Howard Long G6LVB working AO-73 while Ciaran Morgan M0XTD captures the downlink passband data using a FUNcube Dongle Pro+ and Microsoft Surface Tablet

The first test of the FUNcube-1 (AO-73) SSB/CW linear transponder took place on Friday, November 22. The transponder was successfully commanded on at 10:49 UT and at 10:51 GB3RS successfully transmitted through the inverting transponder using a pair of Yaesu FT-817 transceivers and an Arrow dual-band antenna.

FUNcube-1 flight model – Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

A two-way contact was then made between GB3RS and G0AUK who worked each other at 10:53 UT. Both stations were operating from the Bletchley Park car park each running 5 watts PEP to Arrow antennas.

Ciaran Morgan M0XTD captured the entire downlink passband during the pass on a Microsoft Surface Tablet using a FUNcube Dongle Pro+ SDR connected to an Elk dual-band antenna.

FUNcube-1 carries a 20 kHz bandwidth transponder for SSB and CW communications. To reduce the Doppler shift the transponder is inverting meaning that a Lower Sideband (LSB) signal on the uplink comes out as an Upper Sideband (USB) signal on the downlink.

Testing and analysis of the telemetry data from FUNcube-1 (AO-73) is continuing.

Thank you to all stations who have provided telemetry so far. More telemetry data is needed to enable the FUNcube team to characterise the satellite.

We would encourage stations to download the Dashboard software to receive the telemetry and upload it to the Data Warehouse

The FUNcube Team hope to do further transponder tests possibly Saturday, November 23.

FUNcube-1 Deployed !!! https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/21/funcube-1-deployed/

BBC TV visit FUNcube station at RSGB National Radio Centre
https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/22/bbc-visit-funcube-station-at-rsgb-national-radio-centre/

FUNcube website http://www.funcube.org.uk/