Tag Archives: satellite

May 12 2024

Newfoundland QO-100 Contact Successful – More Planned

First Newfoundland contact via QO-100 between VO1/M0XUU and G0MRF

First Newfoundland contact via QO-100 between VO1/M0XUU and G0MRF

On Saturday, May 11, 2024, Gopan VO1/M0XUU (VU3HPF) succeeded in making the first contact from North America through the amateur radio QO-100 geostationary satellite transponder located at 26° East.

Gopan's Screenshot of First Newfoundland QO-100 Contact

Gopan’s screenshot of first Newfoundland QO-100 contact

Gopan was in Newfoundland which is just outside the coverage area of QO-100, the elevation at Signal Hill at St. Johns is below the horizon at -0.9°.

He used FT-8 to have a trans-atlantic contact with David G0MRF in south-west London. David reported it was tough going with a lot of QSB.

Gopan will be in Newfoundland until May 15.

In a post on X Gopan reported his signal into QO-100 was not strong enough to permit SSB operation.

Dish used by VO1/M0XUU in Newfoundland

Dish used by VO1/M0XUU in Newfoundland

The transmit equipment Gopan used comprised, ICOM IC-705 with 2.4 GHz Up-converter from DX Patrol, feeding a homemade 2.4 GHz amplifier delivering 10 watts output to a Helix 2.5 turn YATT design.

The receive side comprised a homemade 10 GHz Down-converter was based on a design by David G0MRF, a modified LNB all controlled by a Leo Bodnar M0XER GPSDO.

The dish was an 80 cm offset.

The software used was SDR Console and Airspy for setting up the station and MSHV in standard mode for FT8/FT4.

After his initial contact with David G0MRF, Gopan went on the work several other stations including Sadan TA4SO in Turkey.

David G0MRF will be joining Graham G3VZV on a QO-100 Dxpedition to Newfoundland from May 15-19.

They are taking enough equipment to enable transmissions on QO-100 using SSB / CW / FT8 / FT4 / Digital Amateur Television (DATV).

Graham G3VZW testing QO-100 equipment before Newfoundland Dxpedition with David G0MRF

Graham G3VZW testing QO-100 equipment before Newfoundland Dxpedition with David G0MRF

A video of the presentation ‘Making QO-100 contacts from North America – A new challenge’, given by Graham G3VZV at the 2022 AMSAT-UK Colloquium can be seen at
https://amsat-uk.org/2022/11/01/making-qo-100-contacts-from-north-america-a-new-challenge/

AMSAT-UK issue a special Certificate of Achievement for QO-100 contacts made from North America.  Applications should be sent to awards@amsat-uk.org

Full details of the award in this Word Document

QO-100 North America CertfificateYou can follow posts on X at:

Gopan M0XUU – https://X.com/vu3hpf
David G0MRF – https://X.com/g0mrf
Graham G3VZV – https://X.com/G3VZV

Stefan VE4SW reports he will be traveling to Newfoundland and will be using the callsign VO100QO on QO-100 from May 13-17, he writes:

“VO100QO a special callsign for the activation of QO-100 from St John’s in Newfoundland will be used by the “Amateur Radio Satellites and Systems – Canada” Association starting Monday, May 13, at Signal Hill or another suitable location (weather permitting). Canadian amateur radio operators Stefan Wagener VE4SW and John Langille VE1CWJ will use a 1.8m dish and up to 100W on SSB to reach QO-100 at -1 degree elevation.

We invite all stations and operators in or near St John’s to join us in person and be part of the story. We will operate from Monday, May 13th to Friday, May 17th (weather permitting). Contact VE4SW (email on my QRZ page) for local information and timing.

The “Amateur Radio Satellites and Systems—Canada” Association will issue special certificates for successful contacts, and all QSOs will be logged into LoTW. Please see our “VO100QO” QRZ page for updates starting Sunday, May 12.

We would very much like to acknowledge the support of “DX Patrol” in Portugal (https://dxpatrol.pt) and António Matias for his support. We will use the DX Patrol QO-100 Groundstation V2 and other equipment for our attempt!”

Follow Stefan VE4SW on X – https://X.com/StefanWagener3

Information on QO-100 is at https://forum.amsat-dl.org/index.php?board/3-qo-100-es-hail-2-p4-a/

FT-8 QO-100 contact between Gopan VO1/M0XUU and TA4SO

FT-8 QO-100 contact between Gopan VO1/M0XUU and TA4SO

May 5 2024

Newfoundland on QO-100 ?

QO-100 North America CertfificateDuring May there are plans for two separate attempts to make contacts from Newfoundland using the QO-100 geostationary satellite amateur transponders.

Newfoundland is just outside the coverage area of QO-100, the elevation at Signal Hill at St. Johns is -0.9°, however, contacts have been made from Indonesia at an elevation as low as -1.3° so there is a chance of success.

Gopan VO1/M0XUU (VU3HPF) will be in Newfoundland from May 8-15 and will attempt to make QO-100 contacts.

David VO1/G0MRF and Graham VO1/G3VZV will be in Newfoundland May 15-19 and plan to be active on QO-100 using SSB / CW / FT8 / FT4 / DATV.

You can follow posts on X at:

Gopan M0XUU – https://X.com/vu3hpf
David G0MRF – https://X.com/g0mrf
Graham G3VZV – https://X.com/G3VZV

Video of the presentation ‘Making QO-100 contacts from North America – A new challenge’, given by Graham G3VZV at the 2022 AMSAT-UK Colloquium
https://amsat-uk.org/2022/11/01/making-qo-100-contacts-from-north-america-a-new-challenge/

Information on QO-100 is at https://forum.amsat-dl.org/index.php?board/3-qo-100-es-hail-2-p4-a/

Apr 1 2024

Belgium: 23 cm band Restrictions

2024-03-27 Belgium 1240-1300 MHz proposed restrictions

2024-03-27 Belgium 1240-1300 MHz proposed restrictions

On March 27, 2024, Belgium’s regulator the BIPT published draft restrictions on amateur radio operation  in the 23cm (1240-1300 MHz) band.

Belgium is believed to be the first country to propose restrictions on 23cm band operation following WRC-23 ITU-R Recommendation M.2164-0

The new restrictions include:

Class A (equiv UK Full, USA Extra) – size of band reduced from 60 MHz to 8.24 MHz. EME (but not satellite uplink) is permitted 1260-1262 MHz and the antenna elevation must always be more than 15° above the horizon and the transmission power is limited to 50 W EIRP. If the elevation is above 55° above the horizon, the power is increased to 500 watts EIRP

Class B (equiv UK Intermediate, USA General) – 1296-1300 MHz only

Class C (equiv UK Foundation, USA Technician) – No access (unchanged)

The public consultation runs until April 28 https://www.bipt.be/operators/publication/consultation-on-the-frequencies-powers-and-transmission-modes-that-may-be-used-by-radio-amateurs

Read the full UBA story at https://www-uba-be.translate.goog/nl/nieuws/raadpleging-over-ontwerp-van-besluit-van-de-raad-van-het-bipt-inzake-de-frequenties?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US

Mar 18 2024

BBC Great British Railway Journeys at SSTL

Michael Portillo visiting SSTLSeries 15 episode 4 of Michael Portillo’s TV show Great British Railway Journeys: Havant to Guildford, features Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd and Professor Sir Martin Sweeting G3YJO.

To see the segment fast-forward 20 mins 30 secs into the show.

Watch in the UK on BBC iPlayer at
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001xj3j/great-british-railway-journeys-series-15-4-havant-to-guildford

Over the years Michael has met several radio amateurs while making his show.
In 2013 he was shown how to send Morse code by Peter Watkins M0BHY
https://web.archive.org/web/20180107172841/http://www.southgatearc.org/news/2014/january/michael_portillo_sends_morse_code.htm

In 2017 he did Amateur Radio moonbounce from Goonhilly in Cornwall under the supervison of Noel Matthews G8GTZ and Brian Coleman G4NNS
https://amsat-uk.org/2018/01/06/bbc-tv-to-show-michael-portillo-moonbounce/

Dec 8 2023

ITU WRC-23: 1240-1300 MHz

IARU RNSS GraphicIARU have provided an update on the outcome of ITU WRC-23 Agenda Item 9.1B concerning the Amateur and Amateur Satellite Service allocations in 1240-1300 MHz:

“During the WRC-23 deliberations, strong positions were expressed by all the parties involved. The result is a well-supported compromise for a footnote in the Radio Regulations regarding amateur and amateur satellite service operation in the 1240–1300 MHz range. The footnote reminds administrations and amateurs of the need to protect the primary RNSS from interference and provides guidance to administrations to allow both services to continue to operate in this portion of the spectrum. The compromise was formally adopted by the Conference Plenary on December 8 and is not subject to further consideration during the final week of the WRC. The IARU team continues its work on other WRC issues including the development of agendas for future conferences.

IARU President Tim Ellam, VE6SH, noted “This is a very good result for the amateur services. The decision reached at WRC-23 on this agenda item makes no change to the table of allocations nor incorporates by reference M.2164 into the Radio Regulations. The addition of a footnote that provides guidance to administrations in the event of interference to the RNSS is a good regulatory outcome for amateurs and the primary users of this band.”

The WRC also agreed to suppress the Resolution 774 which closes the issue and satisfies the agenda item.”

Read the full IARU statement at https://www.iaru.org/recommendation-on-ai-9-1b-approved-at-wrc-23/

Download ITU‑R Report M.2532 https://www.iaru-r1.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/R-REP-M.2532-2023-PDF-E.pdf

IARU Summary Meeting Report WRC-23: This report is focusses on the 23 cm Band RNSS Coexistence Aspects and WRC-23 AI 9.1b by Barry Lewis G4SJH https://www.iaru-r1.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Report-from-WRC_Dec-2023_23cm.pdf

Nov 5 2023

23cm band report ITU‑R M.2532 published

ITU LogoIARU Region 1 reports as a part of the preparatory process for WRC-23 agenda item 9.1 topic b) involving the 23cm band (1240-1300 MHz), ITU‑R Report M.2532 has been published.

This report encapsulates the outcome of resolves 1 of ITU‑R Resolution 774 that requires a detailed review of the different systems and applications used by the amateur and amateur satellite services in the 23cm band. The review forms a part of the basis for the studies required by resolves 2 to address the amateur and amateur satellite services coexistence with the radio navigation satellite service (RNSS).

The publication represents a positive outcome from a great deal of work and committment by the IARU volunteer team that has been central to its development since 2019 in ITU‑R Study Group 5.

Download ITU‑R Report M.2532 https://www.iaru-r1.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/R-REP-M.2532-2023-PDF-E.pdf

The information paper ZL23_C5_19 1.3 GHz Band – Additional Information was submitted by the RSGB to the IARU Region 1 Conference held Novemebr 1-4, 2023. It provides information on the situation in the 1240-1300 MHz and 13001350 MHz spectrum. It can be downloaded from ZL23_C5_19 1300MHz INFO

Extract from CPM report 2023-10-11-Extract CPM-Report-to-WRC-23 _2_