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Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

By Yanko, NX9G

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Opinions expressed here are solely my own, and do not express the views or opinions of my employer Internap Corp.

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

What is a amature satellite ?

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Mass ≈ 419,725 kg (925,335 lb)Length 72.8 m (239 ft) Width 108.5 m (356 ft) Height ≈ 20 m (66 ft) Altitude 205 to 270 Mi

International space station

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Mass 28.8 kilograms (63 lb)Dimensions 36.0cm x 42.4cm octahedron

AO-7

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Mass 28.8 kilograms (63 lb)Dimensions 36.0cm x 42.4cm octahedron

AO-7

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Mass 1.3 kilograms (2.9 lb) Dimensions (3.9 in × 3.9 in × 3.9 in)

Fox-1A

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

What do we need to get started ?

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Any kind of 2m/70cm FM radio

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Ultimately , two different radios for full duplex operation

2m tx 70cm rx

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Elkantennas.com

Antennas

Arrowantennas.com 2M DF antenna by KC0TKS

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Duplexer

Comet1.3-170MHz

350-540MHz

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Audio recorderthat can tag each

recording with date and time

Sony ICDPX370 $46 at best buy

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

I’m using Voice recorder android app

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Satellite Tracking Software

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

PC software

$50 at Amsat.org

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

PC software

HRD 5.24free

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

PC software

HRD 5.24free

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Mac software

MacDoppler$98

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

LinuxSoftware

gpredict

Free

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Androidsoftware

Amsatdroid Free

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Web software

Free

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Web software

Free

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Your grid square

My grid is en61aw

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

You can find your grid

Gps in your phone. Android has a app called hamgps

On the interent . http://www.levinecentral.com/ham/grid_square.php

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

You can find your grid

Hamgps

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

You can find your grid

Internet http://www.levinecentral.com/ham/grid_square.php

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Program your radio for the current FM satellites

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Program your radio for the current FM satellites

• SO-50 (SaudiSat-1C)• AO-85 (Fox-1A)• AO-91 (RadFxSat / Fox-1B)• AO-92 (Fox-1D)• LilacSat-2 (CAS-3H) Transponder activations sporadic• IO-86 (LAPAN-A2) In equatorial orbit, activations by schedule• ISS – International space station

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Program your radio for the current FM satellites SO-50 (SaudiSat 1C)

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Program your radio for the current FM satellites AO-85 (Fox-1A)

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Program your radio for the current FM satellites AO-91 (RadFxSat / Fox-1B)

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Program your radio for the current FM satellites AO-92 (Fox-1D)

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Program your radio for the current FM satellites LilacSat-2 (CAS-3H)

No CTCSS tone on tx

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Program your radio for the current FM satellites

IO-86 (LAPAN-A2)

No CTCSS tone on tx

Memory Tone CTCSS Uplink Downlink

1 88.5 Hz 145.880 MHz 435.890 MHz

2 88.5 Hz 145.880 MHz 435.885 MHz

3 88.5 Hz 145.880 MHz 435.880 MHz

4 88.5 Hz 145.880 MHz 435.875 MHz

5 88.5 Hz 145.880 MHz 435.870 MHz

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Program your radio for the current FM satellites ISS – International space station

No CTCSS tone on tx

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

So why operate via amature satellites ?

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

So why operate via amature satellites ?

• Try something new

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

So why operate via amature satellites ?

• Try something new• Make a new friend

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

So why operate via amature satellites ?

• Try something new• Make a new friend • Sharpen your operating skills

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

So why operate via amature satellites ?

• Try something new• Make a new friend • Sharpen your operating skills• Challenge yourself

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

So why operate via amature satellites ?

• Try something new• Make a new friend • Sharpen your operating skills• Challenge yourself • Challenge your equipment ( 5 watt or 1.5 watt )

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

So why operate via amature satellites ?

• Try something new• Make a new friend • Sharpen your operating skills• Challenge yourself • Challenge your equipment ( 5 watt or 1.5 watt )• Chase satellite awards (amsat.org - >services ->awards)

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

So why operate via amature satellites ?

• Try something new• Make a new friend • Sharpen your operating skills• Challenge yourself • Challenge your equipment ( 5 watt or 1.5 watt )• Chase satellite awards (amsat.org - >services →awards)• Talk with astronauts on board of the space station

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

So why operate via amature satellites ?

• Try something new• Make a new friend • Sharpen your operating skills• Challenge yourself • Challenge your equipment ( 5 watt or 1.5 watt )• Chase satellite awards (amsat.org - >services →awards)• Talk with astronauts on board of the space station• Get your kids or grandkids involved.

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Are you ready to try ?

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

I recommend that you start with so-50 or ao-92 first, because they are stronger , and easy to fallow .Also just fallow the satellite the first time, and get a feel for the speed, direction and Doppler correction.

Don’t try to make a contact .

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Using amsatdroid free , I will first update the keps (Keplerian elements) from amsat.org .They are located in the settings menu under “update keps”

Keps provide a mathematical description of a Satellite's orbit . If not updated , will provideinaccurate pass prediction ( wrong starting time )

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Amsatdroid free will provide next availablepass and plot a course from AOS to LOS

AOS stands for Acquisition of Signal.AOS is the time that a satellite rises above the horizon of an observer.

LOS stands for Loss of Signal.LOS is the time that a satellite passes below theobserver’s horizon.

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Turn on the radio and turn off the squelch on memory 1 or AOS.

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Turn on the radio and turn off the squelch on memory 1 or AOS.Turn the recorder on and say the name of the satellite you are about to work .

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Turn on the radio and turn off the squelch on memory 1 or AOS.Turn the recorder on and say the name of the satellite you are about to work .Point the antenna at the AOS direction .

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Turn on the radio and turn off the squelch on memory 1 or AOS.Turn the recorder on and say the name of the satellite you are about to work .Point the antenna at the AOS direction . Listen, listen, listen and listen .

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Turn on the radio and turn off the squelch on memory 1 or AOS.Turn the recorder on and say the name of the satellite you are about to work .Point the antenna at the AOS direction . Listen, listen, listen and listen . Periodically adjust the memory (1 to 2 and 2 to 3 …) to compensate for Doppler shift

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Turn on the radio and turn off the squelch on memory 1 or AOSTurn the recorder on and say the name of the satellite you are about to work .Point the antenna at the AOS direction . Listen, listen, listen and listen .Periodically adjust the memory (1 to 2 and 2 to 3 …) to compensate for Doppler shift Never call CQ on a satellite .

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Turn on the radio and turn off the squelch on memory 1 or AOS.Turn the recorder on and say the name of the satellite you are about to work .Point the antenna at the AOS direction . Listen, listen, listen and listen .Periodically adjust the memory (1 to 2 and 2 to 3 …) to compensate for Doppler shift Never call CQ on a satellite .If you are ready to call , just give your call sign and grid locator

Example : November xray 9 golf (nx9g), echo november 61 (en61)

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Turn on the radio and turn off the squelch on memory 1 or AOSTurn the recorder on and say the name of the satellite you are about to work .Point the antenna at the AOS direction . Listen, listen, listen and listen .Periodically adjust the memory (1 to 2 and 2 to 3 …) to compensate for Doppler shift Never call CQ on a satellite .If you are ready to call , just give your call sign and grid locator

Example : November xray 9 golf (nx9g), echo november 61 (en61)

When someone calls you back, just confirm their gird and call phonetically

Example: Kilo charlie 9 radio delta tango (kc9rdt), QSL echo november 52 (en52) 73

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

If you don’t hear anything :Check your radio Check your antenna and cables Check if the radio memory was set for the correct satelliteCheck amsat.org status page

https://www.amsat.org/status/

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

Congratulations ! You just completed your first QSO

Getting started with Amature FM Satellites

URL resources:

https://www.amsat.org/status/https://www.qsl.net/ah6rh/am-radio/spacecomm/getting-started-iss.htmlhttp://www.dk1tb.de/downloadeng.htmhttp://www.dj0ip.de/ricki-leaks/hrd-software/https://www.dogparksoftware.com/MacDoppler.htmlhttp://gpredict.oz9aec.net/https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.me.g4dpz.HamSatDroid&hl=en_UShttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ea4eoz.HamGPS&hl=en_UShttps://elkantennas.comhttp://www.arrowantennas.com/arrowii/146-437.htmlhttps://www.amazon.com/Sony-ICDPX370-Digital-Recorder-Built/dp/B06XFTWCBJhttps://w8jxn.com/files/Download/2m_df_antenna.pdfhttps://www.amsat.org/new-mail-services-page/