Amateur Satellite Beginners Session

Presented by

Ron Mahn, KI5FR

In association with

Carlos Eavis, G0AKI RSGB

Welcome

We are going to cover:

� OSCAR?

� History

� Ground station equipment

� Satellite operation

� A bit of orbit theory

� What's up!

Oscar...

� An OSCAR is an Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio

� Built for non-commercial purposes

� Originally built by Project OSCAR members in garages in Silicon Valley

� Now built by and/or funded by members of AMSAT and AMSAT affiliates

� Originally a “bleep sat” but now carry sophisticated repeaters or transponders

� Most Important, they are repeaters with REALLY high antennas!

� Are encouraged to carry sensors and other scientific experiments

A bit of History

� OSCAR-I , which had a battery powered 140mw transmitter operating in the 2 meter band.

� Transmit it’s message of “HI” for three weeks and re-entered the atmosphere on January 31, 1962 after making 312 orbits.

� The greeting “HI” is used in almost all beacons, including AO-40’s telemetry beacon, built and launched by the Amateur Satellite service.

A bit of History

� Sputnik 1 was the world's first Earth-orbiting artificial satellite. Launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957.

Some important terms

Satellite Orbit Tracks

FM v Linear Transponder

Now Let’s Get Real!!!What Do You Need To Operate Now

• Must Haves

– Dual band radio (or 2 radios, one for each band)

– An Antenna -- Arrow II, Egg Beater, Specialized

• J-Pole, Car Antenna, Base High Gain

– Satellite Tracking Program

• Nice To Haves

– Paper/Pen to record logging info. MP3 recorder, in case you miss something

– Extra people, one to record Call Signs etc, one to hold the Arrow II so you can focus on operating

– Rig Control Program hooked to a rig to account for Doppler

– Antenna preamp to strengthen received signal

Ideal Ground station for LEO

Rigs

• Any Duel or multiband radio may be able to do the trick if you can monitor one freq and transmit on another. Better if it is easy to adjust for Doppler

• Next are a few examples

Handheld Transceiver

� The minimum you need to operate.

� TH-D7e

� Best, dual band where you can monitor other band

� Dual Band

� Duplex

� APRS

� CTCSS

Base Station

� FT-847

� Excellent sat capabilities but no longer in production

Base Station

� TS-2000

� Really good all round radio with satellite facilities

� Does have a birdie on SO-50 downlink!

Base Station

� IC-910

� VHF/UHF/L-Band

� Designed for Satellite op's

� Old ones were deaf

Antennas

• Remember, like a repeater Satellites are line of site. You may be able to get away with anything!

• The ISS repeater has been worked with a rubber ducky and a handheld

• Satellites spin and their antennas have different polarizations. Most antennas allow signals to fade. This is normal.

Antennas

� Handheld antennas:

� DIY out available materials

� You will need a Mux

Antennas

� Egg Beater

� M2 EB-438

� I have over 100 successful contacts using this

� Will attempt to build one in spring

Antennas

Fixed Station:

� Wimo X antennas

� Yaesu G5500 rotator

� Homebrew dish with modified LNB

Antennas

Fixed Station for Cubesat C&C:

� M2 antennas

� M2 Rotator

� Part of the GENSO network

Satellite Tracking Programs

To Work It, You Have To Know Where It Is

• There are a number of tracking programs

– Internet Web Pages

• AMSAT and NASA (Google For More)

– Simple Trackers

• iPhone App Satellite Tracker (Free) or Plus version for $1.99.

• Google for PC ones

– Trackers Controlling Rigs and Antenna Rotors

• Ham Radio Deluxe (Free) and Orbitron (Free)

• Google for more

Logging

• Paper and Pen – Easiest/Cheapest

• MP3 Player

– Activity on FM Satellites is fast and furious

– K8YSE Recording of SO-67 Contact 8 Nov 10

• 7:20 – 8:00 min pt KI5FR contact with KL4MA

• Discussed recording accomplished by K8YSE on previous day on VO-52 (SSB)

SO-67_08Nov2009_141641z.mp3

How Do You Operate

• Info you need to know before QSO

– Call Sign, Grid Square

– Location and time of Satellite Pass

– Frequency of Satellite

– Effect Doppler will have on your QSO

Call Sign and Grid• You know your call sign, but what is a grid square?

• A grid square is a 1’ Latitude by 2’ Longitude area designated by 2 letters and 2 numbers (EM60 is Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Escambia parts Walton & Baldwin)

• The first letter represents 20’ of Long going east A=W180 – W160

• The second letter represents 10’ of Lat going north A= S90 – S80

• The first number represents 2’ of Long going east inside the 2 letter area

• The second number represents 1’ of Lat going north inside the 2 letter area

• There are further division out to 8 char (60 ft x 120 ft)

• Normally use 4 char for Sat QSOs

• This map depicts EM60

Location and Time of Pass

• This is why you have a tracking program

• Use the program to find time of next Pass

• The example shows the time and elevation of the CO-55 Pass

– AOS is 19:58 from the South

– LOS is 20:14 to the NNW

– Each ring is 30’ of elevation.

• Outside ring is 0’ the middle point is 90’

• You will need keplerian data (Kep, TLE) to keep your tracking program up to date. Most do this automatically

Frequencies

• Use AMSAT to get frequencies

• Many tracking programs have them built in

– Many take care of Doppler

• Most of this presentation will go to N6COP after the brief to post, freqs are included

Doppler

• First, what is Doppler

– Doppler is the apparent change of frequency of a wave from a source in relation to the observer

– Visualize it as when an object is coming toward you it is pushing a wave, squishing more waves in the same space. More wave (cycles) higher frequency.

• Just the opposite when moving away, they a stretching the waves, making fewer waves in the same space.

• When the Satellite comes above the horizon (AOS), this is the most speed he has relative to you so the frequency is the highest

• When at its highest point (TCA), for a split second the satellite is not moving relative to you. You are able to use the exact satellite frequency

• When the Satellite sets (LOS), the is the most speed it has relative to you so the frequency is the lowest

How to Account for Doppler

• My Technique for FM is to leave VHF alone, the Doppler effect is less for lower frequencies

• For UHF, start the pass with the frequency 10 kHz above the satellite freq (adjust +/- 5 kHz to get the best sound). Set your step to 5 kHz to make this easier

– Adjust -5 kHz as needed to keep the sound good during the pass.

– You should be at the sat freq when the satellite is at TCA.

– Continue to reduce freq until the end of the pass.

• This takes practice!

• For SSB, use a tracking program, it is much easier!

Types of Satellites and Their Orbits

• Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

• High Earth Orbit (HEO)

• Geostationary – Expensive, no Hams here

Low Earth Orbit (LEO)

Inclined Orbit (LEO)

High Earth Orbit (HEO)

Molnya (HEO)

Satellite Coverage

CubeSats

� Based on a 10cm cube but some can be a bit bigger

� Operate in Amateur Satellite allocation

� AX-25 protocol & others

Student Satellites

� PCSAT 1 (NO-44)

� US Naval Academy Aerospace student project

� APRS protocol

� Note the antennas!

Operating SatellitesName Bcns HF VHF UHF APRS Packet Voice? Working?

HO-68 ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ FM/SSB

SO-67 ▼ ▲ ▲ FM

CO-65 ▲ ▲ ▲

VO-52 ▲ ▲ ▲ SSB

AO-51 ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ FM

SO-50 ▲ ▲ FM

NO-44 ► ▼ ►

ARISS ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ FM (repeater not operational)

FO-29 ► ► ► ▼ SSB (?)

AO-27 ▲ ▲ FM

AO-16 ► ► FM up SSB dn(?)

AO-7 ► ► ► ► SSB

AO-51AMSAT-OSCAR 51 (Echo)

� United States Satellite – 1900 SM foot print

� Runs numerous modes – check the AMSAT website for schedules and exact frequencies and pairings. Usually one voice and one data

� Voice FM

− QRP Up 145.880 Dn 435.150

− Up 145.920 Dn 435.300

− Up 145.880 Dn 2401.200

− Up 1268.700 Dn 435.300

− Up 1268.700 Dn 2401.200

− PacSat BBS Up 1268.700 Dn 435.150

Very popular satellite and easy to get.

SO-50Saudi-OSCAR 50 (Saudisat-1C)

� Saudi Satellite – 1900 SM foot print

� FM – up 145.850 dn 436.795 Tone 67.0

� If Satellite is “asleep', transmit a 2 second PTT with a 74.4 Tone to make it “wake up” for 10 min.

� The Downlink frequency for this Satellite is the same as the “birdie” on the Kenwood TS-2000

− The width of the FM signal allows some workaround

AO-27AMRAD-OSCAR 27 (EYESAT-1)

� United States Satellite – 2100 SM foot print

� FM – up 145.850 dn 436.795 (same freqs as SO-

50)

� This Sat does (and encourages) D-Star! See AMSAT web site for details

� This Bird is occasionally near SO-50 and can lead to multi-sat QSOs

� Daylight only satellite

HO-68 (Hope Oscar 68 [XW-1])

� Launched from China – 2400 SM foot print

� FM, Linear Transponder, and Packet

− FM up 145.825 dn 435.675 Tone 67.0

− L/T up 145.925 – 145.975

− L/T dn 435.765 – 435.715 (inverting)

− Packet up 145.825 dn 435.675 AFSK 1200 BPS

� Still commissioning, see AMSAT links for more info

SO-67(Sumbandila Oscar 67)

� South Africa Satellite – 1500 SM foot print

� FM – up 145.825 dn 435.675 Tone 233.6

� Will cut off when held open for too long makes it a challenge to work, but works down to horizon

� Still commissioning, will be down until Mar/Apr see AMSAT links for more info

� They also have a google news group

VO-52VUSat OSCAR-52 (HAMSAT)

� Joint Indian-Dutch Satellite – 1600 SM foot print

� 2 Linear Transponders (inverting) Bcn tells which

− I Bcn 145.936 Carrier, D 145.860 CW

− Indian Transponder

� Up 435.22 – 435.28 dn 145.93 – 145.87

− Dutch Transponder

� Up 435.225 – 435.275 dn 145.925 – 145.875

� Notice they are nearly the same freqs

� Also, the uplink is on UHF!

FO-29Fuji-OSCAR 29(JAS 2)

� Japan Satellite – 2200 SM foot print

� Linear Transponder

− Up 145.900 – 146.000 dn 435.900 – 435.800

� Satellite has had recent problems as it has spent more time in eclipse reducing power

AO-7AMSAT-OSCAR 7 (OSCAR 7)

� United States Satellite – 2800 SM foot print

� The Grand Daddy of any active satellite – Launched 1974

� Linear Transponders

− Up 145.85 – 145.95 dn 29.40 – 29.50 (Non Inverting!!)

− Up 432.125 – 432.1750 dn 145.975 – 145.925 (Inverting)

� Operational from Launch to 1981 when it failed due to battery failure. Came back to life in 2002 when it is thought a battery shorted through and allowed direct power from the solar panels.

AO-16AMSAT OSCAR 16 (PacSAT)

� Semi-Operational – 2000 SM foot print

� Linear Transponder

− Up 145.920 FM dn 437.026 SSB

� Still listed as semi-operational by AMSAT. Notice the FM up and SSB down

ISS and NO-44

• ISS has been in Packet (APRS) mode for nearly a year with some occasional SSTV

• When the repeater is up, it is AWESOME

• NO-44 is a Navy APRS Satellite

• See AMSAT site for links to updates

CO-65Cubesat Oscar-65 (Cute-1.7 + APD II)

� Japan Satellite

� Packet – up 1267.600 dn 437.475 GMSK 9600

Bps

� Orbit is decaying at this time. See the links on the AMSAT site for a great blog on mission progress

Other Resources

� You can find more details about Amateur Satellite Operations on the www here:

� www.amsat.org

� www.amsat.de

� www.amsat-dl.org

What we covered, phew!

� OSCAR?

� History

� Ground station equipment

� Satellite operation

� A bit of orbit theory

� What's up!

Operating a Satellite