AMSAT-UK Satellite Colloquium

In all my time I have only had a single QSO through a satellite. That was probably in the 1980s. I have been interested, but not enough to get me active. 

My interest was first sparked by listening to USA stations on 2m SSB during late night passes of Oscar 6 and 7. In those days this was a real novelty. This would have been in the mid-1970s. They would appear, briefly, then they were gone over the horizon.

These days there are lots of amateur satellites including 1 geosynchronous one called Oscar 100.

We may get inspiration from the AMSAT Colloquium online on Sunday, October 24th. You have to register beforehand I think.

See https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/ .

Oscar 100 upconverter

AMSAT-DL has produced a small up-converter design that can use either 70cm or 23cm input and produce 6W direct from the board at 13cm. This is quite enough output for CW/SSB in most cases. It can also take a reference frequency from an external source.

At 189.5 Euros this looks quite good value. It means a whole Oscar 100 station could be put together for far less than an HF transceiver. I am not sure if these units can be obtained ready built.

The geosynchronous Oscar 100 has been up for about a year now.

See https://amsat-dl.org/en/der-neue-qo-100-upconverter-mit-integrierter-pa-upcon6w/

Es'hail-2 satellite launched

The latest Qatari satellite, which carries a geosynchronous amateur transponder has been launched. I expect it will be some weeks before we are fully aware of the mission's success. If it is successful, it could be transformative.

See https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/16/11/2018/Qatar-launches-Es’hail-2-satellite

Es'hail2 satellite

Although I am unsure when this geosynchronous amateur satellite is due to be launched, it could revolutionise amateur radio, if successful. It should allow communications from as far apart as Brazil and Thailand. It will use a 10GHz downlink and 2.3GHz uplink, I think. Being geosynchronous, antennas can be fixed in one direction, with no need for tracking. There are 2 linear transponders I think. The 250kHz wide one for SSB etc will be like a new DX band.

I know of one local who is building gear in readiness.

See https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/eshail-2/  .

ESEO satellite

Southgate News reports on testing of the ground control for this upcoming satellite. It has an FM transponder planned for 23cms to 2m.

See https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/communications/eseo/ for more about the satellite.

Geosynchronous amateur satellite next year?

At the moment, 2018 seems the likely launch date of a Middle East satellite that includes a 250kHz wide linear amateur transponder. Now, it has to get into the right orbit and work. If successful, the 2.4GHz uplink and 10GHz downlink would enable very wide coverage around the world with small, fixed antennas. If it works, it could change amateur radio for ever. There are a lot of uncertainties.

See https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geosynchronous/eshail-2/

Geosynchronous amateur satellite delay

A few weeks ago, sorry I cannot remember where, I read that the Qatar amateur satellite, due to be placed in a geosynchronous orbit, has been delayed by a year. This means its launch is now due in 2018 and not this spring.

As the solar activity is likely to be low for a long time, a geosynchronous amateur transponder could be very useful. I certainly hope it is successfully launched in 2018.

The satellite I am thinking about was to have been a Middle-East one with coverage of Europe, Asia and Africa. A separate design covering the USA and just some of Europe was announced by AMSAT-NA last year.

UPDATE 1042z: See https://amsat-uk.org/2014/09/21/eshail-2-ham-radio-transponders/ and https://www.eshailsat.qa/ and https://www.eshailsat.qa/en/satellites .

Chinese satellite

There is probably an English version of this page. Perhaps someone will point me to it?  There is a fairly new Chinese amateur satellite BY70-1. It has been in orbit for a few weeks.

See http://lilacsat.hit.edu.cn/ .

Geostationary amateur satellite

If all goes to plan we could have a new 13cm and 3cm transponding geostationary satellite in place next spring. Being fixed in position, Doppler should be no issue. I guess the date is a problem (these often slip) and getting it successfully in the right place and operational is in some doubt. With declining solar conditions, this could be just what we need. Of course, the dish can be fixed.

See https://amsat-uk.org/2016/06/24/phase-4a-geostationary-transponders/ .

I picked this up on the Southgate News page.

VO-52 satellite reception

Not listened for amateur satellites for some time so took a quick listen on 2m SSB around 145.9 this evening. Managed to catch a couple of VO-52 satellite passes and logged IK1SOW, EB2FJN, SP4BY and HB9XJ on SSB. I have printed out the passes for the next few days so will see what else I can receive on the FT817 and the vertical colinear antenna.

The first place to check for first-time satellite SWLs is the AMSAT page which has lots of helpful info on satellites, frequencies and passes.