<![CDATA[ARCHIVE: Australian Ham Radio Discussion Forum ( AHRDF ) - *** READ-ONLY *** - Satellites & Balloons]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/ Thu, 14 May 2026 00:16:26 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Good iOS app for amateur satellite tracking?]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1239 Thu, 27 Oct 2022 05:19:17 +0000 VK3RX]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1239
I've been using SatSat, but while it updates with the latest TLEs (or claims to) the ISS is nowhere near where it reports.

My location is correct, both with an icon on a map and coordinates.

What alerted me to the issue is that a scanner comes to life with packet on 145.825 and FM voice on their repeater downlink 437.800, however this app shows the ISS over South America, yet the live ISS tracker site correctly shows it over eastern Australia Smile

I can't see a configuration issue with the app, so time to look for another one.]]>
I've been using SatSat, but while it updates with the latest TLEs (or claims to) the ISS is nowhere near where it reports.

My location is correct, both with an icon on a map and coordinates.

What alerted me to the issue is that a scanner comes to life with packet on 145.825 and FM voice on their repeater downlink 437.800, however this app shows the ISS over South America, yet the live ISS tracker site correctly shows it over eastern Australia Smile

I can't see a configuration issue with the app, so time to look for another one.]]> <![CDATA[Mobile satellite antennas]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1106 Fri, 19 Nov 2021 05:58:17 +0000 VK6MMM]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1106 I'm wanting to work satellite from the car. I have an arrow antenna at the moment, but just wondering how people feel about a 1/2 wave ground plane mounted on a vehicle. Obviously not going to outperform the arrow, but it would be a whole lot easier for the high passes. Grey nomad here, and quite often out of telephone range. I will also be running APRS via sat, so any suggestions on antenna solutions would be gratefully accepted.

vk6mmm@qsl.net]]> I'm wanting to work satellite from the car. I have an arrow antenna at the moment, but just wondering how people feel about a 1/2 wave ground plane mounted on a vehicle. Obviously not going to outperform the arrow, but it would be a whole lot easier for the high passes. Grey nomad here, and quite often out of telephone range. I will also be running APRS via sat, so any suggestions on antenna solutions would be gratefully accepted.

vk6mmm@qsl.net]]> <![CDATA[Announcement of the NanoDragon satellite]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1087 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 23:30:53 +0000 VK3RX]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=1087


Quote:Hi everyone!

I come from Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC), we are preparing to launch a nanosatellite named NanoDragon, which has the following downlink communication parameters:

Frequency: 437.365 MHz (UHF band)
Baudrate: 1.2 kbps
Receiver’s filter: Square-root raised cosine (SRRC) with Roll-off factor 0.5
Modulation: BPSK

The beacon signal is expected to be received from October 1, 2021. The launch can be watched live here. VNSC genuinely asks all potential ground stations around the world to reach out for our satellite.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us at ndg@vnsc.org.vn whether your ground stations receive anything from the NanoDragon or nothing at all. All information about the satellite is very much appreciated by the team.

Thank you very much for your cooperation!
]]>


Quote:Hi everyone!

I come from Vietnam National Space Center (VNSC), we are preparing to launch a nanosatellite named NanoDragon, which has the following downlink communication parameters:

Frequency: 437.365 MHz (UHF band)
Baudrate: 1.2 kbps
Receiver’s filter: Square-root raised cosine (SRRC) with Roll-off factor 0.5
Modulation: BPSK

The beacon signal is expected to be received from October 1, 2021. The launch can be watched live here. VNSC genuinely asks all potential ground stations around the world to reach out for our satellite.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us at ndg@vnsc.org.vn whether your ground stations receive anything from the NanoDragon or nothing at all. All information about the satellite is very much appreciated by the team.

Thank you very much for your cooperation!
]]> <![CDATA[Sattrak 3 controller]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=930 Tue, 25 Feb 2020 02:08:22 +0000 VK2NB]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=930
There was a project that Graham VK5AGR ( Australian Amsat Coordinator ) was involved with in the 80s and 90s called Sattrak 3 and it was a stand alone controller for az/el rotators and doppler control.

I have rescued one that still powers up and inquiring if any one has any configuration information. circuits diagrams etc.

I realize that this going back 30 years but thought I would ask any way as I want to use the unit with a old ft736 that I have.

Thanks in advance
Nigel]]>
There was a project that Graham VK5AGR ( Australian Amsat Coordinator ) was involved with in the 80s and 90s called Sattrak 3 and it was a stand alone controller for az/el rotators and doppler control.

I have rescued one that still powers up and inquiring if any one has any configuration information. circuits diagrams etc.

I realize that this going back 30 years but thought I would ask any way as I want to use the unit with a old ft736 that I have.

Thanks in advance
Nigel]]> <![CDATA[Icom Interface]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=848 Tue, 13 Aug 2019 22:03:21 +0000 VK2NB]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=848
Inquiring about using a Icom ic275 and ic475 for satellite use.
I have PC Sat32 as a tracking program and wondering what is the easiest way to interface the pc ( usb ports ) to the icom radios.

I have see the usb ct17 dongles ( for a single radio )  and also read about a  icom interface  that was rs232 to a box with four  3,5mm serial connections to the icom radios that is no longer available new,

So inquiring what other people have done or suggestions.

Thanks in advance
Nigel]]>
Inquiring about using a Icom ic275 and ic475 for satellite use.
I have PC Sat32 as a tracking program and wondering what is the easiest way to interface the pc ( usb ports ) to the icom radios.

I have see the usb ct17 dongles ( for a single radio )  and also read about a  icom interface  that was rs232 to a box with four  3,5mm serial connections to the icom radios that is no longer available new,

So inquiring what other people have done or suggestions.

Thanks in advance
Nigel]]> <![CDATA[CAS-7B launch expected July 22 2019]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=831 Sat, 13 Jul 2019 05:53:19 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=831 From text edition for JULY 14 2019 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA : http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/

Also in MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2019-07-14.mp3

CAS-7B launch expected July 22 2019

Alan BA1DU reports the Amateur Radio satellite CAS-7B (BP-1B) is expected to launch at 05:00 GMT on July 22.
The launch vehicle Hyperbola-1 will run for some 14 minutes ( 862.0206 seconds ) and then CAS-7B satellite will deploy.
CAS-7B is a spheriform spacecraft of 500 mm diameter with a mass of 3kg

CW Telemetry Beacon: 435.715MHz 20dBm
V/U FM Transponder Downlink: 435.690MHz 20dBm, 16kHz bandwidth
V/U FM Transponder Uplink: 145.900MHz 16kHz bandwidth

Provisional TLE for tracking:
CAS-7B(BP-1B)
1 99999U          19203.21831019 -.00000000  00000-0  00000-0 0 00008 2 99999 042.7339 005.2478 0013606 285.8754 218.2911 15.94575752000011

CAS-7B information https://amsat-uk.org/2019/06/02]]> From text edition for JULY 14 2019 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA : http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/

Also in MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2019-07-14.mp3

CAS-7B launch expected July 22 2019

Alan BA1DU reports the Amateur Radio satellite CAS-7B (BP-1B) is expected to launch at 05:00 GMT on July 22.
The launch vehicle Hyperbola-1 will run for some 14 minutes ( 862.0206 seconds ) and then CAS-7B satellite will deploy.
CAS-7B is a spheriform spacecraft of 500 mm diameter with a mass of 3kg

CW Telemetry Beacon: 435.715MHz 20dBm
V/U FM Transponder Downlink: 435.690MHz 20dBm, 16kHz bandwidth
V/U FM Transponder Uplink: 145.900MHz 16kHz bandwidth

Provisional TLE for tracking:
CAS-7B(BP-1B)
1 99999U          19203.21831019 -.00000000  00000-0  00000-0 0 00008 2 99999 042.7339 005.2478 0013606 285.8754 218.2911 15.94575752000011

CAS-7B information https://amsat-uk.org/2019/06/02]]> <![CDATA[Live Streaming Link 13 June 2019 to watch Peninsula Grammar ISS contact]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=813 Thu, 13 Jun 2019 07:35:44 +0000 VK3RX]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=813 https://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2.../index.php

Edit: my IE version 11 is saying the browser does not currently recognise any of the video formats available, but both Firefox & Chrome work fine.]]> https://www.wia.org.au/newsevents/news/2.../index.php

Edit: my IE version 11 is saying the browser does not currently recognise any of the video formats available, but both Firefox & Chrome work fine.]]> <![CDATA[Starlink Satellite flaring]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=809 Sat, 08 Jun 2019 00:02:15 +0000 VK4ADC]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=809 From text edition for June 9 2019 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA : http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/
Also in MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2019-06-09.mp3


"
SpaceXs newly-launched train of Starlink satellites is doing something unexpected.

Many of the 60 satellites are glinting in sunlight--that is, "flaring." Sometimes the flashes of light rival the brightest stars in the night sky.

Visit Spaceweather.com check May 28TH edition to find out how to catch the train and perhaps see the flares yourself.
http://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view...&year=2019
"]]> From text edition for June 9 2019 - VK NATIONAL NEWS BROADCAST ON VK1WIA : http://www.wia.org.au/members/broadcast/wianews/
Also in MP3 edition of news available at: http://www.wia-files.com/podcast/wianews-2019-06-09.mp3


"
SpaceXs newly-launched train of Starlink satellites is doing something unexpected.

Many of the 60 satellites are glinting in sunlight--that is, "flaring." Sometimes the flashes of light rival the brightest stars in the night sky.

Visit Spaceweather.com check May 28TH edition to find out how to catch the train and perhaps see the flares yourself.
http://spaceweather.com/archive.php?view...&year=2019
"]]> <![CDATA[Far side of the Moon photographed by amateurs]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=677 Thu, 08 Nov 2018 04:49:35 +0000 VK3RX]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=677 EME 2018 conference report]]> EME 2018 conference report]]> <![CDATA[Polish students’ satellite - PW-Sat2]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=674 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 19:08:14 +0000 SWL-PL001]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=674
[Image: 47912251-3fb4aa00-de98-11e8-9c12-5562cad1fdf5.png]


Radio link

The satellite is equipped with full duplex communication module TRxVU Rev. B from Innovative Solutions in Space BV. It operates in amateur bands UHF (downlink) and VHF (uplink). Antenna module consists of two dipole antenna (for uplink/downlink) with linear polarisation. Downlink power equals to 27 dBm (0.5 W). Downlink signal utilizes BPSK modulation, data scrambling according to G3RUH and AX.25 protocol. By default, the satellite transmits its downlink signal at 1200 bps, however it might be changed on request by the OPERation team (via uplink telecommand) up to 9600 bps. Currently set bitrate will be published on PW-Sat2’s Twitter profile, however determination of actual bitrate should be fairly easy by looking at signal spectrum.


What data will be transmitted?

Every 60 seconds the satellite transmits a beacon frame full of telemetric data. 229-bytes long payload of the beacon frame contains the most important information about satellite’s state - among others - temperatures of main subsystems, battery voltage, solar power, on-board computer mission time and experiments state. Other data, such as historical telemetry, experiments data, photos from cameras will be send on request from PW-Sat2’s OPERation team. There is one exception from this rule - deorbit sail experiment will transmit its results on-line (since after sail deployment random tumbling is expected to occur resulting in signal loses and solar energy decrease).
Downlink signal of PW-Sat2 will be opened for everyone to receive, decode and interpret data!


HAM radio tools to receive PW-Sat2

HAM radio community plays important role in almost every cubesat mission - receiving and sharing acquired signal with satellites’ owners. Our team has prepared set of tools helping in receiving and demodulation of PW-Sat2 radio signal and upload to cloud-based service afterwards. We believe that data shared to us by community will have big impact on our mission.

[Image: 44960393-676eac80-aeff-11e8-8fb4-562203e...50x404.png]


Prepared desktop application is available on Linux and Windows platforms (however Ubuntu Linux is the main supported OS). It allows for signal reception utilizing software defined radio receivers (SDR): RTL-SDR, FUNcube Dongle Pro+, ADALM-Pluto SDR as well as “traditional” analogue radio receivers with single sideband demodulator (SSB) via computer’s line-in. Acquired signal from radio receiver is demodulated and deframed. Correctly received frames are classified by means of their type and uploaded to cloud-based application (radio.pw-sat.pl) prepared thanks to co-operation with SoftwareMill company. The cloud-based application allows for frames collection, sharing and telemetry decoding (for beacon frames, labeled as “telemetry frame”). There are available additional features like charts presenting the most important telemetry data.

[Image: sml-app_mppt-750x369.png]



How to start receiving?


Detailed information are available in our Wiki - https://github.com/PW-Sat2/HAMRadio/wiki. A good starting point is to take a look at “Quick start guide”. The wiki pages will be updated as new information (e.g. about orbit, TLE data) will be available. 

We encourage to try the software (desktop and cloud parts) right now! In case of any problems - don’t hesitate to mail us (by an e-mail, Messenger, in comment etc.), create an issue on GitHub (https://github.com/PW-Sat2/HAMRadio/issues) or simply ask in this thread! 


Mission status information

Up to date information about mission status will be published on our Twitter profile - don’t miss anything, follow us now!

Contests

To encourage you to listen to PW-Sat2 and honour your contribution we would like to issue QSL cards for every HAM radio who will send us (to radio.pw-sat.pl) at least one correct PW-Sat2 frame.

Additionally we’ve prepared contest in three categories:
 * the first received and uploaded frame,
 * the last received and uploaded frame,
 * the most received and uploaded frames.

Shortly after mission we will reveal the winners and honour with packs of PW-Sat2-related gadgets!
For more about contests see (https://pw-sat.pl/en/ham-contest/).]]>
[Image: 47912251-3fb4aa00-de98-11e8-9c12-5562cad1fdf5.png]


Radio link

The satellite is equipped with full duplex communication module TRxVU Rev. B from Innovative Solutions in Space BV. It operates in amateur bands UHF (downlink) and VHF (uplink). Antenna module consists of two dipole antenna (for uplink/downlink) with linear polarisation. Downlink power equals to 27 dBm (0.5 W). Downlink signal utilizes BPSK modulation, data scrambling according to G3RUH and AX.25 protocol. By default, the satellite transmits its downlink signal at 1200 bps, however it might be changed on request by the OPERation team (via uplink telecommand) up to 9600 bps. Currently set bitrate will be published on PW-Sat2’s Twitter profile, however determination of actual bitrate should be fairly easy by looking at signal spectrum.


What data will be transmitted?

Every 60 seconds the satellite transmits a beacon frame full of telemetric data. 229-bytes long payload of the beacon frame contains the most important information about satellite’s state - among others - temperatures of main subsystems, battery voltage, solar power, on-board computer mission time and experiments state. Other data, such as historical telemetry, experiments data, photos from cameras will be send on request from PW-Sat2’s OPERation team. There is one exception from this rule - deorbit sail experiment will transmit its results on-line (since after sail deployment random tumbling is expected to occur resulting in signal loses and solar energy decrease).
Downlink signal of PW-Sat2 will be opened for everyone to receive, decode and interpret data!


HAM radio tools to receive PW-Sat2

HAM radio community plays important role in almost every cubesat mission - receiving and sharing acquired signal with satellites’ owners. Our team has prepared set of tools helping in receiving and demodulation of PW-Sat2 radio signal and upload to cloud-based service afterwards. We believe that data shared to us by community will have big impact on our mission.

[Image: 44960393-676eac80-aeff-11e8-8fb4-562203e...50x404.png]


Prepared desktop application is available on Linux and Windows platforms (however Ubuntu Linux is the main supported OS). It allows for signal reception utilizing software defined radio receivers (SDR): RTL-SDR, FUNcube Dongle Pro+, ADALM-Pluto SDR as well as “traditional” analogue radio receivers with single sideband demodulator (SSB) via computer’s line-in. Acquired signal from radio receiver is demodulated and deframed. Correctly received frames are classified by means of their type and uploaded to cloud-based application (radio.pw-sat.pl) prepared thanks to co-operation with SoftwareMill company. The cloud-based application allows for frames collection, sharing and telemetry decoding (for beacon frames, labeled as “telemetry frame”). There are available additional features like charts presenting the most important telemetry data.

[Image: sml-app_mppt-750x369.png]



How to start receiving?


Detailed information are available in our Wiki - https://github.com/PW-Sat2/HAMRadio/wiki. A good starting point is to take a look at “Quick start guide”. The wiki pages will be updated as new information (e.g. about orbit, TLE data) will be available. 

We encourage to try the software (desktop and cloud parts) right now! In case of any problems - don’t hesitate to mail us (by an e-mail, Messenger, in comment etc.), create an issue on GitHub (https://github.com/PW-Sat2/HAMRadio/issues) or simply ask in this thread! 


Mission status information

Up to date information about mission status will be published on our Twitter profile - don’t miss anything, follow us now!

Contests

To encourage you to listen to PW-Sat2 and honour your contribution we would like to issue QSL cards for every HAM radio who will send us (to radio.pw-sat.pl) at least one correct PW-Sat2 frame.

Additionally we’ve prepared contest in three categories:
 * the first received and uploaded frame,
 * the last received and uploaded frame,
 * the most received and uploaded frames.

Shortly after mission we will reveal the winners and honour with packs of PW-Sat2-related gadgets!
For more about contests see (https://pw-sat.pl/en/ham-contest/).]]> <![CDATA[Moon Orbiter]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=658 Wed, 10 Oct 2018 20:54:55 +0000 VK2FAK]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=658
Has anyone made an attempt to receive the images sent down by the Orbiter of the moon and earth in the same pic..


John]]>
Has anyone made an attempt to receive the images sent down by the Orbiter of the moon and earth in the same pic..


John]]> <![CDATA[Telecommand transmission]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=641 Fri, 21 Sep 2018 00:10:44 +0000 VK2FAK]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=641

How do you go about sending command signals to a LEO satellite.  using 9k6 ax.25 gfsk  .

What radio is required, and software to do the job......?

Never done it here,  and at this stage don't have a radio that would do  9k6 baud.


The reason I ask, the problem came up again yesterday with a LEO satellite, which needed a reset, it fixed itself as far as I know, But that's about 3 times now, so may be an idea to set-up for it...


John]]>

How do you go about sending command signals to a LEO satellite.  using 9k6 ax.25 gfsk  .

What radio is required, and software to do the job......?

Never done it here,  and at this stage don't have a radio that would do  9k6 baud.


The reason I ask, the problem came up again yesterday with a LEO satellite, which needed a reset, it fixed itself as far as I know, But that's about 3 times now, so may be an idea to set-up for it...


John]]> <![CDATA[Moon Orbiter]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=586 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 01:27:31 +0000 VK2FAK]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=586
Has anyone had an attempt to get a decode of the Moon orbiter  in JT4g  or Gmsk  as yet..?


John]]>
Has anyone had an attempt to get a decode of the Moon orbiter  in JT4g  or Gmsk  as yet..?


John]]> <![CDATA[Amateur Radio Transponders on Planned Chinese Satellites to Include HF]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=577 Thu, 31 May 2018 04:39:22 +0000 VK3RX]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=577
http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-t...include-hf

Just like the old days.

I played around with the 15m & 10m uplinks and downlinks, and the RS series robot CW facilities..]]>
http://www.arrl.org/news/amateur-radio-t...include-hf

Just like the old days.

I played around with the 15m & 10m uplinks and downlinks, and the RS series robot CW facilities..]]> <![CDATA[Anyone with a 2m Sat Beam]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=557 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 13:17:48 +0000 VK2FAK]]> https://www.ahrdf.net/forum/showthread.php?tid=557
The South Koreans have asked for help with there Satellite,  KHUSAT-3   Sigma...

The issue is, that nobody has heard from it since launch and was thought to be dead, but in the last 2 weeks I have been the only lucky person to have heard the beacon. The team continue  listening for it, but with no luck.

They want to send a command signal to the Satellite, but as far as I know its uplink is 2m ( which I am not set up for), so anyone who would be interested in giving it a go, it may require sending the command on most passes, I get about 2 good passes a day, and we have no idea when this sat is going to operate, but I get the Beacon every 2 days or so.

I guess the East Coast would be best as that's where I am, no idea why I am the only one.... Satnogs has been listening with no luck either.

I assume they will provide audio to be TX to the sat, but those details to come.

They have asked me but not yet confirmed, so no details.....     any Takers  ?

John]]>
The South Koreans have asked for help with there Satellite,  KHUSAT-3   Sigma...

The issue is, that nobody has heard from it since launch and was thought to be dead, but in the last 2 weeks I have been the only lucky person to have heard the beacon. The team continue  listening for it, but with no luck.

They want to send a command signal to the Satellite, but as far as I know its uplink is 2m ( which I am not set up for), so anyone who would be interested in giving it a go, it may require sending the command on most passes, I get about 2 good passes a day, and we have no idea when this sat is going to operate, but I get the Beacon every 2 days or so.

I guess the East Coast would be best as that's where I am, no idea why I am the only one.... Satnogs has been listening with no luck either.

I assume they will provide audio to be TX to the sat, but those details to come.

They have asked me but not yet confirmed, so no details.....     any Takers  ?

John]]>