New Frequencies for AMSAT-UK FUNcube-1

The AMSAT-UK FUNcube-1 satellite is due to launch on a DNEPR rocket from Yasny later this year.

This launch could carry around 11 amateur radio satellites including FUNcube-1 into space. As a result the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) satellite advisory panel have had to carefully coordinate the planned operating frequencies in order to minimise the risk of interference between FUNcube-1 and other payloads on the same launch.

The IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Panel have now confirmed the following frequencies for FUNcube-1 (these frequencies replace those previously announced)

Inverting linear transponder:
Uplink            435.150 – 435.130 MHz
Downlink        145.950 – 145.970 MHz

Telemetry:     145.935 MHz   BPSK

AMSAT-UK have announced that the power of the FUNcube-1 1200 bps BPSK telemetry beacon has been increased to 400 milliwatts. This should provide a strong signal for school students to receive using simple equipment.

Read the leaflet ‘Teach Space with a Real Satellite’ at http://tinyurl.com/TeachSpaceWithFUNcube

Gunter’s Space Page 2012 launches http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_chr/lau2012.htm

IARU Amateur Satellite Frequency Coordination Status http://www.amsat.org.uk/IARU

FUNcube-1 ZDNET Article

Jim Heck G3WGM on an AMSAT-UK Stand

Jim Heck G3WGM

Journalist David Meyer interviewed AMSAT-UK’s Jim Heck G3WGM for an article on the FUNcube-1 satellite being built by AMSAT-UK volunteers.

School students will be able to send, via a moderator, ‘Fitter’ (as in ‘FUNcube Twitter’) messages of 200 characters to the CubeSat. FUNcube-1 will then transmit them on the 1200 bps BPSK beacon.

Read the article at http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/emerging-tech/2012/01/04/radio-amateurs-prep-launch-of-tiny-funcube-satellite-40094737/

The satellite will carry a 500 milliwatt 435 to 145 MHz linear transponder for SSB and CW communications.

FUNcube – Launch details and time frame finalised

FUNcube to be on show at the Association for Science Education conference Jan 5-7, 2012