May I ask please...?

[alamo5000]

Would the moderator or whoever please create a 'sticky' thread at the top of this forum to answer any basics questions (like mine)?

For example on the aircraft monitoring section they have one where you can look up all your local airports so you can monitor and so fort. Having that thread basically avoids every newbie from coming in asking the same questions over and over.

Now here is what my questions are if someone would please help direct me to answers it would be appreciated.

I am a brand new HAM operator but my radio has many more functions than just the basic stuff. Yesterday I finally was able to monitor all sorts of civillian air traffic and I thought that was pretty neat.

Now I want to see if I can monitor the space based stuff...except I have no idea where to start at.

Which frequency ranges are most satellite communications would be the number 1 question.

Second question, are these bands active 'a lot' or do you have to scan around on a regular basis to hear anything?

Lastly what kind of stuff are you listening to/for? [Insert your cool story about hearing astronauts or whatever here.]

A one or two paragraph sticky will help guys like me (complete novice) to know wher to start at.

 

[Pape]

the short answer to your question is: hamsat.

the long answer is as follow: you will need a specialized antenna to monitor satellite properly (I did work weather sat using a 11m 1/4 wave whip but not in best result). If you go with dish you will need a double axis rotor (computer controlled is great) as most bird are not stationary. This bring me to my next point: you will need a tracking software for tracking the bird (if your tracking software work with your rotor even better). And the last point you need to know what you want to listen too as usual.

To be honest there is 2 thing you can listen in satellite monitoring you have the Ham sat and the weather sat (take a look at wxtoimg and QFH ant) all other sat com are mostly encrypted, sure you can sit on military sat com link and listen maybe you will get some one doing simple voice test.

I hope this help you a little and unfortunately I cannot help you for the sticky, you know at some point when you know a lot about something it a good idea to write a wiki or a small beginner paper to pass some of the knowledge around, if none already exist.

 

[SCPD]

You might also check the RR Wiki, there may be something there about space monitoring.

 

[JeremyB]

If you are looking for amateur satellite info, you can work the FM birds with a homemade antenna and allmost any dualband(2M/70cm) HT. AMSAT - The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation and Clint Bradford's website Work the FM Ham Satellites are good sources for info

 

[nova1010]

Alot of Air feeds here LiveATC.net Worldwide Airport Coverage Map

 

[CalebATC]

Their is ham sats, military sats (most aircraft traffic is encrypted), comunication sats, and many many more that you are not able to monitor. From 28-many GHz's. They are mostly above 1 GHz, although the majority ham sats, weather sats, and military sats have repeaters in the VHF, and UHF works. Some are in FM, and above 1GHz are in digital voice, email, etc. You can get some good stuff though.

I have gotten into ham sats and it is quite fun. I am also into UHF military sats some. Still waiting to tune up one of my yagis (RHCP) and then I will be ready to go. Satellites out of VHF and UHF tend to get VERY expensive! You will need good feedline, transverters, dishes, maybe a SDR for monitoring, and a good radio for portable, or base use. Be ready to exercise that pocket book!!!

Go for your general! You will LOVE it!

 

[W2NJS]

1. Google the website for AMSAT.
2. Find other hams to hang out with. Join a ham club. You will learn a lot in a much shorter amount of time than trying to do it all on your own.
3. Books: There are tons of them available on all radio subjects.
4. Google anything you're wanting to learn about. Most of it is on the internet.
5. Relax and enjoy the learning process. You can't learn everything all at once; it takes a fairly long time to acquire a decent personal learning base.
6, Find and read ham publications, especially magazines. One is called QST which is published by ARRL in Connecticut. It comes with membership which will cost you about $35 per year and is well worth it. Another ham magazine found on newsstands is called CQ.
7. Look up ham equipment sellers, such as HRO or AES, on the web and read their listings.
8. This board is primarily devoted to scanning, but there are other boards which are more into ham radio and you should look them up as well.

If you do even a quarter of the things suggested above you will be pretty busy, but you will also learn a lot very quickly, and the time you spend doing so will be worthwhile.

 

[Rover]

Here are some sites that have got me into Sat-Listening. There are things too hear all over the bands if you know where too listen. The following web sites started me off listening too sats. I have heard various stuff on hand-held radios with whip antennas. There are some easy targets like Ham-sats, Russian Nav-sats and weather sats too start. Good Luck. Remember too check the "links" with the below pages as well.. 73 and good listening.. also search the internet for "satcom" will bring up interesting stuff....

5 sites below too check out...

1)Satellite Radio Transmission Frequencies

2)http://mdkenny.customer.netspace.net.au/

3)www.issfanclub.com/e.net.au/


4)Hearsat.org | The home on the Web for satellite radio signal monitoring

5)Space Tracking Notes