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Amateur Radio in Space

Amateur Radio in Space. By Steve Ford, WB8IMY. Overview. Amateurs have been building satellites since the earliest days of space travel. These satellites are known as “OSCARs”—Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio.

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Amateur Radio in Space

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  1. Amateur Radio in Space By Steve Ford, WB8IMY

  2. Overview • Amateurs have been building satellites since the earliest days of space travel. • These satellites are known as “OSCARs”—Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio. • The first Amateur Radio satellite was OSCAR 1 and it reached orbit in 1961.

  3. Satellites: Relays in the Sky • Like commercial satellites, Amateur Radio satellites are primarily used to relay signals from one location to another. • From their vantage points in orbit, satellites can “see” large portions of the Earth. This is known as a satellite’s “footprint.” • Every station within the footprint can communicate through the satellite

  4. The Footprint of OSCAR 50 • In this illustration, everyone within the circular footprint of OSCAR 50, an FM repeater satelllite, can communicate with each other.

  5. Satellite Orbits • Most Amateur Radio satellites travel in low Earth orbits at altitudes of 800 to 1500 km. • At this altitude, a satellite completes one orbit every 90 to 100 minutes. • At the same time, the Earth is turning beneath the satellite. • The result is that all stations on the ground will enjoy several 15-minute communication sessions with each satellite each day. • You can predict pass times with web tools such as www.n2yo.com or software.

  6. OSCARs 29 and 52 • OSCARs 29 and 52 relay Single Sideband (SSB) voice and CW transmissions.

  7. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station • There is also a fully equipped amateur facility aboard the International Space Station.

  8. APRS on the ISS • The International Space Station often functions as a digital relay for APRS packet data.

  9. Station Equipment: FM • For OSCAR 50, all you need is a dual-band FM rig and a directional antenna.

  10. Station Equipment: SSB/CW • For OSCARs 29 and 52, you will need a dual band SSB/CW rig. A full duplex model such as the Kenwood TS-2000 or Icom IC-9100 is best, but any will do for short contacts.

  11. Active Satellite Frequencies • Saudi-OSCAR 50 (FM Repeater, 67 Hz CTCSS) • Time Transmit Receive (MHz) • AOS (start) 145.840 436.805 • AOS+3 Minutes 145.845 436.800 • Zenith (maximum) 145.850 436.795 • Zenith+1 Minute 145.855 436.790 • LOS (end) 145.860 436.785 • Linear Transponders (SSB/CW) • Uplink Passband Downlink Passband • VUSat-OSCAR 52 435.225 – 435.275 MHz 145.875 – 145.925 MHz • Fuji-OSCAR 29 145.900 – 146.000 MHz 435.800 -- 435.900 MHz • AMSAT-OSCAR 7 432.125 – 432.175 MHz 145.925 – 145.975

  12. The Future • More satellites on the way. Many are FM repeaters, but there are a few SSB/CW birds on the schedule as well.

  13. Give Ham Satellites a Try!

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