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Amateur Satellite FAQ

Contents

Foreword

Having recently started to get into Satellites, I asked MANY people what it took to get started and what to do. I found few people who could offer all the information necessary to start. I have attempted to compile this information for future newbies. If I have missed something, please ask and I will attempt to add it to the collection. Any comments can be sent directly to me, [email protected]. Copies of this article should be available in the following locations:

	oak.oakland.edu:/pub/hamradio/docs/faq
	ftp.cs.buffalo.edu:/pub/ham-radio
	Clear Skies BBS (608)249-7130

Also, if you really want to get serious about satellites, I would STRONGLY recommend joining AMSAT to help promote the satellite hobby. AMSAT is a volunteer organization that works for the interests of amateur satellites. Dues are only US$30 per year and you will receive a subscription to "The AMSAT Journal". For US$80, you will receive first year dues and a copy of Instant Track computer tracking software which is a top-notch program. Instant Track was donated to AMSAT by its author and its sales account for a considerable portion of AMSAT's income. AMSAT-NA, 850 Sligo Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910-4703. (301) 589-6062. Credit cards welcome.

NOTE: I am in no way connected with AMSAT-NA, other than I have found their publications quite useful.

Bibliography

The following text was compiled from the following sources and from comments from many operators:

  • "How to use the EZSATS pass tables by N9LTD" and "Hamsat aliases" reprinted with permission. Full text, tables, and lots of other useful information can be obtained by sending a SASE to David Mullenix N9LTD, 2052 Brentwood Pkwy, Madison, WI 53704 or call the Clear Skies BBS at (608)249-7130.
  • "Amateur Radio Satellite Frequencies" This file can be obtained from the ARRL e-mail server. For information on the server, send an e-mail message to [email protected] with 'HELP' in body of message.
  • "Summary - Getting onto the Hamsats" This was an article posted to rec.radio.amateur.misc newsgroup by Stephan Greene ([email protected]) on 20 Mar 1992. The article is also available via anon ftp from ftp.cs.buffalo.edu or Australian mirror at grivel.une.edu.au as file pub/hamradio/ham_sat_sum.
  • "An Amateur Satellite Operation Upgrade Path" from the AMSAT Journal, September/October 1993, pp. 24-26.

Modes

The combination of uplink freq, downlink freq, and transmission mode are all lumped together into standardized satellite MODES. Here is a list of common satellite modes used by satellites covered by this article:

A
This mode requires a 2 meter SSB/CW transmitter and a 10 meter SSB/CW receiver and supports CW and voice.
B
This mode requires a 70 cm SSB/CW transmitter and a 2 meter SSB/CW receiver and supports CW and voice. Some satellites also support RTTY and SSTV in this mode.
K
This mode requires a 15 meter SSB/CW transmitter and a 10 meter SSB/CW receiver and supports CW and voice. This mode is unique in that it can be done with a simple HF rig.
JA
This mode stands for J Analog and requires a 2 meter SSB/CW transmitter and a 70 cm SSB/CW receiver and supports CW, voice.
JD
This mode stands for J Digital and requires a 2 meter FM transmitter and a 70 cm SSB/CW receiver and supports packet.
S
This mode requires a 70 cm SSB/CW transmitter and a 2.4 GHz SSB/CW receiver and supports CW and voice. Many people use a 2.4 GHz to 2 meter converter with a 2 meter SSB/CW receiver instead of buying a 2.4 GHz SSB/CW receiver.
T
This mode requires a 15 meter SSB/CW transmitter and a 2 meter SSB/CW receiver and supports CW and voice.

Some satellites have dual modes that operate simultaneously. For example, AO-13 can operate in mode BS which means that it can do both mode B and mode S simultaneously. Other common dual modes are KT and KA.

Also, satellites have 3 basic types of retransmissions: beacon, transponder, and repeater.

Beacon
Most satellites have a fixed Morse beacon at the lower end of the satellites band-pass transponder. This is useful to detect when the satellite has crossed the horizon and is in range for operation. It can also be used to determine doppler shifts.
Transponder
A transponder is a band-pass repeater. It accepts a range of frequencies on the input and retransmits the entire range on the output. All offsets within that range are preserved. NOTE: since the satellite is transmitting many signals at the same time, it is dividing its output power amongst all of these signals. If someone transmits a very powerful signal into the satellite, it will spend most of its power retransmitting that signal and all of the other signals will drop in power. This is NOT a way to earn friends and people who overpower the satellites input are called "alligators" and are not very popular.
Repeater
This closely resembles a land-based repeater. It listens for signals on one frequency and retransmits it on another frequency. All satellite repeaters (and transponders) are full duplex, meaning you can (and should) listen to you signal on the downlink (with headphones) while you are transmitting.

Satellites

Some satellites are easier to work than others. The satellites that follow can be operated fairly easily and are referred to by some as the Easy Sats. What follows is a brief description of each satellite. A summary list of operating frequencies is included later.

Mir

Mir (pronounced "mere" - "Peace" in Russian) is the Russian Space Station. It's been in orbit since 1986. All recent Russian Cosmonauts have been hams and have callsigns with "MIR" in them, such as U2MIR. Mir has 2-meter equipment on board and they operate pack