Digital Satellite Information

UoSAT Class spacecraft

The UoSAT class spacecraft employ a digital store and forward communications system. These spacecraft require specialised groundstation software in order to operate them.

Presently all UoSAT class spacecraft use FSK uplink and downlink at 9600bd. This requires a modification to be made to most standard radios to connect the transmit audio directly to the varactor and the receive adio direct to the discriminator output. Some modern radios are now becoming available with 9600bd compatible connections.

AMSAT-NA MicroSat class spacecraft

The AMSAT-NA MicroSat spacecraft employ a similar system to the UoSAT spacecraft and the groundstation software requirement is the same.

The main difference between the UoSAT and AMSAT MicroSat spacecraft is in the RF link. The MicroSats use similar RF frequencies but the employ a 1200bd PSK system which uses an FM uplink and an SSB downlink. While this doesn't require any modifications to be made to the radio it does require a multimode radio that can receive SSB. The modulation used is NOT the same as the 1200bd system used for terrestrial packet BBS systems.