Tag Archives: Satellite

First Amateur Radio Satellite in Geosynchronous Orbit in 2017?

Researchers at the Ted and Karyn Hume Center for National Security and Technology are preparing to send an amateur radio satellite into a geosynchronous orbit in 2017.

This will be a great opportunity for Amateur Radio satellite operators! Some preliminary information about this satellite may be found here.

The proposed frequency plan for the spacecraft is:
Uplinks: 5655-5665 MHz
Downlinks: 10455-10465 MHz

The amateur radio payload will comprise a Software Defined Transponder capable of supporting many different modes, including analog SSB.

 

Geosynchronous Amateur Radio Satellite Possible Orbit

Possible coverage of a Geosynchronous satellite at 74 degrees West – Credit NX5R

 

 

 

 

This satellite’s high altitude will create a very large coverage footprint. Also, see the following article on the ARRL website for more information.

According to AMSAT Vice President-Operations Drew Glasbrenner, KO4MA, the satellite’s potential footprint would extend over the US from the Mid-Pacific to Africa.

Source: First amateur radio in geosynchronous orbit will aid disaster communications

A New LEO Sat! FUNcube-3 (EO-79) Goes Live

FUNcube-3 (EO-79) goes live | November 18, 2016

The EO-79/FUNcube-3 satellite has transitioned to amateur radio service, now that its primary mission has been completed. AMSAT-UK and AMSAT-NL have announced that the FUNcube U/V transponder has been activated with a regular schedule. Due to power budget constraints, the transponder cannot operate 24/7, so an orbit-specific schedule has been developed. The transponder will commence operation 27 minutes after the spacecraft enters sunlight and remain active for 25 minutes. This schedule may be modified in the weeks ahead, as experience dictates. The output power of the amateur radio payload is about 400mW.

Source: FUNcube-3 goes live – Radio Society of Great Britain – Main Site : Radio Society of Great Britain – Main Site

Looks like we have a new LEO satellite that we can work. EO-79 is now active of Amateur Radio use. It has an inverting SSB/CW transponder which operates on the following frequencies:

  • 435.035 – 435.065 MHz Uplink (Initial testing indicates 435.047 – 435.077 actual)
  • 145.935 – 145.965 MHz Downlink

You can learn more about this new satellite here.

Fred (AB1OC)

The Nashua Area Radio Club is Number 1 Field Day Again!

We got up to some great news this morning. The Nashua Area Radio Club is once again Number 1 Field Day!!

2016 ARRL Field Day Results - 7A Category
2016 Results – 7A Category

We are the Top Club in our Category (7A) for 2016 with a final score of 9,292. The next closest club was W6TRW with a score of 5,610. You can see all the 2016 results on the ARRL score page. For a more detailed breakdown of our score for 2016, check out our Field Day page.

Congratulations to everyone who helped to make our 2016 operation a success! Also, a special thank you to our planning team –

Our 2016 Field Day Planning Team
Our Planning Team
Field Day Presentation
Mike, K1WVO Helping To Deliver Our Field Day Presentation During Our Club Meeting
Field Day Presentation
Presentation At Our Club Meeting

We certainly have many great memories from our 2016 Operation. I spent some time today looking at the photos from our 2016 Operation and the video from our 2016 Operation again. I picked out some photos to share here –

40m V-Beam
Our 40m V-Beam

Our setup was well planned and the execution was top-notch!

CW Row
CW/6m Row With One Of Two Of Our Towers And Beams
20m CW Op
20m CW Station
DATV Station Equipment
SSB Stations and Digital ATV Station on 70 cm
Satellite Station Equipment
LEO Satellite Station

Many folks in our club pulled together to build our setup and we operated hard during Field Day.

Mike, KU1V Operating During Field Day 2016
Mike, KU1V Operating
40m CW Op
Ed, K2TE Operating 40m CW
20m CW Op
Bill, NJ1H Operating 20m CW
20m SSB Op
Jamey, KC1ENX, Operating 20m SSB
75m-15m SSB Op, AB1BY
Abby, KC1FFX Operating on 75m SSB
40m SSB Ops
Brian, AB1ZO Operating on 40m SSB
Jeff, WA1HCO Operating On 6m During Field Day 2016
Jeff, WA1HCO Operating On 6m
Field Day Fun
Field Day Fun 2016
Field Day Feast!
Merle, W1MSI Provided Us With A  Feast!

We also helped to introduce folks to Amateur Radio via our GOTA Station.

Field Day GOTA Station
Our GOTA Station Provided By Wayne, KB1HYL

It’s fun to think about all the great things that went on during Field Day this year.

Our 2016 Highlights Video

Looking forward to our 2017 Field Day operation!!!

Fred, AB1OC

Hashtag: #ARRLFD

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