Tag Archives: CubeSat

Sep 13 2019

Taurus-1 with Codec-2 transponder launched

Taurus-1 with solar sail deployed

Taurus-1 with solar sail deployed

Taurus-1 (Jinniuzuo-1) carrying an amateur radio FM to Codec-2 transponder was launched on a CZ-4B rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on Thursday, September 12 at 0326 GMT.

Taurus-1 is a CubeSat project developed by Aerospace System Engineering Research Institute of Shanghai for youth education and amateur radio.

The transponder is similar to that used on LilacSat-1 receiving FM with 67 Hz CTCSS on 145.820 and retransmitting it as Codec-2 9600 bps BPSK digital voice along with the telemetry data on a nominal frequency of 435.840 MHz +/-10 kHz Doppler shift.

On Friday, September 13, Mark Jessop VK5QI tweeted:
“Good signals from #Taurus-1 on 435.840 MHz! Doesn’t look like the FM/Codec2 Transponder is enabled yet though (no response on 436.760 MHz when transmitting on 145.820 MHz)” Note: this was sent before it was realized Codec2 voice and the telemetry were on the same frequency.
https://twitter.com/vk5qi/status/1172505034551988225

Taurus-1 beacon received by Mark Jessop VK5QI

Taurus-1 beacon received by Mark Jessop VK5QI

Codec2 9600 bps BPSK Downlink information by Daniel Estévez EA4GPZ
https://destevez.net/2016/10/lilacsat-1-codec-2-downlink/

Adam Whitney K0FFY documented how to receive the similar Codec2 Digital Voice transponder originally flown on LilacSat-1 using the FUNcube Dongle Pro+ SDR
http://adamwhitney.net/working-lilacsat-1/

A paper by Paul Stoetzer N8HM on the FM-Code2 transponder is at
https://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/N8HM_LilacSat_LO-90.pdf

Nico Janssen PA0DLO reports the actual telemetry downlink frequency is 435.8387 MHz and Doppler measurements show that Taurus 1 is object 44530 (2019-059C).

Keplerian Two Line Elements (TLEs) ‘Keps’ for new satellites launched in past 30 days
http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/tle-new.txt

Aug 24 2019

New French CEPT paper still seeks 144-146 MHz for Aeronautical

CEPT LogoThe French administration has renewed its attack on the Amateur Radio 144-146 MHz band ahead of a key CEPT ECC CPG meeting in Ankara, August 26-30.

In a paper to be considered at the conference the French Administration says it is not at this time seeking Primary status for the Aeronautical Mobile Service in 144-146, however, their intent is still that the Aeronautical Mobile Service should share the amateur 2m band.

It is clear where such sharing would inevitably lead, amateur operation in the band would only be tolerated if there were no interference to Aeronautical Mobile. Radio Amateurs might be subject to heavy restriction and low EIRP limits.

We can get on idea of France’s long term intent for 144 MHz from their attitude to the 1240-1300 MHz band. It was initially said the Galileo constellation could amicably share this allocation and amateur operation could continue but now France says “unregulated use of the band 1240-1300 MHz by the amateur service is a serious source of harmful interference to RNSS receivers.”
See https://amsat-uk.org/2019/08/19/threat-to-amateur-radio-23cm-band/

The French paper CPG(19)137 F – AI10 – Non safety AMS-background information is at
https://www.cept.org/Documents/cpg/53024/cpg-19-137_f-ai10-non-safety-ams-backgroud-information

Read the IARU paper – CPG(19)115_IARU – AI10 – View on 144-146 MHz under B10-2
https://www.cept.org/Documents/cpg/52931/cpg-19-115_iaru-ai10-view-on-144-146-mhz-under-b10-2

Read the Save 2 Meter story – French administration strikes back at IARU at
https://www.save2m.org/2019/08/french-administration-strikes-back-at-iaru/

Follow Save 2 Meter at https://twitter.com/Save2Meter

Other Ankara meeting documents are at
https://cept.org/ecc/groups/ecc/cpg/client/meeting-documents/?flid=10031

Aug 24 2019

144-146 MHz WebSDR at Goonhilly

Goonhilly 144 MHz WebSDR

Goonhilly 144 MHz WebSDR

The AMSAT-UK and BATC 144-146 MHz Web-based Software Defined Radio installation at Goonhilly is now available. The WebSDR uses the standard FUNcube TLM Receive Antenna that can be purchased from the AMSAT-UK Online Store.

WebSDR Antenna top right

WebSDR Antenna top right

This is being provided in collaboration with Goonhilly Earth Station where it is kindly hosted alongside the existing receiving equipment for the amateur radio transponders on the Qatar-Oscar-100 (QO-100 / Es’hail-2) geostationary satellite.

It shares the same Turnstile antenna that is used for the reception of the AO73, EO88 & JO97 CubeSats.

Being located in the far South West of the UK, it is anticipated the SDR will be useful for early Acquisition of Signal (AOS) of 144 MHz downlinks from amateur satellites and the International Space Station (ISS). Additionally it can be used for reception of tropospheric signals from the south – the Spanish beacon ED1ZAG on 144.403 MHz has been already been heard on the system.

The new 144 MHz band WebSDR is available at https://vhf-goonhilly.batc.org.uk/

The AMSAT-UK / BATC 10 GHz WebSDR for QO-100 is still available at https://eshail.batc.org.uk/

AMSAT-UK: https://amsat-uk.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmsatUK
Facebook: https://facebook.com/AmsatUK
YouTube: https://youtube.com/AmsatUK

BATC: https://batc.org.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/batconline
Live event streaming: https://batc.org.uk/live/

Aug 19 2019

Ideas sought for the next FUNcube satellite

AO-73 (FUNcube-1) – Image credit Wouter Weggelaar PA3WEG

In November the FUNcube-1 CubeSat will have been in orbit for 6 years and the FUNcube team are now soliciting suggestions for the next satellite

The team are looking for suggestions for:
• Conformation of the satellite (2U / 3U)
• Orbit (LEO / MEO)
• STEM Outreach
• Amateur Radio Payloads
• Research Payloads

Please email your ideas to:
funcube-next <at> funcube.org.uk

The topic will be discussed during the AMSAT-UK Colloquium on Sunday 13th October 2019 https://amsat-uk.org/colloquium/

If you would like to join the team, please email:
operations <at> funcube.org.uk

Dave, G4DPZ
on behalf of the FUNcube Team

Jul 11 2019

JAISAT-1 Telemetry Data Sought

Tanan Rangseeprom HS1JAN with CubeSat model

Tanan Rangseeprom HS1JAN with CubeSat model

Tanan Rangseeprom HS1JAN, Project Manager of the new 3U CubeSat JAISAT-1 has requested telemetry data from the 435.700 MHz beacon. JAISAT-1 launched on July 5 and carries an amateur radio 145 to 435 MHz linear transponder for SSB/CW communications.

On the AMSAT Bulletin Board Tanan posted:

RAST President Dr.Jakkree Hantongkom HS1FVL who had contacted German Orbital Systems (GOS) which had informed of object 2019-038F confirm JAISAT-1 satellite.

2019-038F
1 44419U 19038F 19190.66730395 .00001667 00000-0 10000-3 0 9996
2 44419 97.4914 152.5407 0020014 233.1737 126.7422 15.12176922 634

The JAISAT-1 Beacon signal on 435.700 MHz in GMSK Mobitex 4800 bps mode code for JAISAT-1 frames 1 in row 11
41 (0x29) – JAISAT UHF1
42 (0x2A) – JAISAT UHF2

Example of signals in this format can be found with the reception of signals from the satellite

The Radio Amateur Society of Thailand (RAST) and the JAISAT-1 Project Team are urgently seeking raw data that can be received from all packets worldwide. Please send raw data and KSS files to RAST by email at jaisatonetele<at>gmail.com

Sincerely and with respect.

Tanan Rangseeprom, HS1JAN
Project Manager of JAISAT-1

RAST – The JAISAT-1 satellite is launched https://www.qsl.net/rast/

Jun 24 2019

Amateur radio satellites launch on SpaceX STP-2 mission

Falcon Heavy STP-2 - credit SpaceX

Falcon Heavy STP-2 – credit SpaceX

Amateur radio satellites lifted off at 0630 GMT on June 25, 2019 on the SpaceX Falcon Heavy STP-2 from LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

Among the satellites (see links for IARU coordinated frequencies) are:

• Prox 1 ( Nanosat 7)
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=437
http://www.prox-1.gatech.edu/beacon.html
• LightSail B – (Deploying from Prox 1)
http://www.amsatuk..me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=489
• ARMADILLO
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=237
http://Armadillo.ae.utexas.edu
• PSat-2
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=473
http://aprs.org/psat2.html
• BRICSat-2
http://aprs.org/bricsat-2.html
• CP-9
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/_detail.php?serialnum=481
• Oculus-ASR
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=266
• E-TBEx-a
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=502
• E-TBEx-b
http://www.amsatuk.me.uk/iaru/finished_detail.php?serialnum=502
https://exploration.engin.umich.edu/blog/?page_id=3257