University of Khartoum ST2UOK Ground Station Tracking FUNcube-1

The CubeSat team at the University of Khartoum ST2UOK have been tracking and capturing telemetry data from FUNcube-1 (AO-73) since it was launched on November 21.

The team are developing their own CubeSat KN-SAT and recently completed the design and development of the Prototype-2.

KN-Sat1 http://cubesat.uofk.edu/

Khartoum Amateur Radio Satellite Ground Station
https://amsat-uk.org/2012/02/03/khartoum-amateur-radio-satellite-ground-station/

Khartoum Students Receive CubeSats
https://amsat-uk.org/2012/02/17/khartoum-students-receive-cubesats/

ST2UOK FUNcube Dashboard Screenshot

TEDxKhartoum Presentation on KN-SAT1 CubeSat
https://amsat-uk.org/2012/05/24/tedxkhartoum-presentation-on-kn-sat1-cubesat/

KN-SAT1 Prototype Subsystems Design and Testing
https://amsat-uk.org/2012/11/20/kn-sat1-prototype-subsystems-design-and-testing/

FUNcube-1 flight model – Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

Jason Charles N4JTC has posted an inexpensive way to listen and decode the FUNcube-1 (AO-73) telemetry beacon on 145.935 MHz using the cheap RTL-SDR dongle.

See the post on Jason’s website at http://www.n4jtc.com/?p=579

Download the Dashboard App to receive the telemetry and upload it to the Data Warehouse.

FUNcube-1 flight model – Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

The FUNcube-1 (AO-73) spacecraft was switched to its nominal “Autonomous” operating schedule around midday November 23.

This schedule has:

High power telemetry beacon only when in sunlight (also known as “Educational” Mode) and  linear transponder for SSB/CW communications with low power telemetry when in eclipse (also known as “Transponder” Mode).

This switching is controlled automatically by the CCT (Command, Control and Telemetry) subsystem on board.

It is not planned to change this operating schedule in the immediate future.

On Sunday, November 24, the team enabled some new Fitter messages and monitored, with great interest, the telemetry that has been contributed by more than 100 stations around the world and is now displayed and stored in the Data Warehouse.

FUNcube-1 transponder spectrum – Mike Rupprecht DK3WN

The FUNcube Team say:

We cannot over-emphasize just how important this data is to us in helping build up a good knowledge of the operating status of the spacecraft as it orbits the Earth.

Please, please keep it coming in and if you know of anyone who could set up some simple, automated, groundstations in some of the more remote locations then please encourage them to do so for us.

We only have “Whole Orbit Data” for a few channels so we will be relying on all the remote data we can gather.

From reports received there have been many successful QSO’s using AO-73. In the last 24 hours there have been many reports of good signals and smooth sounding audio. We are very grateful for your observations.

Thank you for all your support!

Download the Dashboard App to receive the telemetry and upload it to the Data Warehouse.

The team have not received any new TLEs/Keps and are still using 2013-066B although these appear to be a little late. They hope to get more news on this from the space tracking experts shortly.

FUNcube-1 Radio Communications Subsystem:
• 145.935 MHz BPSK Telemetry 300 mW or 30 mW when the transponder has been activated
• Inverting SSB/CW transponder 300 mW PEP
– 435.150 – 435.130 MHz Uplink LSB
– 145.950 – 145.970 MHz Downlink USB

Satellite TLE Challenge Begins https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/23/tle-challenge-begins

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

First Transponder Test https://amsat-uk.org/2013/11/22/funcube-1-ao-73-transponder-tested/

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/