Categories
Ham Satellite news

Welcome AMSAT-CA Canada

On Internet and site https://amsat-ca.org/ we can see that AMSAT-CA has started. From the “holding site” AMSAT-CA:

The Amateur Radio Satellites and Systems – Canada (AMSAT-CA) Association will promote, develop, and support amateur radio in space, including but not limited to amateur radio communication via man-made and natural satellites (e.g., the moon), amateur radio on space stations and planets, and related experiments, as well as new developments of (i) technology, (ii) methods and techniques, and (iii) new applications, all intended for use on satellites, ground stations, and terrestrial-space communications for the benefit of humanity.

Next steps and current activities:
AMSAT-CA is currently in the process of establishing its online profile, membership and other business processes. Please stay tuned.

Categories
Ham Satellite news Telemetry

EIRSAT-1 first decode 2023-12-02

@EIRSAT1 first decode! Also more info at https://www.eirsat1.ie/

This is what I used for receive:

  • RX at 437.100 MHz WFM
  • 2 x 13 el LFA X-Yagi (InnovAntenna) switched between HOR and VER polarisation
  • AlfaSpid RAS az/el rotor
  • LNA Mini-70 from SHF Elektronik
  • LMR-400 coax
  • Airspy Mini SDR
  • SDR-Console v3 with doppler correction of downlink and satellite tracking, rotor control
  • PstRotator for rotor control interface between SDR-Console and RAS controller
  • VB-Cable: virtual audio cable for piping audio from SDR Console to Soundmodem. Set to 96 kHz and 16 bit.
  • GFSK EIRSAT-1 HS-Soundmodem v0.03b http://uz7.ho.ua/eirsat.zip
  • GetKISS+ v 1.4.2 from DK3WN for sending telemetry to SatNOGS dB
  • Kepler from SatNOGS: https://db.satnogs.org/satellite/99320#data

Data also uploaded to SatNOGS:

Categories
Telemetry

Veronika telemetry 2023-11-26

Veronika telemetry over Stockholm 2023-11-26. A few packets received, also CW telemetry. Software and hardware used:

  • RX at 436.680 MHz WFM
  • 2 x 13 el LFA X-Yagi (InnovAntenna) switched between HOR and VER polarisation
  • AlfaSpid RAS az/el rotor
  • LNA Mini-70 from SHF Elektronik
  • LMR-400 coax
  • Airspy Mini SDR
  • SDR-Console v3 with doppler correction of downlink and satellite tracking, rotor control
  • PstRotator for rotor control interface between SDR-Console and RAS controller
  • VB-Cable: virtual audio cable for piping audio from SDR Console to Soundmodem. Set to 96 kHz and 16 bit.
  • HS-Soundmodem v0.27 at mode FSK 9600bd G3RUH
  • GetKISS+ v 1.4.2 from DK3WN for sending telemetry to SatNOGS dB
Categories
Ham Satellite news

AO-109 FT4 TX-RX completed

Today I managed to send FT4 and decode my own signals via AO-109. According to the following post the output from the satellite is aprox 8 mW.

As you see I only managed to decode two of my TX, but it was because I made some adjustments and lost my RX for a while.

Downlink equipment was nothing special – 13 el LFA Yagi, LNA and WSJT-X Improved will full duplex.

Categories
Ham Satellite news Telemetry

Help decode Delfi-C3 DO-64 before re-entry

After more than 15 years in orbit the satellite Delfi-CE DO-64 is soon to re-entry. The Delfi team predict that re-entry will take place around November 16th 2023. For more info scroll down to see the full info.

All amateur radio operators / SWL’s / satellite enthusiasts worldwide are open to help listen and decode telemetry before the re-entry.

The old software RASCAL has been updated and now supports upload to the telemetry server at the Delfi team.

DO-64

Follow these steps to install and start decoding:

  1. Download the latest version here (need Java v8):
    https://filesender.surf.nl/?s=download&token=e9eb2f59-2f93-4d47-94f5-71f83d7a8bdc
    Note that the old version at Delfi-C3 website is not the correct one to use
  2. Run the software (just click on the JAR file)
  3. If you have an old account to the telemetry server, use it. Else let the guest account be as is. According to the Delfi team the IP address to the server is not important
  4. The telemetry downlink is at 145.870 MHz USB and is sending in 1200 BPSK. If found it a little below at aprox 145.865 MHz
  5. If you see the frequency “Sync” in the RASCAL software you will soon see telemetry sent to the server under the “Status messages”

As an alternative way of decoding the telemetry, you can use Soundmodem 1200 BPSK and GetKISS+ software for upload to SatNOGS database.

Also see @Marco_Langbroek on Twitter for a re-entry prediction:
https://twitter.com/Marco_Langbroek/status/1720110996499349663

The full re-entry info:

Wouter Weggelaar, PA3WEG, says, “We would like to request all amateur radio operators / SWL’s / satellite enthusiasts worldwide to listen for Delfi-C3’s telemetry downlink on 145.867 MHz, 1200 baud AX.25 BPSK. We will hand out an award certificate to the person submitting the last Delfi-C3 telemetry frame.”

This can be done either through the RASCAL software (updated version coming), through the SATNOGS network or by sending us decoded telemetry frames with reception time and location via email to Delfi_at_tudelft.nl.

On behalf of the entire Delfi-C3 team, we would like to sincerely thank the worldwide amateur radio/SWL/satellite community for assisting the team by forwarding received telemetry and reception reports.

Delfi-C3 is a CubeSat satellite constructed by students at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. It is a 3U CubeSat launched on April 28, 2008. Wouter recalls, “Back in 2008 we could not imagine the great support received so far and the many first we had, including a successful ground network and flying the first linear transponder in a CubeSat. We strongly believe that Delfi-C3 has paved the way for many follow-on missions, both amateur and commercial, and has been a great step towards maturing CubeSat technology as well as training the next generation of space engineers. Stay tuned for updates!

Categories
Ham Satellite news

Final FO-99 Schedule before re-entry

According to AMSAT Japan website the FO-99 satellite should re-enter the atmosphere by the end of this month (Nov 2023).

Due to the rapid loss of altitude of the satellite, it is expected to re-enter the atmosphere by the end of this month. Along with this, the operation of NEXUS is about to enter its final stage. JAMSAT would like to continue operation as long as possible until NEXUS re-enters the atmosphere. We would like to inform you that we have decided to conduct a special operation including weekdays as follows.

Important!  The values shown in the table include errors.
Check “Satellite Tracking” on the JAMSAT website for exact transit times.

NEXUS operations team. JH4DHX/3 Y.Ohtani