Author: SM0TGU

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]

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]

Update 2026-02-17:

I have heard from several sources that the satellite mode/doppler is not working in full duplex. You need to program the radio with fixed memory channels for RX and TX, just like the old Kenwood HTs.
I hope that AnyTone will get a firmware update in the future.

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On YouTube several videos about the new Anytone AT-D890UV HT has been published that this new HT should have “real” Full Duplex capability – that is can transmit on VHF and receive an UHF without any desense.

In this video W8CPT demonstrates it’s full-duplex capability on SO-50:

Also there are in-built satellite functions with tracking and doppler control but it is not clear at this moment if this function supports full duplex doppler control.

Wimo says:

A special (and rare) highlight: the radio supports full-duplex crossband operation (FM). While transmitting on the 2m band, the receiver on the 70cm band remains active and is not muted.

From ANS-046 Feb 2026:

A recently released HT may be the best full-duplex HT available for FM satellite operations since the discontinuation of the Kenwood TH-D72 – the Anytone AT-D890UV (which is also available as the Bridgecom Maverick and the BTECH DA-7X2).

The Anytone AT-D890UV is a dual-band VHF/UHF DMR digital/analog handheld radio with built-in Bluetooth, GPS, and APRS capability. Features include Air Band AM receive, cross-band repeater mode, and an analog scrambler/compander. It has a 1.77″ color TFT display allows easy access to 4,000 channels and up to 500,000 digital contacts. The radio is powered by a 3100 mAh battery with convenient USB-C charging and upgraded 2G memory capacity. Next Generation Digital Narrowband (NXDN) functionality has also been promised as a future firmware update. A version of the firmware with NXDN support is currently available through unofficial sources.

The AT-D890UV also has the satellite Doppler tracking capability that has been present in previous Anytone radios, but unfortunately this feature does not currently work in full-duplex mode.

The below YouTube video from W8CPT demonstrates it’s full-duplex capability on SO-50, showing no apparent desense while operating in V/u mode.

The Anytone AT-D890UV is available from most amateur radio retailers for $299.99. As of this writing, DX Engineering expects to ship orders on February 23rd while Ham Radio Outlet has limited stock at their Anaheim location.

[ANS thanks AnyTone and W8CPT for the above information]

Thank you Michael, HB9WDF, for this information:

Dear AMSAT family and friends,
We are excited to announce the second edition of the HB9RG Trophy!

Following its successful premiere, AMSAT-HB is pleased to continue this satellite competition in 2026. We cordially invite all interested radio amateurs, from seasoned experts to newcomers, to participate in this friendly challenge.

The HB9RG Trophy is designed to encourage activity on amateur radio satellites and provide an engaging experience for everyone in our community.

You can find all the necessary information, including the rules and schedule, at the following links:

• Official HB9RG Trophy 2026 Page:
  https://www.amsat-hb.org/hb9rg_trophy/hb9rg_trophy_2026
• Detailed Regulations (PDF):
  https://www.amsat-hb.org/clubdesk/w_amsathb/fileservlet?type=file&id=1000230

We look forward to high levels of activity on the satellites and wish all participants the best of luck and many successful QSOs.

Best regards and 73,
Michael, HB9WDF
President AMSAT-HB