AMSAT-SM - Official Website of AMSAT-SM SwedenHär hittar du artiklar som är lämpliga för nybörjaren och tips hur man kör QSO på olika sätt.
Beginners and “How to operate” posts. Same of them in swedish.
@CelesTrak has a good search function if you need to find correct kepler file for a specific satellite. Do like this:
AMSAT-NA has a free “Getting Started” compendium available for download. AMSAT-NA tells us:
Here is a freely downloadable compendium of “getting started” articles written by Keith Baker, KB1SF/VA3KSF. These articles originally appeared in The AMSAT Journal from 2019 to 2021.
Unfortunately, because both satellites and URLs change over time, the currentness of information such as this can quickly be overcome by events. However, the tools and techniques outlined in Keith’s beginner series are still very much applicable to operating on current and future AMSAT satellites.
This is a guide how to work satellites with the Icom IC-9700. When trying to understand the IC-9700 I needed to write down how to use it – so this is how this post was born. Several different user scenarios are explained below.
The IC-9700 satellite memory examples and file can be found here.
Please contact us if you see anything that will not work in the following user cases.
The PstRotator manual is very good so please read it, very important is the section how to use IC-9700 with PstRotator satellite functions.
The file for OmniRig is delivered with PstRotator and is named IC-9700PST.ini. Do not forget to copy this file to the OmniRig folder.
My settings for OmniRig is like this:
And a typical layout for PstRotator Satellites Tracking is like this:
Read the IC-9700 Basic Manual section 7 “Satellite communication”. It has all the information you need.
I have tested linear satellites with manual tuning (RS-44) and it worked very good. My uplink TX signal (VHF) was fixed and I tuned the downlink signal (UHF) when needed. The VFO tracking/untracking function of the IC-9700 is outstanding.
Some basic rules I learned from skilled operators:
Once again – first read the excellent manual of PstRotator and the section about satellites and IC-9700. Then – read it one more time!
Some operating hints:
In this case the IC-9700 is working as the transmitter with full doppler control and SDR-Console with a SDR (or panadapter for IC-9700) as receiver, also with doppler control. Be sure to set the correct band for TX to the MAIN VFO in IC-9700 and do not use the Satellite Mode. Then use the same setup as described in this post.
It is possible to use the VFO knob on IC-9700 to tune the TX frequency.
Be sure to use DATA mode settings in PstRotator. Then the IC-9700 is using the filter you have selected for DATA.
Then use it just like Case 2 above.
Use the IC-9700 as transmitter and SDR-Console with SDR (or panadapter for IC-9700) as receiver. Be sure to set the correct band for TX to the MAIN VFO in IC-9700 and do not use the Satellite Mode Use the same setup as described in this post.
This is the setup I’m using when running FT4 because I think it gives better control over the QSO than using PstRotator.
This is a memory group file over satellite frequencies for Icom IC-9700 and CS-9700 software. Feel free to use it, change and add, make your own groups etc.
Import the memory file into CS-9700:
Note! Be sure that you not overwrite anything in your IC-9700 when cloning and/or importing the .csv file! Make a backup of your current settings!
As CS-9700 seems to handle character set different between regions I have created two files. If one does not work, try the other one. Comma separated is working for North America.
Download the latest files from SM0TGUs Github:
IC-9700_SatFrqMemGroup.csv
IC-9700_SatFrqMemGroup_commaseparated.csv
Note! When downloading from GitHub, you download all the files in the repository as a zip file. Then you can use the file of your interest:
If you have any problems downloading the files from the GitHub location please contact us and the files can be sent via mail.
OPUSAT-II, or Hirogari satellite, has the possibility to send, store and receive short AX.25 messages. This is a simple guide how to set up a Windows system to send and receive via OPUSAT-II.
This is a simple guide for working FT4 mode via satellite with the help of SDR-Console software, a SDR receiver and Icom IC-705 as transmitter. The IC-705 can of course be replaced by any other radio that can be controlled via OmniRig.
I have also tested this with an ICOM IC-9700 with equal good result.
The “magic” is done by Omnirig. This smart little software can connect several software to one radio at the same time, in this case SDR-Console and WSJT-X.
This guide requires that you have basic knowledge of the following:
Step 1 – Setup SDR-Console and IC-705 with correct frequency
First you need correct frequency for SDR-Console and IC-705. You can download and use the prepared files from this site.
Start SDR-Console and set the downlink (USB) to the satellite you would like to use. Set the IC-705 to the uplink of the satellite, note it has to be LSB-D (LSB with data mode).
Step 2 – Config WSJT-X
Start WSJT-X and config as following:
Step 3 – Start Satellite External Radio in SDR-Console
Now start the “Satellite External Radio” in SDR-Console. Select the same OmniRig radio as in WSJT-X. Select the correct uplink frequency and turn on Doppler correction in External Radio.
Now the magic happens! SDR-Console is starting to doppler correct the frequency of the IC-705 and WSJT-X reads the correct frequency from IC-705 in real time!
In this image you can see External Radio and WSJT-X with correct frequency:
Step 4 – Select correct RX frequency in SDR-Console
Select the correct downlink frequency in SDR-Console and enable Tracking in the Satellite Window for the satellite.
Now wait for the satellite to be in your footprint.
Step 5 – Find yourself on the satellite transponder
When the satellite is in your footprint, you need to manually adjust the TX-frequency (at the External Radio window) and RX-frequency, as the SDR-Console software does not have a “tracking RX/TX VFO” function.
Step 6 – Start calling CQ
Now you are ready to start calling CQ and making QSOs! Remember – use the minimum TX power, FT4 is very effective. And be sure not to call over a CW or SSB station.
If you would like to check your own FT4 signal (for testing and learning) it is possible to start a 2nd instance of WSJT-X as receiving only.
Finally, below is a recorded video of a test via satellite AO-73 decoded with a 2nd instance.
If you have any questions about this setup please contact AMSAT-SM (Lars SM0TGU) at info@amsat.se