Author: SM0TGU

Webmaster and member of the AMSAT-SM steering group.

Categories
SDR and software

CardSat tracker for M5Stack

From ANS-165: Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, has released CardSat, a free, open-source amateur satellite ground station controller that runs on the M5Stack Cardputer ADV – a credit-card-sized ESP32-S3 computer with a built-in keyboard, color display, and microSD slot. The project lives at https://github.com/prstoetzer/CardSat.

CardSat downloads GP orbital and transponder data over WiFi, predicts passes locally with SGP4, and drives a radio over CAT with real-time Doppler correction. It works fully offline once data is cached and deep-sleeps between passes to save battery.

Its Doppler engine uses the AMSAT “One True Rule” correcting both uplink and downlink so your signal holds the same spot in the passband for the whole pass. You can tune with the Cardputer keys or the radio’s own knob – CardSat follows the dial and re-applies correction with nothing drifting.

Radios: Ten rigs across three CAT families – Icom CI-V (IC-820/821/910/970/ 9100/9700), Yaesu (FT-847, FT-736R), and Kenwood (TS-790, TS-2000) – plus native Icom LAN (RS-BA1) control of a networked Icom IC-9700 over WiFi. Linear-transponder passband tracking, automatic sideband selection, and automatic FM CTCSS tones are included. CardSat can also act as a rigctld/rotctld server for a PC, or as a rigctl client to a remote rig.

Operating and planning: An all-favorites Next Passes schedule, an AOS alarm, deep-sleep until AOS, elevation and polar plots with ground track, sun/eclipse status, a mutual-window finder for co-visibility with a remote station, a 10-day pass overview, a 60-day illumination raster, a time-step simulation, and a multi-page orbital analysis (including beta angle and decay).

Award chasing: CardSat lists what’s under the footprint right now – workable grid squares (VUCC), US states (WAS), and the full 340-entity DXCC list (major countries as polygons, island/micro-entities by reference point from cty.dat) – live or as a per-pass union.

Plus: Az/el rotator control (GS-232, rotctl, PstRotator, or direct Yaesu) with park, pre-position, per-pass flip, and manual jog; Sun/Moon pointing for sun-noise and EME aiming; QSO logging with ADIF export that doesn’t interrupt Doppler; AMSAT OSCAR Status activity marks; a world map with all footprints; a GPS sky plot; selectable element sources; on-device help; and screenshots.

The Cardputer ADV uses an ESP32-S3 (4 MB flash, no PSRAM, 240×135 LCD, 56-key keyboard). Controlling a radio requires a CAT interface suited to the rig; the 3.3 V GPIO is not 5 V tolerant, so CAT lines must never be wired direct.

Status: CardSat builds and runs on the Cardputer, with pass prediction, the plots, mutual-window search, GPS, the AOS alarm, deep sleep, and the offline caches all confirmed on hardware. The CAT frequency encoders, the Icom LAN backend, the rotator backends, and the network server/client paths are implemented and host-tested but have not yet driven a real radio or rotator on the air. Operators willing to test these paths and report results are encouraged to do so.

The repository includes firmware, a full manual, wiring guides, and a printable key-reference card.

[AMSAT-SM thanks ANS for the text and ANS thanks Paul Stoetzer, N8HM, AMSAT Executive Vice President for the above information.]

Categories
Ham Satellite news

OrigamiSat-2 (FO-126) active on 5.8 GHz

Image: Reception of a 5.84 GHz CW signal from Fuji-OSCAR 126 (FO-126) displayed on an Icom IC-905. [Credit: JA1OGZ]

OrigamiSat-2, one of eight satellites launched aboard Rocket Lab’s Kakushin Rising mission for JAXA on April 23, 2026, has now received an official OSCAR designation from AMSAT. Developed by the Institute of Science Tokyo, the satellite has been assigned the designation Fuji-OSCAR 126 (FO-126) following a request submitted through the Japan Amateur Satellite Association (JAMSAT). The announcement came after satellite teams confirmed successful deployment and initial on-orbit operations.

The 3U CubeSat was designed to demonstrate lightweight deployable membrane antenna technology and promote amateur use of the 5.8 GHz band. Mission goals include testing a high-gain deployable reflector array antenna, demonstrating its performance in orbit, and helping establish methods for future advanced satellite systems. OrigamiSat-2 carries both UHF and C-band transmitters and aims to expand amateur radio experimentation beyond traditional VHF and UHF operations.

IARU coordination lists downlinks on 437.505 MHz and 5840.000 MHz. The satellite supports CW and digital modes, including higher-speed data experiments over its 5.8 GHz link. Project information released by the team indicates a desire to openly share reception techniques and operational status with amateur operators, encouraging wider participation in receiving and decoding signals from the spacecraft.

Reports from the satellite team indicate the 5.8 GHz downlink has already been confirmed operational. Amateur satellite observers have expressed interest in monitoring activity from outside Japan as additional operational details become available. OrigamiSat-2 now joins the long-running OSCAR satellite tradition under its new designation, Fuji-OSCAR 126, continuing the international partnership between satellite developers and the amateur radio community.

[ANS thanks Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, AMSAT President / OSCAR Number Administrator, and Shiro Sakai, JH4PHW, JAMSAT President, for the above information]

Categories
Oscar-100

AMSAT-DL to Highlight QO-100 at Friedrichshafen

As part of the “HAM RADIO 2026” event at Friedrichshafen, Germany in June, AMSAT-Deutschland e. V. (AMSAT-DL) cordially invites all QO-100 users and amateur radio satellite enthusiasts to an open community workshop.

Building on the experiences with Qatar OSCAR 100 (QO-100) and current activities in the future geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) environment, the event invites amateurs to discuss together with the community what a future geostationary amateur radio payload could look like. The aim of the workshop is to gather ideas, requirements and perspectives from the user community and place them in a common context.

As a basis for the discussion, AMSAT-DL will present 2-3 concrete mission and payload concepts that reflect different development directions and are deliberately put up for open discussion:

1. “Enhanced QO 100+” (basic) An evolutionary approach that builds on the success of the QO 100: classic bent-pipe narrowband and wideband transponders, an advanced beacon architecture, multi-band downlinks and additional functions such as text and image transmission, e.g. for emergency and disaster communication, Internet of Things, etc.

2. Digital Innovation Lab (extended) A more experimentally oriented concept with extensive digital signal processing on board. The focus is on flexible, software-defined payload architectures (SDR), regenerative processing and a “digital playground” for new modulation and access methods and user experiments. But with the risk of being very software-heavy.

3. “High Frequency Pathfinder” (optional) An explorative approach with beacons and experiments in very high frequency ranges (mm Wave), supplemented by new antenna concepts, propagation and environmental measurements as well as earth and space imaging.

Open workshop

The workshop is designed to be explicitly open.

These concepts are not intended as ready-made solutions, but as a basis for discussion. The aim is to evaluate together with the participants which approaches are particularly interesting, sensible and sustainable for the amateur radio satellite community. Which aspects should be pursued further or in greater depth, but also the risks and dependencies should be addressed.

Both experienced satellite radio operators and anyone interested in the future development of amateur radio satellites, new technical concepts and possible applications are invited to attend.

Thematic focus:

  • Experiences and lessons learned from the operation of QO-100
  • User requirements and expectations for future GEO amateur radio payloads
  • Discussion of the 2-3 future GEO concepts presented
  • Possible technical development directions and areas for experimentation
  • Role of the amateur radio community in future missions

The workshop thrives on participation, discussion and the exchange of ideas – it is not a frontal lecture, but an interactive format with an open end.

Organizational data:

  • Event: futureGEO Community Workshop
  • Date: Saturday, June 27, 2026
  • Start: 16:00 hrs
  • Duration: open end
  • Venue: HAM RADIO 2026, Friedrichshafen
  • Room: (to be announced and can be found in the lecture program)

Registration is not necessary – just come along and bring your ideas, questions and experiences!

[AMSAT-SM and ANS thanks AMSAT-DL for the above information]

Categories
Ham Satellite news

FO-29 Update May 2026

FO-29

Re-post from ANS-123:

Fuji-OSCAR 29 (FO-29 / JAS-2), the long-lived Japanese amateur radio satellite launched in 1996, continues to operate its V/U inverting analog linear transponder under the control of the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL). Because the onboard batteries have failed years ago, the satellite depends entirely on solar power and can only function when its solar panels are illuminated.

Current Status (May 2026)

FO-29 entered a full-sunlight orbit in early March 2026 and lasted approximately 40 days. This continuous operation ended around April 21, 2026, after which the satellite entered an eclipse period for about one month.

A second, longer full-sunlight period is expected from approximately May 20 to mid-November 2026, during which continuous operation should resume.

Transponder Details

Mode: V/U inverting linear transponder (SSB and CW only)
Uplink: 145.900 – 146.000 MHz (LSB)
Downlink: 435.800 – 435.900 MHz (USB)
CW Beacon: 435.795 MHz (typically 100 mW)
Digitalker: 435.910 MHz FM (rarely activated)
The digital BBS (1k2/9k6) remains non-operational.

Important Restriction:
Digital modes are generally NOT permitted on the FO-29 linear transponder due to licensing and operational constraints.

Operating Procedure

During eclipse periods (or the transition out of full sunlight), the JARL control team sends specific commands to activate the transponder at designated UTC times. If the transponder does not turn on within about 2 minutes of the command start, the team terminates the attempt.

During confirmed full-sunlight periods, no regular command schedule is needed — the transponder stays active whenever the satellite is in sunlight.

Operators should always check real-time status via AMSAT Live Satellite Status, OSCAR Status pages, or recent community reports, as voltage instability in the aging satellite can occasionally cause unexpected behavior.

The scheduled activations for the eclipse period are:

May

1st 22:56~
2nd 22:00~
3rd 22:51~
4th 21:55~
5th 22:45~
6th 21:50~
7th 22:40~
8th 21:44~
9th 22:35~
15th 22:19~
16th 23:10~

Amateurs are reminded to:

  • Use proper Doppler correction.
  • Follow linear transponder etiquette (listen before transmitting, keep signals clean).
  • Limit uplink power to avoid overloading the transponder (typically no more than a few watts with a modest antenna).

The JARL page provides the detailed historical and upcoming command schedules for eclipse periods across 2025–2026. For the absolute latest status and any updates from the Japanese control team, monitor the official JARL FO-29 page, AMSAT.org, and AMSAT bulletins.

FO-29’s continued operation nearly 30 years after launch remains a testament to robust engineering and the dedication of the JARL team.

[ANS thanks JARL for the above information.]

Categories
Ham Satellite news

FO-29 Update April 2026

FO-29

From ANS-102 and JARL: here is an update about FO-29:

Fuji-OSCAR 29 (FO-29 / JAS-2), the long-lived Japanese amateur radio satellite launched in 1996, continues to operate its V/U inverting analog linear transponder under the control of the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL). Because the onboard batteries have failed years ago, the satellite depends entirely on solar power and can only function when its solar panels are illuminated.

Current Status (April 2026)

  • FO-29 entered a full-sunlight orbit around March 9, 2026. During full-sunlight periods, the satellite experiences no or negligible eclipses, allowing the analog transponder to operate continuously on illuminated passes without scheduled command activations.
  • The first full-sunlight window began in early March 2026 and lasted approximately 40 days.
  • According to the JARL schedule, this continuous operation ends around April 21, 2026, after which the satellite will enter an eclipse period for about one month.
  • A second, longer full-sunlight period is expected from approximately May 20 to mid-November 2026, during which continuous operation should resume.

Transponder Details

  • Mode: V/U inverting linear transponder (SSB and CW only)
    • Uplink: 145.900 – 146.000 MHz (LSB)
    • Downlink: 435.800 – 435.900 MHz (USB)
  • CW Beacon: 435.795 MHz (typically 100 mW)
  • Digitalker: 435.910 MHz FM (rarely activated)
  • The digital BBS (1k2/9k6) remains non-operational.
  • Important Restriction: Digital modes are generally not permitted on the linear transponder due to licensing and operational constraints.

Operating Procedure

  • During eclipse periods (or the transition out of full sunlight), the JARL control team sends specific commands to activate the transponder at designated UTC times. If the transponder does not turn on within about 2 minutes of the command start, the team terminates the attempt.
  • During confirmed full-sunlight periods, no regular command schedule is needed — the transponder stays active whenever the satellite is in sunlight.
  • Operators should always check real-time status via AMSAT Live Satellite Status, OSCAR Status pages, or recent community reports, as voltage instability in the aging satellite can occasionally cause unexpected behavior.

April 2026 Specifics

In early-to-mid April 2026 (while still in the March full-sunlight window), expect the transponder to be available on most or all illuminated passes with no fixed on/off times. After approximately April 21, operation will shift back to scheduled command activations until the next full-sunlight season begins in late May.

The scheduled activations for the eclipse period are:

April
24th 22:22~
25th 21:27~
28th 22:11~

May 
1st 22:56~
2nd 22:00~
3rd 22:51~
4th 21:55~
5th 22:45~
6th 21:50~
7th 22:40~
8th 21:44~
9th 22:35~
15th 22:19~
16th 23:10~

Amateurs are reminded to:

  • Use proper Doppler correction.
  • Follow linear transponder etiquette (listen before transmitting, keep signals clean).
  • Limit uplink power to avoid overloading the transponder (typically no more than a few watts with a modest antenna).

The JARL page provides the detailed historical and upcoming command schedules for eclipse periods across 2025–2026. For the absolute latest status and any updates from the Japanese control team, monitor the official JARL FO-29 page, AMSAT.org, and AMSAT bulletins.

FO-29’s continued operation nearly 30 years after launch remains a testament to robust engineering and the dedication of the JARL team.

[ANS thanks JARL for the above information]

Categories
Ham Satellite news

Ten-Koh 2 Satellite Deployed

Repost: ANS-074

The 6U CubeSat Ten-Koh 2 (also written as Tenkoh-2 or てんこう２) from Japan’s Nihon University was successfully deployed into orbit on March 11, 2026, at approximately 09:34 UTC. The satellite was released from JAXA’s new HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft using the HTV-X Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (H-SSOD) after the vehicle departed the International Space Station (ISS) on March 6 and raised its altitude to around 500 km. This marks the first use of the H-SSOD mechanism for satellite deployment from HTV-X.

Developed by the Okuyama Laboratory in the Department of Aerospace Engineering at Nihon University’s College of Science and Technology, Ten-Koh 2 builds on the legacy of its predecessor, Ten-Koh (launched in 2018). The mission focuses on low-Earth orbit environmental observations to gather data for future space development, alongside in-orbit demonstrations of next-generation communication technologies. Key goals include evaluating high-speed data transmission and enabling global access for amateur radio operators to collect telemetry and experiment with the payloads.

The satellite carries an amateur radio payload coordinated by the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) and supported by JAMSAT (Japan Amateur Satellite Association):

  • V/U Linear Transponder (inverting, 40 kHz bandwidth):
    • Uplink (LSB): 145.895–145.935 MHz
    • Downlink (USB): 435.875–435.915 MHz
  • Additional Downlinks/Experiments:
    • CW beacon, Digitalker, AFSK 1.2 kbps, GMSK up to 19.2 kbps on 435.860 MHz
    • High-speed experiments (GMSK 4.8–19.2 kbps, 4FSK 38.4 kbps) and photo/picture downlinks on 435.895 MHz
    • 5.839 GHz CW beacon for microwave-band communication demos (SHF experimenters take note—this provides a great target for testing dishes, feeds, and LNAs)

The transponder is expected to operate on a scheduled basis (initially two days per week, with details forthcoming from the team). Operations began shortly after deployment, with the university’s ground station confirming reception of the CW beacon for basic telemetry (voltage, temperature, etc.).

Post-deployment updates from the Okuyama Lab indicate the signal level is currently weaker than anticipated, prompting ongoing monitoring and appeals for reception reports via networks like SatNOGS to aid diagnostics and performance assessment. Early passes over Japan and other regions have yielded mixed results, with some operators reporting no signals yet, while preliminary TLEs (e.g., temporary NORAD 98542) are circulating for tracking.

[ANS thanks the Okuyama Laboratory at Nihon University for the above information]