Satellites on scanners?

[robschonk]

Twice now when I downloaded that Satscape when you going back to launch it,
the icon was faded and it wouldnt launch.
Ever have tat problem?

No. Did you use the second download option and download the JAR files?

By the way, don't waste your time trying to hear passes that aren't at least 45 degrees above the horizon with the duckie. I can sometimes get them 15-20 degrees with the Arrow, but even then they're weak.

 

[knightsquad]

45 ?
Hmmm ok, that could be part of the battle! I'll remember that for sure!

Thanks buddy, I'll keep you informed on how I do! LOL

No. Did you use the second download option and download the JAR files?

By the way, don't waste your time trying to hear passes that aren't at least 45 degrees above the horizon with the duckie. I can sometimes get them 15-20 degrees with the Arrow, but even then they're weak.

 

[robschonk]

45 ?
Hmmm ok, that could be part of the battle! I'll remember that for sure!

Thanks buddy, I'll keep you informed on how I do! LOL

Here's a link to some technical info on Satscape:

Satscape Support and Help | Scott Hather's Site

Plus, if you're using a generic scanner antenna, that ain't good. The downlinks are in the amateur 440 mhz band and who knows what a scanner antenna resonates at. Remember, these are only transmitting 25-50 milliwats, so it isn't exactly a strong signal.

Also, the only sats you're likely to hear are AO-51, SO-50, AO-27 and rarely SO-67. I think they've fiddled with the frequencies on AO-51 a while back, so make sure you've got the latest. http://web.me.com/clintbradford/Work-Sat/Home_files/satbr12.pdf

Spend some time reading the posts on that Yahoo group link I sent. There's a lot of frustration for newbies, but we all finally break thru and "work the bird".

 

[knightsquad]

I got the RH77CA antenna on the scanner. Its good in the frequencies
I need.
I hear that AO-51 is having bad problems with its batteries.

Here's a link to some technical info on Satscape:

Satscape Support and Help | Scott Hather's Site

Plus, if you're using a generic scanner antenna, that ain't good. The downlinks are in the amateur 440 mhz band and who knows what a scanner antenna resonates at. Remember, these are only transmitting 25-50 milliwats, so it isn't exactly a strong signal.

Also, the only sats you're likely to hear are AO-51, SO-50, AO-27 and rarely SO-67. I think they've fiddled with the frequencies on AO-51 a while back, so make sure you've got the latest. http://web.me.com/clintbradford/Work-Sat/Home_files/satbr12.pdf

Spend some time reading the posts on that Yahoo group link I sent. There's a lot of frustration for newbies, but we all finally break thru and "work the bird".

 

[robschonk]

I got the RH77CA antenna on the scanner. Its good in the frequencies
I need.
I hear that AO-51 is having bad problems with its batteries.

I heard that too, but Clint Bradford says that it's operating ok now. -51 is prolly the most consistant satellite around.

Satellite Schedules

AMSAT also has a page on the satellites condition:

AMSAT - AO-51 Control Team News

There's a new Arissat sitting inside the space station now, but they haven't launced it yet....

ARISSat-1

http://web.me.com/clintbradford/Work-Sat/ARISSat-1_files/QST-ARISSat1.pdf

It was planned to be another "Suit Sat", but they had to toss the old suit out the door before the new satellite arrived via the Soyuz freighter.

 

[JeremyB]

Which sats are you trying to listen to? AO-51 and AO-27 are the easiest to hear but AO-27 will only be on on ascending passes when it crosses 28 degrees North. Try AO-51 at 2:09 PM your time, it looks like it will be at max elevation for you and AO-27 at 12:38, it should be a very high pass for you and it should be in repeater mode then. Times are good for today 7/26/2011 only

 

[knightsquad]

Hey Hey!

Success today! haha
I picked up AO-27 at 2:30 PM at my job. I was a little late getting outside but sure enough
I was hearing people talking to others. Pretty cool!

Wonder why our times are different Jeremy? My Iphone app and the web site both agreed for once
and it worked!

Thanks to all of you!

Now how far can you talk? Or does that all depend upon conditions? Does skip also
come into play when doing this?
Of course with a radio... not the scanner... LOL
Great Day! hahah My first Satellite! Sound like a little kid huh?

Pete

Which sats are you trying to listen to? AO-51 and AO-27 are the easiest to hear but AO-27 will only be on on ascending passes when it crosses 28 degrees North. Try AO-51 at 2:09 PM your time, it looks like it will be at max elevation for you and AO-27 at 12:38, it should be a very high pass for you and it should be in repeater mode then. Times are good for today 7/26/2011 only

 

[JeremyB]

The times are different because I messed up on changing from my time to yours.

Not any skip involved with sats, it would be rare for propagation to affect the 2 meter and 70cm band the same way at the same time. I did hear a station 3700 miles away on AO-51(MM0KJG) back in January on a less than 1 degree pass.

Clint Bradford's website is indicating that AO-51 may be down again, reports from OSCAR Satellite Status page by KD5QGR seem to agree

 

[JeremyB]

AO-51 sounded good at 1144Z today. If things are going good for SO-67, they will probably turn it for for North and South America passes starting Aug 1 for a week. An overhead pass of 67 is usually really easy to hear

 

[robschonk]

Hey Hey!

Success today! haha
I picked up AO-27 at 2:30 PM at my job. I was a little late getting outside but sure enough
I was hearing people talking to others. Pretty cool!

Wonder why our times are different Jeremy? My Iphone app and the web site both agreed for once
and it worked!

Thanks to all of you!

Now how far can you talk? Or does that all depend upon conditions? Does skip also
come into play when doing this?
Of course with a radio... not the scanner... LOL
Great Day! hahah My first Satellite! Sound like a little kid huh?

Pete

Way to go, Pete!

If you think you're excited now, wait until you hear your own call comming back on the downlink.

The sats are about 450 miles up, so it's line of site.

Did a couple of screen shots from Orbitron to demonstrate. These are actual shots of AO-51 starting at 17:09 local today, with second shot at 17:14, so grab your radio and run outside!

First shot is for max range with the bird just over the horizon, and the second is when it's near azimuth.

 

[robschonk]

Here are some screenshots from Satscape of the pass:

 

[knightsquad]

Hmm
They say this Arissat will be let out of the ISS on Aug 3rd but only work for maybe 6 months.

Will have video too! Nice, if you can do that type of stuff... I guess good for class rooms..

I heard that too, but Clint Bradford says that it's operating ok now. -51 is prolly the most consistant satellite around.

Satellite Schedules

AMSAT also has a page on the satellites condition:

AMSAT - AO-51 Control Team News

There's a new Arissat sitting inside the space station now, but they haven't launced it yet....

ARISSat-1

http://web.me.com/clintbradford/Work-Sat/ARISSat-1_files/QST-ARISSat1.pdf

It was planned to be another "Suit Sat", but they had to toss the old suit out the door before the new satellite arrived via the Soyuz freighter.

 

[robschonk]

Yeah, ISS is only about 250 miles up, so when they release it, it will be in a quickly deteriorating orbit. They have to boost the ISS up occasionally so it doesn't re-enter.

Hmm
They say this Arissat will be let out of the ISS on Aug 3rd but only work for maybe 6 months.

Will have video too! Nice, if you can do that type of stuff... I guess good for class rooms..

 

[robschonk]

Just got this:

NASA is scheduled to be broadcasting a live ISS update at 12:00 Noon PDT today (Sat) -
which should include coverage of the Russians' activation of ARISSat-1/Kedr, which is
scheduled for 12:15PM PDT.

The Russian Federal Space Agency shows " ... prepare and test integration of microsatellite
"Cedar" (experiment "Radioskaf") ... " as a task to be performed.

Clint Bradford, K6LCS
Work the FM Ham Satellites