Amateur Radio Satellites

Amateur Radio Satellites An Introduction and Demo of AO-85 Eddie Pettis, N5JGK and Russ Tillman, K5NRK

Presentation Outline History of Amateur Radio Satellites: Project OSCAR and AMSAT Amateur Radio Satellites How to Work Amateur Radio Satellites Amateur Radio Satellite Resources AO-85 Demo

History of Amateur Radio Satellites Project OSCAR and AMSAT

History of Amateur Radio Satellites Project OSCAR and AMSAT OSCAR 1 Launched 12DEC62 CW Transmitter: 140 mw on 144.982 MHz transmitting HI Operated 22 days from 12DEC16 to 03JAN62 Re-entered atmosphere on 31JAN62 OSCAR: Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio Built by Amateur Radio operators of the TRW Radio Club of Redondo Beach, California A secondary payload ballast for Corona 9029 satellite from Vandenberg AFB, CA. Forged, validated, and pioneered the secondary and tertiary payload concept for spaceflight. Was the 214th object launched into space since the initial launch of Sputnik 1 four years earlier! OSCARs 2, 3, and 4 followed.

History of Amateur Radio Satellites Project OSCAR and AMSAT AMSAT (Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT-NA): Established in 1969 by radio amateurs working at NASA s Goddard Spaceflight Center in Washington, DC to assist with OSCAR 5 (AO-05). These days there are many AMSAT organizations: AMSAT-NA AMSAT-UK AMSAT-India AMSAT-Chile AMSAT-DL AMSAT-Japan A loose confederation of organizations that connect with each other to build and operate amateur radio satellites. Join AMSAT!

History of Amateur Radio Satellites Project OSCAR and AMSAT How does a bunch of hams get a satellite in space? An Example of AMSAT Innovation: Canadian MOST Satellite MOST: Micro-variability Orbiting Space Telescope Originally designed for geostationary orbit Very expensive real estate AMSAT-NA proposed using low Earth orbit satellite with store and forward data capabilities Reduced size, cost, and increased mission length AMSAT awarded with LEAST: Lots of Extra Amateur Stuff on the Telescope!

Amateur Radio Satellites

Amateur Radio Satellites The Amateur Radio Satellite Phase System Phase 1: No solar cells (battery-powered only), short-lived, technology test-bed. Must be able to orbit to be classified as a satellite. OSCARs 1-5 Phase 2: Long life using solar cells, communications capabilities, in Low Earth Orbit - AO-85 Phase 3: Long life, more powerful communications, telemetry and command systems. Highly elliptical orbit, usually a Molnya orbit; usually the initial orbit is a geostationary transfer orbit, onboard propulsion systems boosting it to its final orbit. Because of the highly elliptical orbit, the satellite remains over an area for long periods of time, allowing amateurs longer contacts through the satellite. AO11 and AO-40/Phase 3D Phase 4: Amateur satellite in geostationary orbit. Phase 4 amateur satellites have been designed, but not built, though they have received favorable attention. Phase 5: Spacecraft capable of lunar or planetary missions.

Amateur Radio Satellites Types of Amateur Radio Satellites: A Function of their Mission Single Channel Narrow FM Voice Repeater: AO-85 145MHz downlink uplink/435mhz Split Channel Narrow FM Voice: ISS 144MHz uplink/145mhz downlink Single Channel Narrow FM Digital Store and Forward - 145MHz uplink/435mhz downlink 100 KHz Wide Linear Inverted Transponder: AO-13 145MHz LSB uplink/435mhz USB downlink

Amateur Radio Satellites Traditional HF Amateur Radio Amateur Radio Satellites Available when bands are open Available when in line of sight Band openings unpredictable Satellites have predictable orbits Range depends on ionosphere height Range depends on satellite height If you can hear it, you can work it If you can hear it, you can work it Requires large antennas Can be worked with as little as an HT Modes depend on band/band plan Modes depend on satellite design Beacons aid propagation awareness Beacons monitor satellite availability General or better license Technician license

Amateur Radio Satellites Some Amateur Satellite Language Orbit The path a satellite travels Uplink Frequency used to transmit to a satellite Downlink Frequency used to receive transmission from a satellite Doppler Shift A frequency shift caused by relative motion of two bodies The higher the frequency, the great the frequency shift Footprint A circular area of Earth in which satellite is within line of site Apogee A position when the satellite is at the highest Earth altitude Perigee A position when the satellite is at the lowest Earth altitude Inclination Angle of satellite s orbit in relation to the Earth s equator Ascending Node Satellite passing from South to North Descending Node Satellite passing North to South Keplerian Elements Numerical satellite orbit characteristics that allow you to predict pass times

Amateur Radio Satellites Phase 2 LEO Amateur Radio Satellites Orbit the Earth between 400-2000 km usually in a polar orbit Because of altitude, pass time is 12 22 minutes/4 times a day (ascending and descending nodes) Typically operate 2m/70cm (145MHz/435MHz) bands Often called Easy Sats as the FM satellites are the easiest to work strongest signal wins QSOs consist of call sign and grid square exchanges K5NRK, EM42oj FM: SO-50, AO-85, ISS USB: AO-07, FO-29, AO-73 Digital: APRS: AO-16, N0-45, ISS Packet: UO-22, NO45, ISS, GO-32, MO-46

Amateur Radio Satellites Phase 3 Satellites HEO Amateur Radio Satellites Earth orbits greater in altitude of 35,000 km. Allows for pass times of 12-18 hours Rag chewing satellites Linear Transponders (SSB/CW) over many bands Currently no amateur radio satellites are available in this phase Former: AO-11, AO-13, and AO-40 On-the-Drawing-Board: Phase 4B geosynchronous satellite opportunity on the USAF Wide Field of View spacecraft, with AMSAT-NA/Virginia Tech partnership.

How to Work Amateur Radio Satellites

How to Work Amateur Radio Satellites Question: What type of Amateur Radio Satellite station do you want to operate? Traditional Modes (uplink/downlink) Mode A: 10m/2m Mode B: 2m/70cm (V/U) Mode J: 70cm/2m (U/V) New Mode Band Indicators: V = 2m U = 70cm L = 23cm S = 13cm C = 7.5cm X = 3cm K = 1.5cm Q = 5mm

How to Work Amateur Radio Satellites Some Answers: There are all types of Amateur Radio Satellite station configurations. Traditional stations are mode U/V and V/U either base or HT Satellite tracking software configured to azimuth/elevation rotator Can down convert other frequency signals to 144 MHz loss!) - Receive at 2.4 GHz and down convert to 2M (avoid line Recommendation: Start with Easy Sats using an HT and Arrow Antenna

How to Work Amateur Radio Satellites An Easy Sat Station Requirements Dual Band HT (144MHz/435MHz) Arrow Antenna Satellite Tracking Software (I-Phone application or WWW access) Sense of Humor Patience and Desire Recommended Satellites: AO-85 and SO-50

How to Work Amateur Radio Satellites An Example Pass: Be ready for the pass plan and enjoy as things happen quick Satellite Operator Rule: Adjust for Doppler shift via the downlink From high to low frequency shift like a train Most HTs can adjust only 50 khz segments Let the satellite signal be your guide Listen only for a few passes. Understand what is going on. You will begin to hear regular calls every pass. They are your target You are in Mississippi! Then try to make a contact with one of the regulars. Practice before the pass on your QSO: N5JGK, K5NRK, we are in EM52, Mississippi, copy? K5NRK, N5JGK, thanks for EM52, we are DO12, you re 5/9, 73s

How to Work Amateur Radio Amateur Radio on the InternationalSatellites Space Station (ARISS) Some Frequencies: Voice: Uplink: 144.900 MHz FM Downlink: 145.800 MHz FM Voice Repeaters: Uplink: 437.800 MHz FM Downlink: 145.800 MHz Uplink: 145.900 MHz FM w/ 67.0 PL Downlink: 437.800 MHz FM Uplink: 1269.650 MHz FM Downlink: 145.825 MHz FM VHF Packet/APRS: 145.825 MHz FM SSTV: 145.800 MHz FM

How to Work Amateur Radio Satellites ARISS Educational Contacts: Schools around the world make amateur radio contact with the ISS Full pre and post-contact syllabus Application process to ensure technical capabilities A great way to promote amateur radio in your community

Amateur Radio Satellite Resources Lots of Resources! Internet and email reflectors Read and learn! Find an Elmer You are your best resource..just do it!

AO-85 Demo Step One: Determine Your Pass: EM52 AMSAT Online Satellite Pass Predictions - AO-85 View the current location of AO-85 Date (UTC) AOS (UTC) Duration 07 Feb 16 07 Feb 16 07 Feb 16 08 Feb 16 08 Feb 16 08 Feb 16 08 Feb 16 08 Feb 16 08 Feb 16 08 Feb 16 09 Feb 16 09 Feb 16 09 Feb 16 09 Feb 16 09 Feb 16 09 Feb 16 10 Feb 16 10 Feb 16 10 Feb 16 10 Feb 16 15:59:54 17:40:47 19:27:26 00:36:55 02:16:45 03:59:40 14:47:39 16:25:27 18:08:23 23:23:58 01:02:23 02:43:03 15:11:45 16:51:50 18:37:07 23:48:40 01:28:10 03:10:10 14:00:21 15:36:57 00:14:57 00:14:25 00:05:56 00:11:50 00:14:10 00:07:43 00:11:25 00:15:32 00:12:12 00:06:17 00:13:37 00:12:57 00:14:20 00:14:56 00:08:09 00:10:46 00:14:13 00:10:00 00:09:32 00:15:26 AOS Azimuth 188 240 306 351 330 293 153 210 264 7 342 319 179 231 291 355 334 303 140 201 Maximum Elevation 41 24 2 13 76 4 10 79 11 2 28 26 28 33 4 9 71 9 6 71 Max El Azimuth 108 294 331 47 223 268 114 312 302 19 62 239 97 312 316 33 85 264 101 93 LOS Azimuth 37 16 351 101 157 224 56 27 7 58 125 182 41 19 355 91 148 209 63 31 LOS (UTC) 16:14:51 17:55:12 19:33:22 00:48:45 02:30:55 04:07:23 14:59:04 16:40:59 18:20:35 23:30:15 01:16:00 02:56:00 15:26:05 17:06:46 18:45:16 23:59:26 01:42:23 03:20:10 14:09:53 15:52:23

AO-85 Demo Date: 10 Feb 16 Time (UTC -6 Hours to CST): 01:28:10 Duration: 00:14:13 Acquisition of Signal Azimuth: 334o Maximum Elevation: 71o Maximum Elevation Azimuth: 85o Loss of Signal Azimuth: 148o Loss of Signal UTC: 01:42:23 Uplink Frequency: 435.175 MHz FM Downlink Frequency: 145.980 MHz FM

AO-85 Demo Contact Plan: <Callsign> this is N5JGK, November 5 Japan Golf Kilowatt, we are EM52, Mississippi with a ham club demo. N5JGK, this is <Callsign>, we are DB45, Wyoming, thanks for EM52. Wait and see if others want to contact you. You can record the pass with your cellphone to help record your contacts.

Amateur Radio Satellites An Introduction and Demo of AO-85 Eddie Pettis, N5JGK and Russ Tillman, K5NRK n5jgk@amsat.org or k5nrk@amsat.org Questions?