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Updated:01/27/2012
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AO-51 at "end of mission" according to
controllers. We will miss this great FM satellite.
RS-39 Chibis-M was launched from a Progress resupply ship after undocking from ISS Downlink frequencies: 435.315 and 435.215 MHz CW AubieSat-1 Successfully Launched and now designated AO-71 Downlink frequency: 437.475 MHZ 20 WPM CW Satellite Details AubieSat-1 Web Site AMSAT Info Page Nice site with multiple decoder software for satellite telemetry.
New Amateur Satellite to be launched in January - From K7LCS Yahoo Work-Sat Group
PW-Sat, a 1U CubeSat to be launched on the first VEGA flight
in January, will carry a 145 to 435 MHz Amateur Radio transponder.
Very nice video how to on Amateur FM Satellites
Other Future Amateur Radio Satellites
Handheld FM Satellite Operations Satellite
Activity AO-27, SO-50, and ISS AO-51 is at
"end of mission" per reports on the K6LCS Work-sat group. SO-67 Suffered another anomaly which means that all amateur activity has been suspended. HO-68 transponder is currently non- operational since January 2011. No information when it may be back up. Beacon is active. Please support AMSAT-NA and the other AMSAT groups around the world, and help us get new satellites into orbit. Projects like Fox, FunCube, P3E, and Kiwisat need your financial support to keep our amateur satellite fleet flying.
Radios for working FM Satellites You can work FM satellites base, portable or mobile. The old SO-35 satellite was great to work from my mobile. UO-14 never did workout well mobile. I have never heard AO-27 mobile either. Most of my FM satellite contacts have been with my Icom W32a handheld and Arrow Antenna or a dual beam setup I used to have with a VHF and UHF beam and a splitter.
The Icom W32a is one of the best radios for satellite work since it has two VFO's and displays. I have the memory programmed with the satellite frequencies for doppler shift as listed in my satellite frequency table linked above. This allows me to just move through memory locations during a pass. Using a speaker mic and having the radio set to mute the subband you will not get feedback through the satellite.
Typical satellite contact would be exchange of callsign and grid square. Maybe name and qth if things are not to busy.
Programming for doppler shift Doppler shift on VHF is very small so this can be left on the single uplink frequency. UHF has a greater doppler shift and will be higher than the downlink frequency at AOS, approx. centered on the downlink at mid pass and will drift lower as the satellite approaches LOS. AO-51 uplink has changed back to 145.920 due to interference on the 145.880 frequency
Low earth orbit (LEO) satellites in V/U mode that are easy to work with minimal equipment. I have worked a couple satellites with an extended rubber duck antenna and even mobile. Arrow Antenna with duplexer and dualband handheld (Icom IC-W32a) and LEO FM Satellites and ISS. This setup will assure clear signals to and from the satellites. A little more challenging if you don't have a beam is a handheld with a extended rubber duck antenna. I have worked AO-51 handheld portable as well as the older UO-14 and SO-35.
Portable satellite station. Icon W32a and Arrow Antenna on a tripod mount. Radio bracket is modeled after Randy, K7AGE model. He has great YouTube videos about many aspects of amateur radio including satellites. Space on the right hold my iPhone for tracking.
ISS Packet Manual - Acrobat Reader Required ISS Fan Club - ISS Frequency List On November 13, 2000 the Amateur Radio equipment was installed and in the testing stage on board the ISS. Listen for activity to start on 145.800. US Uplink frequency is 144.490 for voice uplink and 145.990 for packet uplink.
ISS Fan Club ISS Frequency List Predict visual ISS passes and transits of the Moon and Sun. (Java Required) ISS Transit Information Page Using ISS Voice Repeater (Down for sometime)
Track
ISS in real time via NASA
Other online satellite tracking resources N2YO Tracking Space Cweb Heavens Above Amsat Predictions
Satellite Tracking for the PC
J-Track
Satellite Tracking via the web Satellite
Pass Predictions from Amsat STSPlus Satellite
Tracking Page
(MS-Dos - Free) Orbitron
Satellite Tracking Page (Windows - Free) Celestrak Satellite Tracking Software Index Celestrak for up-to-date tracking elements ISS Pass Predictions for Major US Cities Visual Satellite Observers Page Heavens-Above (pass predictions)
Eggbeater Antenna Construction
Satellite
Tracking in your pocket.
TrackSat - Satellite Tracking for Windows CE 3.0 ($) There is an update to this program: TrackSat/WM that runs under WM5. This is a program I have always wanted on a Windows CE device. Here it is finally. It runs under the new Windows CE 3.0 (Windows Powered Pocket PC's). Very nice program and works very well. It is always within a minute or two of my desktop programs. It is right on with the Pass Predictions from the web site link above. If you are into satellite tracking and own a Pocket PC it is worth a look. It is written by Andrew Davidson, ZL3TPL in New Zealand. New version is now out. With a wireless connection you can update keps right from your Pocket PC. Great Addition. Click on the screen shot to visit his web site.
SatTrk by TucWare ($) Here is another nice satellite tracking program for the pocket pc. It was originally just available for the arm processor but it is now available for all three. There is a small free for registration but it is well worth it. Take a look at the features at their website. Also look at the other fine program, iLuna. This program and iLuna work with WM5.
Pocketsat+ for Palm OS and Pocket PC ($) Track satellite with your Palm. OS 3.1 or
higher required.
Sat CE - PPC 2002, 2002 and WM5 This program is a nice addition to the other Windows Mobile tracking programs listed here. Updates elements directly from the internet.
iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad Satellite Tracking
Three programs written by Vosworx
and available for purchase from the Apple apps store will tracker
ProSat,
Hamsats and ISS. Another great program is GoSatWatch. This
is a great program to use during a pass and will alert you when a pass
is close..
ARISS Info from the NASA Human Spaceflight Page Track ISS via NASA's Human Spaceflight Page Track ISS via J-Track 3D International Space Station UK
Introduction to Amateur Satellites AMSAT - Keplerian Elements
Satellite Operating Ettiquette Working your First Satellite Arrow Antenna for Portable Satellite Operation CQ VHF Magazine AO-27 Page Great site on tracking software and satellite info Orbitessera Web Site Amsat Satellite Intro Page Yahoo Group on FM Satellites Tony's Satellite Page Hobby Space Hearsat - Monitor satellites in space N5AFV - Amateur Radio Satellites
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