Analog Satellite

Analog Satellites status

SO-50 SO-67 AO-27 VO-52 FO-29 AO-7

I summarize the feature and the present status of each analog satellites
here in order considered to be easy to do the satellite communications.
You link to the concerned page of AMSAT when you click the image above.
(>Tnx. JE1CVL for these reports)

SO-50 ... Up 145.850MHz / Down 436.795MHz

It put TONE of 67.0Hz on FM uplink frequency and we operate it. Because the
transponder does AOS as OFF depending on a pass, then it's necessary we send
the signal which put TONE of 74.4Hz, and turn it ON. You should know that it
is necessary to change this TONE. The frequency gap may be sometimes caused,
then we change the frequency to the satellite fixation from the transmission
fixation. There is QSB of a considerably long interval. Even if the signal
strength falls because this is a thing with the spins of the satellites, it
will be recovered in a few minutes. (Launch 20Dec2002)

SO-67 ... Up 145.875MHz / Downlink 435.345MHz

It's a relatively new South African 'SumbandilaSat' launched on 15 Sep 2009.
The operation was stopped for a long time, but will be recovered by the effort
of the control station in Feb 2012. It put CTCSS TONE of 233.6Hz on FM uplink
frequency and we operate it. According to the sensitivity of the satellite
receiver, it seems that don't access it if the level of TONE is low. The uplink
signal are use the narrow band of FM. And it's necessary for the uplink to
lower the gain of the microphone so that don't over modulation. The downlink
modulation is low on the average and we hears a signal to talk in the distance.
It was going to recover in Feb 2012, but the possibility of the recovery is not
made without making good results through an effort.

AO-27 ... Up 145.850MHz / Down 436.795MHz

The operative schedule is managed and is setting to become ON at the time of
the illumination of the Northern Hemisphere. Therefore, we are not usable in
the night. After having sent out the beacon telemetry for 20 seconds at AOS,
FM transponder becomes ON. And the transponder becomes OFF before doing LOS
after the beacon is transmitted again for one minute. The uplink and downlink
frequencies have much the interference from the ground radio, but we can use it
enough for QSO. It's stopping now. The recovery is difficult. (Launch 26Sep1993)

VO-52 ... Up 435.225-275MHz / Down 145.875-925MHz (Inverting)

This is the satellite of the linear transponder of SSB, CW, it's stable.
Unlike FM satellite, how to get the loop is difficult. In other words,
'my downlink signal is not readily found in the uplink to be made', this
is in condition that there is not a loop. The fitting station operate even
manual operation while taking the loop well, but the operation is considerably
difficult when not used. (Launch 5May2005, Non-operation 11Jul2014)

FO-29 ... Up 145.900-146.000MHz / Down 435.800-900MHz (Inverting)

It was operated the year-end and new year schedule after the interval of
85 days on December 23, 2011, and the possibility of the recovery was made.
This is the satellite of the linear transponder of SSB, CW. When the elevation
of the satellite rises, the signal becomes strong. And the communication is
easy if the downlink signal of your station is found. The loop is not produced
by the frequency relations of the central frequency 145.950/435.850, and the
loop is produced under the present conditions after the recovery when you move
approximately towards 2.5kHz up. CW QRV is operated near the top and lower band
edge and SSB QRV is operated at the 3kHz - 10kHz up from the center frequency.
It's very active now. (Launch 17Aug1996)

AO-7 ... Up 145.850-950MHz / Down 29.400-500MHz (Non-Inverting)

We can operate only A mode of the frequency mentioned above over Japan.
A mode and B mode are changed every day. The uplink and downlink freaquencies
are operated by USB. It's the satellite having the linear transponder which
we can operate CW, too. The transmission is a 145MHz band and the reception
is a 29MHz band, so you must make an antenna element of approximately 5m.
This is not suitable for use of the mobile operation. However, because there
are some such the mobile operating station via this satellite in Japan, the
mobile operation is not impossible. It was launched on 15 Nov 1974, and was
press-agented with all breakdowns in June 1981. It's the rediscovered rare
satellite afterwards to revive accidentally in January 2002.

[Cf1]

http://www.ka9q.net/newsletters.html

[Cf2]
Amateur Satellite Beginners Session
http://www.w4aaz.org/attachments/28_Jan_2010_Tech_Nite_Satellites.pdf

[Cf3]
How to work a FM satellite
http://amsat-uk.org/beginners/how-to-work-fm-satellite/

How to work a SSB satellite
http://amsat-uk.org/beginners/how-to-work-ssb-satellites/