite tracking program and reading up on the Amsat website.

At the moment I want to try an easy one just to see if I have any luck. AO-51 I think it is, with a 2m uplink and 70cm downlink, both on FM.
The equipment I have is a 2m Quansheng and a Uniden scanner. I have mobile vehicle antennas for both.

Can anyone give any feedback as to how hard it is to work sats, any tips and tricks etc? I've read that it is fairly easy to work from just a handheld with a rubber duckie but i've seen others who use handheld 6 element beams etc.

I'm new to the birds so if anyone can give me any info it would be a good discussion to have. We could then turn this thread into contacts we've had and at what time, which bird etc later down the track.

Cheers
Bonez

P.S. Everybody's heard that the bird is the word

[Blinky]

This is a document worth having a read. Got some good information in it.

http://www.wku.edu/ksgc/sats.pdf


Its been mentioned before on another thread but on Youtube, if you haven't already, search for K7AGE as he has a few interesting video's on different subjects and also operating via satellites.

[meg]

Hi Bonez

I managed to work the ISS repeater just using my handheld (dual band) but certainly had some problems wedging myself into the QSO - there are a few in WA who have pretty comprehensive sat rigs and had way better signals than I - but I did make it. I have read somewhere (on the Internet so it must be true) that the trick is to keep your rubber ducky antenna vertical so it's radiating upwards (ie: towards the sat in space).

So - using your existing kit, I'd say that should work fine, but perhaps play with the polarity of the antenna on your TX unit at least. I've found my scanner picks up the downlink no probs with the (externally mounted) antenna hanging vertically just as it usually is.

I've recently bought an Arrow antenna
http://www.arrowantennas.com/146-437.html
but have been waiting (patiently?) for the ISS to get back into repeater mode - haven't tried AO-51 or others yet.

I'm also really keen to do more sat stuff, so will post here when I do manage to get out in the cold and work some more

Cheers
Meg

[Blinky]

This should be a good start for newbies and others.

> SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS005
> ARLS005 Space Shuttle Endeavour to Deploy Student-Built Satellites
>
> ZCZC AS05
> QST de W1AW
> Space Bulletin 005 ARLS005
> From ARRL Headquarters
> Newington, CT July 30, 2009
> To all radio amateurs
>
> SB SPACE ARL ARLS005
> ARLS005 Space Shuttle Endeavour to Deploy Student-Built Satellites
>
> The space shuttle Endeavour is due to land Friday, July 31, but
> before it leaves orbit it will deploy four student-built satellites,
> all with telemetry downlinks in the 2 meter, or 70 cm, amateur
> bands.
>
> The twin spherical satellites -- named Castor and Pollux -- were
> designed by students in cooperation with the Naval Research
> Laboratory as part of the Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment
> (ANDE). Both satellites will transmit 1200-baud packet radio
> telemetry on 145.825 MHz. Hams are encouraged to submit telemetry
> reports with special QSLs and mission patches planned. Check the
> ANDE Web site,
> http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/stati ... -ANDE.html
> for updates.
>
> Castor and Pollux will carry an FX.25 experiment that adds Forward
> Error Correction to standard AX.25 packets. The hope is that FX.25
> will improve communication efficiency while still being compatible
> with existing packet equipment. The satellites will also
> occasionally run GMSK/FX.25 modulation experiments at 9600 baud.
>
> In addition to Castor and Pollux, Endeavour will also deploy student
> satellites from the University of Texas and Texas A&M. The tiny
> picosatellites, christened BEVO-1 and AggieSat2 respectively, are
> part of an ambitious experiment that will ultimately culminate in
> autonomous docking of picosats in orbit. For this mission, however,
> BEVO-1 and AggieSat2 will launch as one unit and then separate to
> collect position data and test a new NASA Global Positioning System
> receiver known as DRAGON.
>
> BEVO-1 will transmit Morse code beacons (20 WPM) or packet radio
> data telemetry at 437.325 MHz. AggieSat2 will beacon at 436.250 MHz.
> The satellites will primarily transmit 9600-baud packet telemetry
> when over the United States. As with Castor and Pollux, reception
> reports are welcome.
>
> Orbiting at a relatively low altitude of 185 miles, these satellites
> should be easy to receive with standard FM transceivers and
> omnidirectional antennas. They should enjoy an operational life of
> 3-6 months and will likely re-enter the Earth's atmosphere within a
> year.
> NNNN
> /EX
>
>

One satellite deployed OK but the other did not leave the Internal Cargo Unit according to the NASA webpage. A picture taken shortly after deployment available at
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/1775 ... -ANDE4.jpg

[meg]

Thanks for that Blinky - I'll keep an ear out for them