Sounds from Amateur Radio Satellites

This section is dedicated to satellites built and operated by Radio Amateurs. Most of them were built by AMSAT organizations around the world and were called AMSAT-OSCAR. Another group of satellites were built by Russian Hams and were mostly called Radiosputnik. In order to build and launch the satellites AMSAT needs members and friends to contribute and raise funds. If you are not yet a member of AMSAT please consider to join your local organization to support future activities. You can find several links to AMSAT on my links page.

My special thanks to Roy W0SL, Jim N4ST, Don KD4APP, Darrel AA7FV, Jim N5JDB, Clive G3CWV, Mike DK3WN, Reinhard DJ1KM +, Michael DG1CMZ, Oliver DG6BCE, Peter DF2JB, Volker DF7IT, Jean-Louis F6AGR, Thomas HB9SKA, Christoph HB9HAL, Claudio IK1SLD, Andreas OE1DMB, Michael PA3BHF, Henk PA3GUO, Darek SP9TTX, Ricardo PY3VHQ, Keith ZS6TW, Don N4UJW, Vladimir RA3DQT, Paulo CT1ETE, John KD2BD, Harald DH8HHA, Maik Hermenau, Ian ZL1AOX, Gerd DL8DR, Michael OH2AUE, Robert G8ATE, Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ, Mark KF6KYI, Al W8KHP, Drew KO4MA, Rolf DK2ZF, Dave WB6LLO, Graham G3VZV, Joe K0VTY, Nils von Storch, Zeljko 9A2EY, Pierre ZS6BB, Roland PY4ZBZ, Bent OZ6BL, Mariano CT1XI, Al GM1SXX, Luc LU1FAM, Matt SQ7DQX, Lance K6GSJ, Chris VK3AML, Bob VE6BLD, Sergej RV3DR for kindly contributing to this collection !

Picture

Satellite
#NORAD

Remarks

Launch Date

OSCAR 0
OSCAR Zero
Moon
#00001

Radio amateurs use the Moon as a passive repeater (reflector) and thus call him sometimes OSCAR Zero. Enclosed the famous words of the first man on the Moon (Neil Armstrong, Jul 20^th 1969)

Jul 20^th 1969

Enclosed Moon Bounce SSB transmissions were done from KP4BPZ in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, using the 1000 foot diameter radio telescope dish. KP4BPZ was running about 500 watts on 432 MHz. This recording was made by Roy W0SL in Florissant, Missouri on July 3^rd, 1965.

The moon can be used as a reflector also at Microwave frequencies as demonstrated in the next few recordings kindly provided by Michael OH2AUE. This recording is from the first Finish 10 GHz EME QSO (in CW) with WA7CJO. OH2AUE built the equipment and the 6.4 meter dish from OH2AXH was used.

The first Finnish 5.6 GHz EME QSO (in SSB) took place in 1995. You can hear the voice of OH2AXH as well as the echo of the reflected signal loud and clear. TRX from OH2AUE and 6.4m dish from OH2AXH. Recorded in 1998 by Michael OH2AUE.

First Finish 3.4 GHz EME QSO (in CW) with WB5LUA. TRX from OH2AUE and dish from OH2AXH. Recorded on January 5^th 1998 by Michael OH2AUE.

OSCAR I
OSCAR 1
#00214
(1961-034B)

This first Amateur Radio Satellite was built by a Californian group of Amateur Radio operators. They called their activities "Project OSCAR" (Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio). OSCAR-I was launched together with the reconnaissance satellite Discoverer-36 (seepicture of special letter enclosed) from Vandenberg, AFB aboard an Agena rocket. The primary payload was a spy satellite of the CORONA series. OSCAR-I had a polar orbit of 431km x 245km with an inclination of 81°. It had a weight of 4.5 kg and transmitted a simple "HI-HI" in morse code on 2m (144.983 MHz) with 140 mW power using a single monopole antenna. The speed of the HI-HI message was controlled by a temperature sensor inside the spacecraft. OSCAR-I operated 3 weeks until its batteries were discharged and decayed after 312 orbits on January 31^st 1962. Recording kindly provided by W0SL.

Dec 12^th 1961

Lance Ginner K6GSJ was very much involved in the build and launch of OSCAR-I to OSCAR-IV. He kindly provided some very interesting and rare pictures of OSCAR-I.

OSCAR II
OSCAR 2
#00305
(1962-022B)

OSCAR II was built by the same team and was very similar to OSCAR I with some slight modifications which were:
1.) changes to the surface thermal coatings to achieve a cooler internal spacecraft environment
2.) modifications of the sensing system so that the satellite temperature could be measured accurately as the batteries decayed
3.) reduction of the transmitter output power to 100 mW to extend the life of the onboard battery.
OSCAR-II was launched from Vandenberg, AFB aboard a Thor Agena B rocket with Discoverer-43 (picture of special letter on the right). Discoverer-43 was another payload of the CORONA series. It was inserted into a 292km x 110km polar orbit with 74° inclination. OSCAR-II lasted 18 days before it decayed on June 21^st 1962.

Jun 2^nd 1962

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OSCAR III
OSCAR 3
EGRS-3
#01293
(1965-016F)

OSCAR-III had a weight of 16.3kg and was launched from Vandenberg, AFB on a Thor Agena D rocket together with a classified satellite. It had a nearly circular orbit (892km x 865km, inclination 70°). AO-III was the first amateur satellite to operate from solar power and relay voice contacts in the 2 meter band (VHF) through a 1 W 50 kHz wide linear transponder (146 MHz uplink and 144 MHz downlink). A total of 176 two-way contacts were reported through OSCAR-III during 247 orbits of active translator operation (18 days). Contacts were made by 98 participating stations, 67 from North America and the remaining 31 from Europe. It also had two radio beacons sending a continuous signal for tracking and propagation studies respectively telemetry data about temperatures and battery voltages.

Mar 9^th 1965

Below please find some articles about OSCAR-III.
          

In the years of OSCAR-III tracking a satellite was not as easy as running a colorful application on a PC. In 1965 Joe K0VTY built a tool for satellite pass predictions. Enclosed please find a picture of his "Half Globe". Here is how it works: The half globe was a surplus school world globe. It comes apart rather easily at the equator. You put the northern hemisphere of the globe on a wooden base with some wood blocks at the edges of the globe to allow it to rotate and remain centered. Select a place on the wood base to be the reference to measurements. This is the starting point for a piano wire that passes over the globe as if it were at a LEO distance above the earth (globe). The piano wire terminates on the other side of the globe in a place that is equal to the passage of the satellite over the earth. Along the wire are string knots representing a distance of ten minutes. Missing on the pictures is a thin poly sheet, 6 inches in diameter, that had a inner hole 2 inches in diameter to represent an omni-directional radiation pattern centered on his location. Thus he could see his satellite horizon for the bird depending on the location of the wire.

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OSCAR IV
OSCAR 4
#01902
(1965-108C)

OSCAR-IV was launched from Cape Canaveral onboard a Titan 3C piggyback with three United States Air Force satellites and had a target orbit which was geosynchronous. However due to a malfunction of the 3rd stage of the Titan rocket it was inserted into a highly elliptical orbit (29120km x 168km, inclination 26°). This 18.1kg satellite was a project of the TRW radio club in Los Angeles and included a 10 kHz wide linear transponder (144 MHz uplink and 432 MHz downlink) with 3W output power. It operated 85 days and decayed on April 12^th 1976.

Dec 21^st 1965

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Australis OSCAR 5
#04321
(1970-008B)

AO-5 was built at Melbourne University and was the first amateur satellite to be remotely controlled. Development was sponsored by AMSAT and commenced in 1966. Its weight was 17.7 kg and the dimensions were 0.30m x 0.43m x 0.15m. It was launched from Vandenberg, AFB aboard a Thor Delta rocket. Its circular orbit (1477km x 1434km) was inclined 102°. It employed bar-magnet stabilization to prevent tumbling. The battery (9 kg) powered transmitter sent telemetry on 2 meter (144.050 MHz at 50 mW) and 10 meter (29.450 MHz at 250 mW) bands. The 2m beacon remained operational for 23 days, the 10m beacon for 46 days respectively.

Jan 23^rd 1970

The 10m beacon transmitted on 29.450 MHz a telemetry tone and was interrupted by the "HI" CW keying. Recorded at the day of the launch on January 23^rd 1970. Kindly provided by Chris VK3AML.

The 2m beacon transmitted on 144.050 MHz a telemetry tone and was interrupted by the "HI" CW keying. Recorded at the day of the launch on January 23^rd 1970. Kindly provided by Chris VK3AML.

The Wireless Institute of Australia transmitted the launch and acquisition of AO-5 on the day of its launch. This transmission on 1825 kHz of AX3WI in Victoria Parade, East Melbourne, was recorded and kindly provided by Chris VK3AML in Melbourne, Australia. Please note that this 54 minute recording which includes many interesting comments and live recordings of AO-5 is 13 MByte large !

AMSAT OSCAR 6
(Phase-2A)
#06236
(1972-082B)

AO-6 was launched from Vandenberg, AFB aboard a Delta 2310. Its circular orbit (1455km x 1449km) was inclined 102°. Equipped with solar panels powering NiCd batteries this satellite had a weight of 16.0kg and lasted 4.5 years. It was the first amateur radio satellite with a complex control system using discrete logic. It featured 3 transponders using 10m, 2m, 70cm bands as well as a Codestore unit. The transmit power was 1.5 Watts. The first satellite-to-satellite relay communication was based on AO-6 and AO-7.

Oct 15^th 1972

On September 22^nd 1973 Prof. Dr. Walter Eichenauer DJ2RE gave a presentation in German language at UKW-Tagung (an annual convention in Weinheim/Germany) . He described the orbit and operation via AMSAT OSCAR 6. The first audio file (400kB) is a short part of the total presentation (23MB). Many thanks to Rolf Niefind DK2ZF for kindly borrowing me the old tapes with the recorded presentation.

In  this recording you can hear the CW signal from Mariano CT1XI on the AO-6 downlink. He was calling CQ. Recorded in 1972 by CT1XI.

In 1974 CT1XI had a CW contact with FY7AS in French Guiana. Recording kindly provided by CT1XI.

In October 2009 I received the attached audio recordings from Zeljko Ulip 9A2EY. It includes 7 contacts he made on August 16^th 1973 via AO-6. On the end of the recording you can hear his voice. The translation from Croatian to English language is as follows: „This is a recording of the 3.820 th orbit of amateur satellite OSCAR-6 on 16.08.1973 from 18.04 to 18.16 GMT. I made seven contacts with G6RH, DJ1QT, G3GKI, DM2BLI, G3CXM, OH2RK and DJ9KJ“. At the time Zelijko made the contacts his callsign was YU2REY.

AMSAT OSCAR 7
(Phase-2B)
#07530
(1974-089B)

AO-7 was built by a multinational team under the direction of AMSAT North America. AO-7 carries two linear transponders: Mode A (145.850-950 MHz uplink; 29.400-500 MHz downlink) and Mode B (432.180-120 MHz uplink; 145.920-980 MHz downlink). It also contains two working beacons on 29.502 and 145.972 MHz. A third beacon on 435.1 MHz has been reportedly heard sporadically and a fourth beacon on 2304.1MHz was never activated. In 1981, after 7 years of successful operation, AO-7 ceased transmissions due to battery failures. However another 21 years later, in mid 2002, it started to become operational again. Until today, 35 years after its lauch, its transmitter is active as long as the satellite is not in eclipse i.e. its solar panels are lit by the sun. After emerging from an eclipse AO-7 may turn on in any of the modes explained above.

Nov 15^th 1974

On September 22^nd 1973 Prof. Dr. Karl Meinzer DJ4ZC gave a presentation on the planned next satellites AMSAT OSCAR 7 and 8 in German language at UKW-Tagung (an annual convention in Weinheim/Germany) . He orbit The first audio file (270kB) is a short part of the total presentation (18MB). Many thanks to Rolf Niefind DK2ZF for kindly borrowing me the old tapes with the recorded presentation.

These downlink signals are from one of the first orbits of AO-7. They include SSB signals from I8CVS calling CQ and F6CVN answering. Recorded November 17^th 1974, 11:09 UTC by F6AGR.

The beacon of AO-7 transmitting on 145.975 MHz was received by Rolf DK2ZF. Please note that at that time there were still terrestrial beacons in the same frequency band. You can recognize one in the background of this recording as it is negatively keyed.

CT1XI was the first Portuguese Radio Amateur working in SSB via AO-7. This recording from 1974 documents his contact with W2BXA. Recording kindly provided by CT1XI.

Around August 30^th 1979 Dave Guimont WB6LLO received the 2m telemetry downlink of AO-7. He kindly provided the enclosed recordings.

Around August 30^th 1979 W7FF called CQ via AO-7 in SSB. The 2m downlink signal was recorded and kindly provided by Dave Guimont WB6LLO.

Around August 30^th 1979 W6RFX called CQ via AO-7 in CW. The 2m downlink signal was recorded and kindly provided by Dave Guimont WB6LLO.

2m (145.972 MHz) beacon recorded June 24^th 2002 1435 UTC by DK3WN

70cm (435.102 MHz) beacon recorded July 14^th 2002 1140 UTC by DK3WN

KD4APP calling CQ on June 23^rd 2002

QSO on June 23^rd 2002, recorded by KD4APP

QSO in Mode B (70cm up, 2m down) on April 2^nd 2005 of PA3GUO and DK3SE, recorded by PA3GUO

35 years after its launch, in spring 2009, the RTTY telemetry beacon of AO-7 was active again using the following parameters: 45 Baud, 85 Hz shift, 5 bits per character, no parity bit, 1.5 stop bits . Enclosed audio file was recorded by Mike DK3WN on March 2^nd 2009 at 17:05 UTC on 435.105 MHz + - doppler using an FT-736R receiver in CW mode. Mike kindly provides a freeware sound card decoder (you find it on his homepage which is listed in my "links" section).

AO-7 allows intercontinental contacts due to his orbit. On August 13^th 2009 at 20:37h UTC PY4ZBZ (in GH70UN Brazil) and ZS2BK (in KF26SB South Africa) had a successful SSB contact. They were 6990 km apart when they used AO-7 in Mode B with a downlink frequency of 145.955 MHz (USB). Recording made and kindly provided by Roland PY4ZBZ.

AMSAT OSCAR 8
(Phase-2D)
#10703
(1978-026B)

AMSAT-OSCAR 8 was launched as secondary payload with LandSat 3 (ERTS 3) and PIX. This box shaped satellite (38cm x 38cm, 33cm high) had a weight of 27.2 kg and was another cooperative international effort of the United States, Canada, Germany and Japan. Similar store-and-forward service as AO-7. Carried Mode A (145.850-900 MHz uplink and 29.400-500 MHz downlink) and Mode J (145.900-146.000 MHz uplink and 435.100 MHz downlink (inverted)) linear transponders and telemetry beacons on 435.095 MHz and 29.402 MHz. For VHF a circularly polarized canted turnstile antenna was used whereas the UHF antenna was a quarter wave monopole. The antenna system was completed by a half-wave dipole for HF.  AO-8 was operational until the batteries failed on June 24^th 1983.

Mar5^th 1978

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RS 1
Radio Sputnik 1
#11085
(1978-100B) 

RS 1/2 each had a weight of 40 kg and carried linear transponders receiving at 145 MHz and transmitting from 29.350 to 29.390 MHz with an output power of 1.5W. They also featured a 1.5 W telemetry CW beacon operating at 29.401 MHz. It also had a Codestore unit like OSCAR-6. It used an inverted-V antenna for VHF and a quarter wave whip HF antenna.
Battery failed caused the satellites to fail after a few months.

Oct 26^th 1978

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RS 2
#11086
(1978-100C) 

RS 1/2 each had a weight of 40 kg and carried linear transponders receiving at 145 MHz and transmitting from 29.350 to 29.390 MHz with an output power of 1.5W. They also featured a 1.5 W telemetry CW beacon operating at 29.401 MHz. It also had a Codestore unit like OSCAR-6. It used an inverted-V VHF antenna and a quarter wave whip HF antenna.
Battery failed caused the satellites to fail after a few months.

Oct 26^th 1978

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AMSAT Phase-3A
P3A
(launch failed)

AMSAT Phase-3A was the first satellite of the AMSAT Phase 3 program. It was jointly developed by AMSAT Germany and AMSAT North America. This 92.2 kg satellite included a 50 Watt high power Mode-B linear-transponder with 435 MHz uplink and 145 MHz downlink. Phase-3A had an on board Star-13C kick motor which would have boosted it into a highly elliptic Molniya orbit. However the satellite was lost during launch (the first Ariane-1 launch carrying actual payloads). P3A would have been named AMSAT-OSCAR 9. An English report about the launch failure was printed in AMSAT magazine "Orbit" and can be downloaded by clicking on the icon to the right. A collection of German articles of the launch preparation can be downloaded by clicking on the icon to the left.

May 23^rd 1980

Ulli DK4VW, who was in Kourou at the launch site, reported frequently about the preparations of the launch and especially of the launch campaign itself. The recordings below (on HF bands) were kindly provided by DK2ZF and include very interesting and dramatic reports.

In this contact Ulli DK4VW in Kourou is reporting the status of the launch preparations to Karl DK4ZC (in German).

More details of the launch preparation discussed in a contact between the club station FY7KRU operated by Ulli DK4VW and Rolf DK2ZF (in German).

Another update was given on the day before launch by Ulli DK4VW to Rolf DK2ZF (in German).

Contact between Jan WA3NAN in Maryland and Ulli FY7KRU in Kourou (in English).

FY7KRU reports to DK4ZC (in German) and WA3NAN (in English) the interruption of the launch campaign because of an anomaly in the valve of the second stage. The countdown was reset to T-6 minutes.

DJ4ZC Karl asks FY7KRU Ulli about post launch data to calculate keplerian elements.

A second interruption of the launch campaign was reported by Ulli FY7KRU. The countdown was reset again to T-6 minutes.

The countdown was restarted but shortly after interrupted again for 5 minutes.

The launch window was getting tight now. This recording starts 3 minutes before launch and includes the launch. A few minutes after the launch the CAT receiver signal was noisy, which indicated already a problem.

Soon after, Ulli FY7KRU had to report a loss of the telemetry signals and then the loss of the rocket and satellite. He stated "Wir sind sehr traurig" (we are very sad). This was certainly also the mood of the team which got together in Kourou.

After the failed launch HB90P explained to DK2ZF in amazing details the chain of events which caused the problem (see also last picture left).

ISKRA 1
#19236
(1981-065C)

Iskra-1 (English: spark) was launched on a Soviet Vostok A-1 rocket together with the Meteor 1-31 weather satellite. It featured a transponder with 21 MHz uplink to 28 MHz downlink and a telemetry beacon on 10m. Decayed on Oct 7^th 1981.

July 10^th 1981

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UoSAT OSCAR 9
(UoSAT-1)
#12888
(1981-100B)

UoSAT-1 was designed, built and operated by the University of Surrey team. It was the first satellite featuring an on-board computer for IHU (ntegrated Housekeeping Unit). With downlinks on 2m and 13cm bands it provided multiple beacons. UO-9 also featured a voice synthesizer ("Digitalker") which provided telemetry data. It was transmitted in FM on 145.825 MHz.

Oct 6^th 1981

UO-9 beacon was received and recorded on December 16^th 1987 by OZ6BL.

The Digitalker reporting telemetry data was recorded on September 25^th 1988 and kindly provided by John KD2BD.

Digitalker of UO-9 recorded on March 16^th 1989 starting at 8:55 UTC on 145.825 MHz by DD1US.

UO-9 decayed after 8 years on Oct 13^th 1989. Enclosed please find a copy of the last reported reception of its telemetry. It was recorded on Oct 13^th 1989 at 05:29 UTC and kindly provided by Dave Guimont WB6LLO.

RS 3
Radio-3
#12997
(1981-120A)

RS-3 to RS-8 were jointly launched on one C-1 rocket from the Northern Cosmodrome at Plesetsk to 1600 km altitude.
They were supposedly based on small Strela-1M (arrow) space-frames which were originally designed for Russian Military store/dump communication spacecrafts. Cosmos-3M launchers were used to launch octets of these store/dump satellites into one of three orbital planes to provide excellent global coverage. More than 200 small Strelas were launched between 1970 and 1992.
Fortunately some spare Strela-1M space-frames could be used for the RS 3-8 satellites with adapted payloads developed by students of the University of Moscow. Like RS-1 and RS-2, the six new Radiosputniks each weighed approx. 40 kg and were cylinders 43cm in diameter and 38cm long. At that time, this was the largest clutch of Amateur Radio satellites ever orbited at one time. Many thanks to Al GM1SXX for this background information.

Dec 17^th 1981

RS-3 transmitted telemetry in CW on 29.321MHz.
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RS 4
Radio-4
#12998
(1981-120B)

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Dec 17^th 1981

RS 5
Radio-5
#12999
(1981-120C)

RS-5 transmitted telemetry in CW on 29.331MHz.
OZ6BL received and recorded the beacon on February 16^th 1985.

Dec 17^th 1981

RS-5 also featured a Mode-A transponder. Its 1.5 Watt transmitter provided an excellent downlink signal. This is demonstrated by enclosed SSB-QSO of Heinz DJ9AP and Nils SM0MRO which was recorded on February 16^th 1985 at 21:30 UTC by OZ6BL.

RS 6
Radio-6
#13000
(1981-120D)

RS-6 transmitted telemetry in CW on 29.453MHz.
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Dec 17^th 1981

RS 7
Radio-7
#13001
(1981-120E)

RS-7 transmitted telemetry in CW on 29.341MHz.
The CW telemetry signal from RS-7 was recorded in 1985 by Jim N4ST.

Dec 17^th 1981

The RS-7 CW beacon downlink signal was also received and recorded on February 16^th 1985 by OZ6BL.

RS 8
Radio-8
#13002
(1981-120F)

RS-8 transmitted telemetry in CW on 29.461 MHz.
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Dec 17^th 1981

ISKRA 2
#13176
(1982-033C)

ISKRA-2 was launched by hand out of an airlock of the Space Station Salyut-7 by Anatoli Berezovoi and Valentin Lebedev. This spherical satellite was dedicated to the 19^th Congress of the Soviet Komsomol. Beacon was supposed to transmit on 29.578 MHz and the transponder should convert from 21 MHz to 28 MHz. Both failed to activate due to a controller malfunction.

May 17^th 1982

ISKRA 3
#13663
(1982-033D)

ISKRA-3 was launched exactly the same way as ISKRA-2. Same spherical shape with 60cm in diameter and 28 kg weight as ISKRA-2. Beacon transmitted on 29.593 MHz.
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Nov 18^th 1982

AMSAT OSCAR 10
(Phase-3B)
#14129
(1983-058B)

AMSAT OSCAR 10 was launched on June 16^th 1983 piggyback with the European test satellite ECS-1 on Ariane 1-06. Due to a collision with part of the launch vehicle after separation the onboard propulsion system was damaged and thus AO-10 did not reach its targeted Molniya type orbit. Nevertheless AO-10 was very successfully used by many radio amateurs worldwide. It featured 2 beacons and a Mode B linear transponder.
General beacon: 145.810 MHz CW/RTTY/PSK
Engineering beacon: 145.987 MHz PSK
Mode U/V (B) linear transponder (inverting):
    Uplink: 435.027 - 435.179 MHz LSB/CW
    Downlink: 145.825 - 145.977 MHz USB/CW
 In December 1986 the onboard computer of AO-10 failed due to radiation damage of the memory chips. Since then the satellite did turn its transponder or beacons randomly on/off. Under normal conditions the transponder is on and the general beacon transmits an unmodulated carrier.

Jun 16^th 1983

Due to the collision also the antennae were damaged. Therefore you can hear a strong spinning sound of the transponder (this file is 2.7MB large).

W0SL testing via AO-10. You can hear the long propagation delay due to the highly elliptical orbit. Recorded by W0SL.

On August 6^th 1983 OZ6BL recorded the CW downlink signal of AO-10.

The linear transponder of AO-10 allowed also the use of RTTY. This recording was done on Feb 17^th 1985 by OZ6BL.

UoSAT OSCAR 11
(UoSAT-2)
#14781
(1984-021B)

UoSAT OSCAR 11 (UO-11) was built in only 6 month at the University of Surrey / UK. The 70kg satellite was launched on a Delta-F rocket. It featured transmitters at 145.825 MHz, 435.025 MHz and 2401.5 MHz. It was the first satellite supporting store-and-forward capabilities for digital messages.

Mar 1^st 1984

UO-11 featured a voice synthesizer called Digitalker which was recorded on February 17^th 1985 by OZ6LB.

UO-11 also had a 1200bd AFSK ASCII telemetry downlink. It was recorded on November 23^rd 1987 by OZ6BL.

End of 1987 UoSAT-2 transmitted short Christmas greetings to all listeners. The audio file was kindly provided by John KD2BD.

Digitalker transmitting the latest known position of the polar expedition "Ski-Track" on March 24^th 1988 on the 2m FM downlink. The Digitalker text is:
NUMBER 18   -   PRIORITY 0 0 0   -   DATE 24TH OF MARCH   -
TIME 12 HOURS AND 52 MINUTES GMT   -   YOU ARE AT 84 DEGREES 25 POINT 6 MINUTES N AND 95 DEGREES 58.2 MINUTES E   -   73S
File provided by Michael Meermann PA3BHF (www.meerman.fsnet.co.uk/NorthPole).

UO-11 ASCII telemetry recorded on March 16^th 1989 starting at 10:05 UTC by DD1US.

S-Band beacon downlink recorded by Jim N5JDB.

ASCII Telemetry of the 2m downlink recorded on Feb 14^th 1998 by Clive G3CWV.

UO-11 1200bd AFSK telemetry signal received on 145.825 MHz by Mark KF6KYI on January 23^rd 2008 at 04:27UTC.

Fuji OSCAR 12
(JAS-1A)
#16909
(1986-061B)

FO-12 (JAS-1A) was developed by Japan Amateur Radio League with system design and integration done by NEC. It was launched aboard a H-I launcher piggyback with a Japanese experimental geodetic satellite Ajisai (EGS). Its circular orbit (1490km) was inclined by 50 degrees. It featured analog (JA) and digital (JD) transponders with uplink frequencies in 2m band and downlink frequencies in 70cm band (output power was 1 Watt). FO-12 operated until November 5^th 1989 when the batteries failed.

Aug 12^th 1986

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RS 10/11
(COSMOS 1861)
#18129
(1987-054A)

RS-10 and RS-11 were tandem loads integrated into a navigation satellite called Cosmos 1861. This satellite was launched into a circular orbit with an altitude of 100km and an inclination of 83 degrees. RS-10 and RS-11 supported the following modes: A, K, T, KA and KT with an output power of 5 Watts.

Jun 24^th 1987

RS-10 in Robot mode, AA3O transmitted in CW on the 2m uplink and the satellite responded with a QSO# on the 10m downlink, recorded by N4ST (ex AA3O)

RS-11 CW telemetry signal on 10m downlink recorded by Jim N4ST

RS-11 in Robot mode, QSO of KD2BD on March 6^th 1988. John used an 2m FM transmitter which he keyed to generate a CW signal. Recording kindly provided by John KD2BD.

AMSAT OSCAR 13
(Phase-3C)
#19216
(1988-051B)

AO-13 was launched on June 15^th 1988 on an Ariane-4 rocket from Kourou/French Guiana. It was at its time the most powerful Amateur Radio communications satellite. AO-13 was in a highly elliptical orbit, which provided the spacecraft outstanding DX potential over the world's most populated regions (Asia, North America and Europe).
AO-13 carried four beacon transmitters and four linear transponders. The beacon downlinks were:
Mode V (General beacon): 145.812 MHz CW/RTTY/PSK
Mode V (Engin. beacon): 145.985 MHz PSK
Mode U (General beacon):435.652 MHz PSK
Mode S (Engin. beacon): 2400.664 MHz PSK
The most used transponders were:
Mode U/V (B) Linear Transponder (Inverting):
    Uplink: 435.573 - 435.423 MHz LSB/CW
    Downlink: 145.825 - 145.975 MHz USB/CW
Mode V/L/U Linear Transponder (Inverting):
    Uplink: 2m SSB/CW
    Uplink: 23cm SSB/CW
    Downlink: 70cm SSB/CW
Mode U/S Linear Transponder (Inverting):
    Uplink: 435.602 - 435.638 MHz LSB/CW
    Downlink: 2400.711 - 2400.747 MHz USB/CW
In November 1998, after 8 years of operation, the solar panels failed as they got very hot during low perigee passes in the dense atmosphere. The plot enclosed shows such a transition recorded on November 23^rd 1998 in orbit 6479. AO-13 finally decayed on December 5^th 1996.

Jun 15^th 1988

Both, on AO10 and AO13 so called ZRO tests were regularly conducted. During these tests a Morse signal with decreasing power level was transmitted and thus allowed the user to evaluate the performance of his receiving system. Enclosed you can hear the ZRO transmission on 145 MHz via OSCAR 13 from Andy MacAllister, on 24 April 1993. The file contains about 6 minutes of continuous data, starting with ZRO level 8 data, (24 dB below the beacon) including the level 9 (-27 dB) and level A (-30 dB) signal, finishing with the "End of test" message at full power. Recorded by Darrel AA7FV.

On April 11^th 1989 Dave WB6LLO recorded the 2m PSK beacon which transmitted at 400BPS. The mp3 files are smaller in size and thus quicker to download. However I added also wav files in case someone wants to use them to test his telemetry decoder.

On April 11^th 1989 Dave Guimont WB6LLO recorded the Mode-B (2m) downlink of AO-13 with several SSB signals.

Here is another station calling WB6LLO but he is missing the "B" in his callsign. Recorded also in April 1989 (AO-13 Mode B orbit #633) by Dave WB6LLO.

QSO of CT1BQN and JA4EV on AO13. Recorded by Darek SP9TTX (this complete QSO is 4 MBytes large).

UoSAT OSCAR 14
(UoSAT-3)
Healthsat-1
#20437
(1990-005B)

UoSAT OSCAR 14 was launched together with UoSAT OSCAR 15 from Kourou on the Ariane flight V35 ASAP into a sun-synchronous orbit (hight 780km, inclination 98 degree). The primary payload of this Ariane launch was SPOT-2.
The primary purpose UO-14, a 46kg 3-axis stabilized satellite, was a digital Store and Forward communications transponder supporting multiple access from hundreds of portable groundstations. It was particularly suited to communications in remote or disaster-stricken areas. Two experimental payloads were included to monitor the radiation environment experienced by the satellite in Low Earth Orbit (LEO), measuring cosmic particles, and total radiation dose.
UoSAT-OSCAR14 spent its first 18 months in orbit operating as an amateur store and forward satellite. In early 1992, all amateur operations were moved from UO-14 to UoSAT-OSCAR 22. UO-14 operations were then dedicated for use by VITA (Volunteers In Technical Assistance) who used it for sending and receiving messages escpecially medical data transmissions in Africa (service was called also Satelife and UO-14 was renamed to Healthsat-1). When the computer used for store and forward communications became non-operational, in March 2000 UO-14 was re-configured as a very popular single channel FM repeater in space. Frequencies used were:
Uplink:      145.975 MHz (9600 bps FSK AX.25) or analog FM
Downlink: 435.070 MHz (9600 bps FSK AX.25) or analog FM
Beacon:    435.070 MHz (1200 bps AFSK (NBFM) AX.25)
UoSAT-3 was taken out of service in August 2003 due to insufficient power from the rechargeable batteries which lost their capacity.

Jan 22^nd 1990

QSOs of DL1LSZ and F6HCC using the FM repeater mode on February 25^th 2002, recorded by DK3WN

Multiple QSOs of Don KD4APP on May 19^th 2002.

UoSAT OSCAR 15
(UoSAT-4)
#20438
(1990-005C)

UoSAT OSCAR 15 was launched together with UoSAT OSCAR 14 from Kourou on the Ariane flight V35 ASAP into a sun-synchronous orbit (hight 780km, inclination 98 degree). The primary payload of this Ariane launch was SPOT-2.
The RF system on UoSAT-4 consisted of three VHF receivers and two UHF transmitters. During normal operation all receivers were active and one downlink could be selected via a telecommand operated relay. Up and down link data rates were 1200 AFSK and 9600 FSK, though only 1200 AFSK was used during the commissioning phase. The transmitter output power was set to 1.5 watts during acquisition could have be switched up to 5 Watts.
UoSAT-4 failed 30 hours after launch, thus most likely no recordings of its transmissions are available.
I am searching for sound files. Please send them to

Jan 22^nd 1990

AMSAT OSCAR 16
(PacSat)
#20439
(1990-005D)

PSK signal recorded by DK3WN

Jan 22^nd 1990

1200Bd Manchester coded FM signal recorded by DK3WN

Recorded by Don Woodward, KD4APP, Oct 5^th 2002

SSB downlink signal received by Mark KF6KYI on February 23^rd 2008.

Dove OSCAR 17
#20440
(1990-005E)

DO-17 included a Digital Orbiting Voice Encoder. Please listen to the enclosed synthesized voice message.

Jan 22^nd 1990

This recording was done during a DAC test transmission.

The 1200Bd AFSK signal was recorded by DK3WN

The 2.4 GHz downlink carrier of AO17 shows a strong doppler shift. Recorded by OH2AUE.

Weber OSCAR 18
#20441
(1990-005F)

Sporting a full-color CCD camera, WEBERSAT OSCAR-18 digitized Earth images and downlinked them on 70cm as AX.25 serial data streams. It also featured a packet radio mailbox facility.
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Jan 22^nd 1990

LuSat OSCAR 19
#20442
(1990-005G)

CW beacon recorded August 9^th 2002 by KD4APP

Jan 22^nd 1990

BPSK downlink (sporadic) recorded April 29^th 2003 by KD4APP

CW signal received on 437.125 MHz in FM mode by Mark KF6KYI on January 20^th 2008.

CW signal received on 437.125 MHz in CW mode by Mark KF6KYI on January 28^th 2008.

Fuji OSCAR 20
(JAS-1B)
#20480
(1990-013C)

FO-20 was the successor of FO-12. The 50 kg satellite was launched by NASDA in Japan into an elliptical orbit with a perigee of 912km, an apogee of 1745 km and an inclination of 99°.

Feb 7^th 1990

QSO DL1LSZ and G7RVM on March 17^th 2002 16:02UTC recorded by DK3WN (ex DL1LSZ)

Weak beacon signal recorded September 6^th 2002 by KD4APP, A0 test, changes in tone is generated by Don's UniTrac control system changing the doppler

AMSAT OSCAR 21
AO-21
Rudak 2
Radiosputnik 14
RS 14
Radio M-1
#21087
(1991-006A)

This satellite was a joint venture between the AMSAT organizations in Russia and Germany. The amateur equipment rode piggyback on a Russian experimental geological satellite (INFORMATOR-1). The joint project was called Radio M-1 by the Russian team (amateur radio satellite club Orbita and the Adventure Club of Moscow) respectively Rudak-2 by the German hams (at Marburg, Munich and Hannover). The collaboration led to dual names for the new amateur radio satellite once it arrived in orbit: AMSAT-OSCAR-21 (AO-21) and Radiosputnik-14 (RS-14).
AO-21 was a very successful and popular satellite as the 4 different receiving channels in the 70cm band supported multiple modes. The computer could generate differently modulated signals (BPSK, AFSK, FSK, RSM, FM) and thus eight different modes could be transmitted:
- 1200 bps, BPSK, NRZI (Fuji mode)
- 400 bps, BPSK, Biphase s, (Phase-3 mode)
- 2400 bps, BPSK, Biphase s, (Rudak-1 mode)
- 4800 bps, RSM, NRZIC
- 9600 bpses, RSM, NRZI + Scrambler
- CW
- FSK for RTTY, SSTV, FAX transmissions
- FM-modulated through a DSO RISC Processor

Jan 29^h 1991

Test transmission of the in-orbit functional checkout of the DSP in RUDAK-2. Note at the beginning of the transmission the BPSK data transmission.

FM voice message transmission of German AATiS (Arbeitskreis Amateurfunk und Telekommunikation in der Schule) on 145.983 MHz. Recorded between Oct 15^th and 31^st 1993.

Voice greetings in English and German. Recorded by OE1DMB.

Voice messages in Russian. Recorded by OE1DMB.

Voice message in French. Recorded by SP9TTX.

In memoriam of the first man on the moon, which was 25 years before, AO-21 re-transmitted in 1994 the message of the Eagle-Crew as well as a SSTV picture. Sound recorded by OE1DMB, SSTV recorded by SP9TTX.

QSO of EA5ZM Artur and SP9TTX Darek. Recorded by Darek SP9TTX, September 9^th 1994.

Special Christmas greeting (music) prepared by DB2OS and copied with an IC2E hand-held by Michael OH2AUE.

RS 12/13
(COSMOS 2123)
#21089
(1991-007A)

RS-12 and RS-13 were tandem loads integrated into a navigation satellite called Cosmos 2123. Cosmos 2123 was based on the Tsikada satellite platform and was launched into a circular orbit with an altitude of 100km and an inclination of 83 degrees. RS-12 and RS-13 supported the following modes: A, K, T, KA and KT with an output power of 5 Watts.

Feb 5^th 1991

RS12 CW robot transmission recorded by DK3WN, November 3^rd 1999

Strong CW beacon signal from RS12 recorded by DK3WN, December 6^th 2000

Fading CW beacon signal from RS12 recorded by Don Woodward, KD4APP, July 27^th 2002

RS13 also featured a linear transponder with a 2m downlink. You can hear several stations on the enclosed recording which was kindly provided by Maik Hermenau.

UoSAT OSCAR 22
(UoSAT-5)
#21575
(1991-050B)

UoSAT OSCAR 22 was launched on a Ariane 4 rocket from Kourou into a polar orbit. Beside a CCD camera experiment it also featured a packet radio store and forward mailbox. This 9600bd packet radio (AX-25) mailbox had an uplink frequency of 145.900 MHz and a downlink frequency of 435.120 MHz.

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Jul 17^th 1991

KitSat OSCAR 23
(KitSat-1)
(Kitsat-A)
#22077
(1992-052B) 

KitSat OSCAR 23 was a store and forward AX-25 packet radio satellite built as joint project by Korean Advanced Institute of Technology and British University of Surrey. The 9600bd uplink frequencies in the 2m band were on 145.850 MHz and 145.900 MHz. The 9600bd downlink frequency was 435.175 MHz. Normally the 9600bd downlink sounds like noise. However during a malfunction on March 3^rd 1999 at 08:10UTC Mike DK3WN recorded this unique downlink signal.

Aug 10^th 1992

Arsene OSCAR 24
#22654
(1993-031B)

Arsene OSCAR 24 was launched on May 13^th 1993 on an Ariane V-56A rocket from Kourou into an equatorial elliptical orbit. AO-24 was built by French Radio Amateur Club de l'Espace and featured a Mode B as well as a Mode S transponder. The Mode B transponder failed soon after launch and thus the 145.975 MHz downlink (1200 bps FM AFSK) was never used. However Arsene OSCAR 24 could be used for several months as a SSB / CW linear transponder with the Mode S downlink at 2446.54 MHz.until this transponder failed as well. In the audio file enclosed you can first hear the telemetry downlink, then JA3GCT calling CQ and finally a QSO of HB9HAL and I6CGE. All recorded on the S-Band downlink on August 7^th 1993 by Christoph HB9HAL.

May 12^th 1993

KitSat OSCAR 25
(KitSat-2)
(Kitsat-B)
#22828
(1993-061H)

KitSat OSCAR 25 was launched on Sepember 26^th 1993 together with 3 other Amateur Radio satellites on an Ariane 4 rocket from Kourou into a polar orbit with 98° inclination. This successor of KO-23 included a CCD camera and multiple other experiments. KO-25 is a store and forward AX-25 packet radio satellite using 9600bd FSK in up- and downlink. The uplink frequencies are 145.870 MHz and 145.980 MHz, the downlink frequency is 436.500 MHz.

Sep 26^th 1993

The downlink signal of KO-25 in the 70cm band was recorded by Don Woodward, KD4APP, on Sept 7^th 2002

ItAMSAT OSCAR 26
#22826
(1993-061D)

Launched on an Ariane 4 rocket the mission of IO-26 was to store and forward amateur radio messages . Its signal was recorded by Don Woodward, KD4APP, on Nov 14^th 2002

Sep 26^th 1993

This PSK downlink signal was recorded by DK3WN

Amrad OSCAR 27
(EyeSat-1)
#22825
(1993-061C)

QSOs of DL1LSZ and DL2DRD on December 4^th 1999, recorded by DK3WN

Sep 26^th 1993

QSOs recorded by Don Woodward, KD4APP, Sept 8^th 2002

1200bd Telemetry recorded by Don Woodward, KD4APP, Nov 19^th 2002

PoSat OSCAR 28
(PoSAT-1)
#22829
(1993-061G)

First Portuguese Amateur Radio satellite.

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Sep 26^th 1993

RS 15
#23439
(1994-085A)

CW telemetry signal recorded by DK3WN, Sept 19^th 2002 13:40UTC

Dec 26^th 1994

Weak CW beacon signal from RS15 on 29.352 MHz recorded by KD4APP, Sept 30^th 2002

On June 14^th 2009 at 08:20 UTC Henk PA3GUO recorded the CW beacon of RS15.

Fuji OSCAR 29
(JAS-2)
#24278
(1996-046B)

CW beacon recorded March 5^th 1999 14:15 UTC by DK3WN

Aug 17^th 1996

PSK beacon recorded March 9^th 1999 15:45 UTC by DK3WN

QSO DL1LSZ and F1DPI in Mode JA on Sept. 3^rd 2000 14:10 UTC, recorded by DK3WN

Synthesized voice transmission of FO-29 in FM on 435.910 MHz

Another synthesized voice message of FO-29 including the sound of a bird. Recorded on June 10^th 2000 by John KD2BD.

Synthesized voice running twice as fast as it should be, recorded by KD4APP on Aug 24^rd 2003

After a long period of deactivation in January 2010 the analog transponder of FO-29 with a downlink transmit power of 5W was switched back on. Excellent signals were reported as demonstrated also in enclosed recording of a SSB contact of SQ7DQX and PE0SAT. Recorded on January 29^th by Matt SQ7DQX.

Mexico OSCAR 30
(UNAMSAT-B)
#24305
(1996-052B)

Never made any transmissions because of a failure during launch.

Sep 5^th 1996

RS 16
Mozhayets
Zeya
#24744
(1997-010A)

RS-16 was also called Mozhayets or Zeya. It carries 20 laser reflectors for geodesy and Glonass and GPS receivers. Its CW beacon was recorded on February 27^th 1999 by DK3WN

Mar 4^th 1997

RS 17
(Sputnik-40)
(Sputnik-Jr)
#24958
(1997-058C)

In memoriam to the first man made satellite Sputnik-1, which was successfully launched 40 years before, this little satellite was launched by hand during an EVA (Extra Vehicular walking in space) from the MIR space station. The RF signal sounded like a beep-beep as the transmitter with a power of 100 to 200 mW was keyed on/off. The RF carrier on 145.820 MHz was FM modulated and the frequency of the audio signal varied with the temperature inside the satellite. Recorded in FM on November 3^rd 1997 12:45 UTC by IK1SLD. For confirming the reception by a QSL card the award was given.

Nov 3^rd 1997

TMSat OSCAR 31
(Thai-Micro-Sat)
#25396
(1998-043C)

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Jul 10^th 1998

Gurwin OSCAR 32
TechSat1b
Gurwin II
#25397
(1998-043D)

GO-32 was built by Technion Institute of Technology in Israel and launched on a Zenith-2 rocket from Baikonur Cosmodrome as one of 5 secondary payloads to the Resurs-O1-4 satellite. It is of cubic shape with a size of 445 mm x 445 mm x 445 mm. The platform is three-axis stabilized, using a momentum wheel and three magnetorquers as actuators, and a three-axis magnetometer as attitude sensor.
It uses the callsigns 4XTECH-12 (for the BBS) and 4XTECH-11 for the beacon. The following modes are supported:
Mode U TLM beacon
     Downlink 435.3250 MHz FSK 9600 BPS
Mode V/U (J) APRS (Set Path to be via 4XTECH)
     Uplink: 145.9300 MHz FM 9600 BPS
     Downlink 435.2250 MHz FM 9600 BPS
Mode V/U (J) PacSat BBS
     Uplink: 145.8500 MHz FSK 9600 BPS
     Uplink: 145.8500 MHz 1200BPS AFSK/APRS
     Uplink: 145.8900 MHz FSK 9600 BPS
     Uplink: 145.9300 MHz FSK 9600 BPS
     Downlink 435.2250 MHz FSK 9600 BPS
Mode L/U PacSat BBS
     Uplink: 1269.7000 MHz FSK 9600 BPS
     Uplink: 1269.8000 MHz FSK 9600 BPS
     Uplink: 1269.9000 MHz FSK 9600 BPS
     Downlink 435.2250 MHz FSK 9600 BPS

Jul 10^th 1998

9600bd FSK beacon recorded by Don Woodward, KD4APP, Aug 15^th 2002

SedSat OSCAR 33
#25509
(1998-061B)

Single burst of 9600bd FSK recorded by Don Woodward, KD4APP, Nov 30^th 2002

Oct 24^th 1998

RS 18
(Sputnik-41)
#25533
(1998-062C)

Voice messages in French, English, Russian recorded by DK3WN on December 10^th 1998 15:32 UTC

Nov 10^th 1998

Simple telemetry downlink, audio frequency is a function of temperature inside satellite, recorded by DK3WN

Simple beep-beep signal recorded by DK3WN

Another excellent recording of the voice messages was made by Harald DH8HHA in Munich on November 20^th 1998. He received the enclosed QSL card for sending in his reception report.

Pansat OSCAR 34
#25520
(1998-064B)

PANSAT was built by Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey and launched from Shuttle mission STS-95 in a LEO.

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Oct 29^th 1998

Sunsat OSCAR 35
#25636
(1999-008C)

FM-Repeater recorded November 11^th 1999 by DK3WN

Feb 23^rd 1999

SunSat in Parrot Mode recorded March 11^th 2000 by DK3WN

QSO DL1LSZ and DG3DCH recorded August 16^th 2000 18:50 UTC by DK3WN (ex DL1LSZ)

UoSAT OSCAR 36
(UoSAT-12)
#25693
(1999-021A)

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Apr 21^st 1999

ASUSat OSCAR 37
(ASUSat-1)
#26065
(2000-004E)

ASUSat-1 was a 6 kg-class satellite designed, fabricated, tested, and tracked by the students at Arizona State University.

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Jan 27^th 2000

Opal OSCAR 38
#26063
(2000-004C)

Opal beacon transmission, complete pass on March 7^th 2000 19:05-19:19 UTC recorded by DK3WN (please note this file is 1.2 MByte large)

Jan 27^th 2000

Weber OSCAR 39
(JAWSat)
#26061
(2000-004A)

The Air Force Academy and Weber State University have built the Joint Academy Weber State Satellite (JAWSAT).

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Jan 27^th 2000

AMSAT OSCAR 40
(Phase-3D)
#26609
(2000-072B)

AO-40 was launched on November 16^th 2000 on an Ariane 5 rocket (flight V135) from Kourou/French Guyana as a secondary payload to PanAMSAT's PAS 1r. It was the most sophisticated satellite built and launched by radio amateurs at that time. The impressive transponder list is given below:

Uplink Passbands  
15 m               21.210-21.250 MHz  
12m                24.920-24.960 MHz
2 m             145.800-145.990 MHz  
70cm           435.300-435.800 MHz  
23cm(1)  1269.000-1269.500 MHz  
23cm(2)  1268.075-1268.575 MHz  
13cm(1)  2400.100-2400.600 MHz  
13cm(2)  2446.200-2446.700 MHz  
6cm         5668.300-5668.800 MHz

Downlink Passbands
2m        145.805-145.990 MHz  
70cm    435.900-436.200 MHz  / 435.475-435.725 MHz  
13cm(1)  2400.65-2400.95 MHz / 2400.225-2400.475 MHz 13cm(2) 2401.65-2401.95 MHz / 2401.225-2401.475 MHz 3cm 10451.45-10451.75 MHz / 10451.025-10451.275 MHz 1.5cm  24048.025-24048.075 MHz

Beacon list: GB=General Beacon, MB=Middle Beacon, EB=Engineering Beacon
2 m             145.898 MHz (MB)
70cm          435.438 MHz (GB)
                   435.588 MHz (MB)
                   435.838 MHz (EB)
13cm(1)   2400.188 MHz (GB)
                2400.338 MHz (MB)
                2400.588 MHz (EB)
13cm(2)   2401.173 MHz (GB)
                2401.323 MHz (MB)
                2401.573 MHz (EB)
3cm       10450.975 MHz (GB)
              10451.125 MHz (MB)
              10451.375 MHz (EB)
1.5cm    24047.885 MHz (GB)
             24048.035 MHz (MB)
             24048.285 MHz (EB)

Nov 16^th 2000

The 2m beacon signal was recorded by DK3WN on November 17^th 2000 08:30 UTC when AO-40 was in a distance of 43000km.

Telemetry beacon recorded by DJ1KM, member and strong contributor to AMSAT-DL. Reinhard passed away in Oct 2006.

QSO of Don KD4APP and Stuart GW3XYW, recorded by Don on March 11^th 2003

QSO of Frank DL6DBN and Andreas OE1DMB in German language. Rrecorded by OE1DMB.

The 400 bit/s beacon of AO40 was transmitted also on the 24 GHz downlink. Note the spin fading due to the fact, that the receive system used linear polarization and the 24 GHz transmitter was also linearly polarized. Received by Michael OH2AUE.

In this recording you can hear the CW signal of DK1KQ on the 24 GHz downlink. Received by Michael OH2AUE.

Finally Michael also copied DB6NT in SSB on the 24 GHz downlink. Recorded by Michael OH2AUE.

Her are some very special goodies. They were not recorded while AO40 was in orbit but during the various integration tests and the final prelaunch tests in Kourou.
The first audio file is a test of the LEILA function in CW conducted by OH2AUE during pre-launch tests.
The second audio file is a test of the LEILA function in SSB conducted also by OH2AUE in Kourou.
The third audio file was a test of the built in microphone of AO40 by DB2OS (tapping the support frame).
The forth audio file was another test of the micro. You can hear Peter DB2OS "talking to the bird".
The fifth audio file was a test of the microphone already done during one of the integration tests in Florida. All three momentum wheels have achieved synch to the programmed test values. Analyzing the audio spectrum with a PC FFT program you can see the frequencies and thus calculate the rotation speed of the wheels directly.
The sixth audio file is the 400bd PSK beacon recorded during thermal vacuum tests in Virginia.

The seventh audio file is also the 400bd PSK beacon received on 70cm band during tests on June 26^th 1999. If you decode this file with the AO40RCV freeware then you can decode 4 blocks of data which I enclose also a s a text file.

This is the last special from AO-40. You can decode this audio file with the P3T software. The result is great fun as you can see from the telemetry that all RF transmitters are turned OFF, only the IR laser is turned ON. This was probably the only time that the IR laser was ever actually received and demodulated + decoded. The laser was never tested in space. Michael OH2AUE made this recording during the launch preparation and final tests in Kourou.

All these recordings were kindly provided by Michael Fletcher OH2AUE.

Saudi OSCAR 41
(SaudiSat-1A)
#26545
(2000-057A)

QSOs of DK3WN and HB9SKI, recorded by DK3WN on April 13^th 2002 12:35 UTC.

Sep26^th 2000

QSOs of KD4APP and WA1ECF, recorded by Don on June 16^th 2002

Saudi OSCAR 42
(SaudiSat-1B)
#26549
(2000-057E)

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Sep26^th 2000

Starshine OSCAR 43
(Starshine-3)
#26929
(2001-043A)

Starshine transmitted 9600bd ASCII data like:
STRSHN>AP5152:>de N7YTK.040029DB000029C3
A438813D026BFC6D534F84829A327868932A0273F
C8B65DF70462A5C6EED9D22027BFC2246914EB6
A4AE650182780289FC98D29482F30206619C84F30
271FC1A6D4B285F9BD964E700C20281
SO-43 decayed on January 21^st 2003.

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Sep30^th 2001

Nav OSCAR 44
(PCSat)
#26931
(2001-043C)

PCSat 1200Bd AFSK packet frame on 145.825 MHz recorded by DK3WN on October 20^th 2001

Sep30^th 2001

Here you can find an audio-file as well as a log-file of the transmissions of NO-44 on January 7th 2007 which I relayed to the internet. Recorded by DD1US on January 7th 2007 by DD1US.

Nav OSCAR 45
(Sapphire)
#26932
(2001-043D)

Synthesized Voice Messages: "Happy Birthday OSCAR-1" and "Thank you Mr. Marconi", received by HB9SKA

Sep30^th 2001

CW beacon signal received by DK3WN on October 19^th 2001 13:45 UTC.

Un-modulated keying of NO-45 every 20 seconds, recorded by KD4APP on Dec 20^th 2002, 15:00 UTC

MySat OSCAR 46
(TiungSAT-1)
(MalaysianSat-1)
#26548
(2000-057D)

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Sep26^th 2000

RS 21
(Kolibri-2000)
#27394
(2001-051C)

The Russian-Australian scientific-educational Kolibri-2000 micro-satellite was launched into space from the International Space Station. CW beacon signal of on 70cm (435.335 MHz) on April 20^th 2002 recorded by DK3WN

Mar 19^th 2002

Breizh OSCAR 47
(Idefix CU-1)
#27422
(2002-021B)

PSK signal of the 2m downlink of Idefix recorded by DK3WN

May 4^th 2002

Synthesized message in German language recorded by DK3WN

Breizh OSCAR 48
(Idefix CU-2)
#27422
(2002-021B)

CW beacon signal on 70cm downlink recorded by DK3WN. Here is a picture of the rusty key of F6AGR, which was used for generating the CW signals and storing them in the memory of the satellite.

May 4^th 2002

Synthesized message in German language on 70cm downlink recorded by DK3WN

RS 20
(Mozhayets)
#27560
(2002-054B)

RS-20 features 2 downlinks on 145.828 MHz in FM or CW and on 435.319 MHz in FM or CW.

Nov 28^th 2002

FM signal with data transmission on 70cm downlink (435.317 MHz) recorded by DK3WN on Dec 3^rd 2002 20:15 UTC.

CW beacon signal received in USB on 70cm downlink (435.312 MHz) recorded by DK3WN on Dec 3^rd 2002 21:52 UTC (audio file was compressed)

CW beacon signal of 70cm downlink recorded by Don Woodward, KD4APP, Dec 8^th 2002

AATiS OSCAR 49
(Safir-M)
(RUBIN-2)
#27605
(2002-058A) 

This satellite was built by the University of Pforzheim / Germany and supported by AATiS (Arbeitskreis Amateurfunk und Telekommunikation in der Schule). SAFIR-M was a payload of RUBIN-2, an experimental micro-satellite operated by OHB in Bremen/Germany. The 2m downlink of AO-49 is a 9600bd MSK signal and sounds like noise. AO-49 used the callsign DP0AIS. Recorded by Michael DG1CMZ.

Dec 20^th 2002

Saudi OSCAR 50
(SaudiSat-1C)
#27607
(2002-058C)

KD4APP calling CQ via SO-50, recorded by Don on Jan 3^rd 2003, 7:56 UTC

Dec 20^th 2002

QSO of G4FUN and SM/IW4BLG during AMSAT Colloquium at University of Surrey, recorded by DK3WN on July 30^th 2004 14:10 UTC.

QSO of N6LY and KF6KYI both operating with handheld transceivers recorded by KF6KYI on March 5^th 2008.

Cubesat OSCAR 55
Cute-1
#27844
(2003-031E)

This satellite was launched together with 5 other Cubesats by a ROCKOT launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia. It was built by Tokyo Institute of Technology and includes a CW beacon (downlink 436.8375 MHz) as well as a 2nd downlink for PR on 437.470 MHz (1200 bps FM AFSK, AX.25. Its callsign is JQ1YCY. CW downlink recorded by DK3WN on May 9^th 2005 17:50 UTC.

Jun 30^th 2003

Cubesat OSCAR 57
(XI-IV)
#27848
(2003-031J)

This satellite was launched together with 5 other Cubesats by a ROCKOT launch vehicle from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia. It was built by Tokyo Institute of Technology and includes a CW beacon (downlink 436.8475 MHz) as well as a 2nd downlink for PR on 437.490 MHz (1200 bps FM AFSK, AX.25. Its callsign is JQ1YCW. CW telemetry recorded by DK3WN on July 5^th 2003 06:00 UTC.

Jun 30^th 2003

RS 22
(Mozhayets-4)
#27939
(2003-042A)

CW beacon signal on 435.352 MHz recorded by DK3WN on July 14^th 2004 22:00 UTC.

Sep 27^th 2003

FM signal with data transmission recorded by DK3WN while RS-22 being in the range of the ground control station

CW beacon signal of 70cm downlink recorded by Don Woodward, KD4APP, Aug 9^th 2004

CW telemetry signal recorded by Mark KF6KYI on April 25^th 2008.

AMSAT OSCAR 51
(OSCAR-E)
(Echo)
#28375
(2004-025K)

Transponder in test mode (FM repeater mode with uplink at 145.92 MHz and downlink at 435.300 MHz)), multiple stations were recorded on July 30^th 2004 11:00UTC by Mike DK3WN

Sep 26^th 2004

Perfect QSO of PA3GUO and F6CDZ on March 31^st 2005, recorded by Henk PA3GUO

ON5NY calling CQ on the 13cm FM downlink at 2401.200 MHz while AO-51 was in experimental mode. Recorded on September 3rd 2006 by Vladimir RA3DQT

The transponder of AO-51 could also be used for digital transmissions. The enclosed PSK31 signal was recorded on 435.300 MHz by Maik Hermenau.

In January 2008 AO-51 was operational with the 2m FM uplink and the 13cm FM downlink activated. In the audio file enclosed you can hear why such a mode requires highly disciplined operators, which is unfortunately not always the case. Recorded on 2.4 GHz in FM on January 29^th 2008 by Gerd DL8DR.

The FM downlink signal was recorded by Mark KF6KYI on February 10^th 2008.

The SSTV pictures below from KB2HSH, KC9MLN and VE2DWE were received via AO-51 on Nov 14^th 2008 at 23:30UTC by Al W8KHP.

End of December 2009 Matt SQ7DQX had 2 nice contacts with UA9UIZ and OZ1MY. Ths uplink mode was SSB, the downlink mode FM. Recorded on December 30^th 2009 at 13:43UTC by SQ7DQX.

RS-23
(Universitetsky)
(Tatiana)
#28523
(2005-002C)

This satellite with a weight of 30 kg was launched on Kosmso-3M rocket to mark the 250th anniversary of Moscow State University (MGU). It transmits 2400 Baud digital data on 435.215 MHz in NFM. Recorded on September 27^th 2005 at 09:50 UTC by Maik Hermenau.

Jan 20^th 2005

VUsat OSCAR 52
(VUsat-52)
(HAMSAT)
#28650
(2005-017B)

Indian satellite, 42kg, carries 2 UHF/VHF linear transponders (an Indian and a Dutch), un-modulated Indian beacon recorded May 7^th 2005 10:13 UTC by DD1US

May 5^th 2005

Indian linear transponder with uplink between 435.225 and 435.275 MHz (LSB) and downlink from 145.875 to 145.925 MHz (USB). QSO of Pali HA8ARP and Henk PA3GUO recorded May 7^th 2005 10:10 UTC by Matthias DD1US

The Dutch transponder was activated first time on Nov 17^th 2005. The transponder was built by William PE1RAH. This is a QSO between William (JO31RH) and OZ1MY (JO65FR) during this first day of operation recorded at 19:17 UTC on a downlink frequency of 145.906 MHz by Matthias DD1US

The CW beacon of the Durch transponder. transmits on 145.860 MHz +/- doppler. Recorded on Nov 18^th 2005 at 19:38 UTC by Matthias DD1US

The SSB transponder downlink signal with several stations was recorded by Mark KF6KYI on January 29^th 2008.

On February 8^th 2009 at 03:00 UTC Drew KO4MA received the enclosed interferer on the downlink of VO-52 (on 145.910 MHz in FM). It seems to be a broadcast signal with spanish language. Whoever can help to identify the source should send me an Email.

NAV OSCAR
(PCSat 2)
#25544
(1998-067A)

This payload was brought to ISS by Space Shuttle Discovery on July 26th and assembled outside of the international space station on August 3rd 2005. It includes a PSK31- multi-user transponder (435.275 MHz), an FM voice repeater which can also used by the astronauts on ISS (435.275 MHz) as well as a packet radio system (435.275 MHz). Its beacons can be received on 437.975 MHz. This recording of the 1k2 and 9k6 telemetry beacon was done by Mike DK3WN on Nov. 12^th 2005 at 17:36 UTC.

July 26^th 2005

During its final days in space PCSat2 was in a special event mode, which included a voice downlink for control stations.
They reported in voice the APRS stations heard over PCSAT2.
In that mode Henk PA3GUO operated PCSat2 and also chatted with Mike DK3WN who was also control station for PCSat2 at that time.
All 3 files were recorded on Aug 31^st 2006 by Henk PA3GUO.

PCSat was finally retrieved during an EVA on Sept 15^th 2006 and brought back to Earth.

EXpress-OSCAR 53
(SSETI-EXpress)
#28894
(2005-043E)

This first pan-European student micro-satellite was built by a distributed team of university students and radio amateurs throughout Europe. It was sponsored by ESA and launched together with 5 Cubesats on a russian rocket KOSMOS-3M (ROCKOT) from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in Northern Russia. The amateur radio payload had downlinks on 437.250 MHz (FSK, 9k6 AX.25) as well as 2401.835 MHz (FSK, 38k4 AX.25, 3 Watt).

Oct 27^th 2005

 Unfortunately the satellite was operational only for 5 orbits and then shut down due to a lack of power. The 9600bd packets transmitted every 18 seconds were recorded on October 27^th 2007 at 09:13 UTC on 437.250 MHz in FM by Ian Ashley ZL1AOX. Besides you can also read the decoded data of this transmission.

This is a recording of the "safe mode" pulse beacon. This came on when the battery volts fell too low for the main system to operate and was heard by a number of amateurs. Recording kindly provided by Graham G3VZV.

The enclosed audio file is a test of SSETI Express in the "UHF-S Band FM voice transponder" mode. It was performed at ESA ESTEC facilities during integration and test of the satellite sub systems. The test was performed on February 23^rd 2005 at 22:31 UTC by Graham Shirville PA0/G3VZV. Many thanks to Graham for providing this unique recording.

Cubesat OSCAR 58
(XI-V)
(Cubesat 11-5)
#28895
(2005-043F)

This cubesat was launched inside SSETI-EXpress and was deployed from EO-53 about 63 mins after SSETI-EXpress had itself been separated from the launch adaptor. It was built by Tokyo Institute of Technology and includes a CW beacon (downlink 437.465 MHz) as well as a 2nd downlink for PR on 437.345 MHz (1200 bps FM AFSK, AX.25. Its callsign is JQ1YGW. This beacon was recorded by Mike DK3WN on Oct. 25^th 2005 at 09:40 UTC.

Oct 27^th 2005

AMSAT OSCAR 54
SuitSat-1
Dadioskaf
RS0RS
#28933
(2005-035C)

SuitSat-1 was a surplus Russian "Orlan" spacesuit re-configured to function as a free-floating Amateur Radio transmit-only satellite. It was released from ISS on Feb. 3^rd 2006 and transmitted its voice messages "This is SuitSat-1 RS0RS" in several languages plus telemetry and SSTV images on an eight-minute cycle. Unfortunately the signal strength received on 145.990 MHz was very low. Suitsat-1 decayed on September 7^th 2006.

Feb 3^rd 2006

This audio files was recorded by DF7IT operating the club station DL0WH on February 4^th 2006.

The same day February 4^th 2006 also Keith ZS6TW was able to record Suitsat-1.

VE6BLD was especially successful receiving and recording various passes of Suitsat-1. Kindly provided by Bob VE6BLD.
First telemetry data received on February 5^th at 05:35 UTC
English voice message received on February 6^th at 5:56UTC
Russian voice message received on February 7^th at 6:18UTC
Same Russian voice message from unknown date and time

Also KC5TRB was able to receive and record Suitsat-1 during multiple passes on several days. The 3 audio files enclosed were recorded by KC5TRB and kindly provided by Serg RV3DR.
Recorded on February 10^th 2006 at 14:30 UTC
Recorded on February 11^th 2006 at 07:00 UTC
Recorded on February 12^th 2006 at 13:45 UTC.

Some more recordings of Suitsat-1 / RS0RS were kindly provided by Serg RV3DR.

Cubesat OSCAR 56
Cute-1.7+APD
#28941
(2006-005C)

This satellite built by Tokyo Institute of Technology includes a CW beacon (downlink 437.385 MHz) as well as a L/U packet radio digipeater (uplink 1268.500 MHz, downlink 437.505 MHz). It features a still camera and will send pictures of the Earth back to ground. Its callsign is JQ1YCW. CW downlink recorded by DK3WN on Feb. 18^th 2006 at 06:38 UTC.

Feb 21^st 2006

Hitsat OSCAR 59
#29484
(2006-041F)

HITSAT has the callsign JR8YJT and was built by Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT). It is a Cubesat with 12cm length and a weight of 2.2kg. It features a 1200bd AFSK PR uplink at 145.980 MHz and a 1200bd AFSK PR downlink at 437.425 MHz as well as a CW beacon at 437.275 MHz. CW downlink recorded by DK3WN on Sep. 24^th 2006 at 06:30 UTC.

Sep 22^nd 2006

Nav OSCAR 60
(RAFT-I)
#29661
(2006-055C)

RAFT was launched together with ANDE MAA and ANDE FCAL on December 21^st 2006 from the space shuttle Discovery. It is powered from batteries only and thus has a limited lifetime. Signal reports indicate a rather weak signal. The downlink frequency is 145.825 MHz with either 1200Bd AFSK PR signals or a digitized voice output. uplink is 145.825 MHz 1200Bd AFSK PR or 28.117-28.120 MHz PSK31. PR downlink recorded by DK3WN on Dec. 21^st 2006 at 19:10 UTC.

Dec 21^st 2006

RAFT was transmitting both, PR and synthesized voice, on Feb 13^th 2007 at 21:22UTC. Recorded by DD1US.

QSO via RAFT by PE1ITR and CT1ETE on Feb 12^th 2007. Synthesized voice output recorded on 145.825 MHz in FM by Paulo CT1ETE.

Nav OSCAR 61
(ANDE-1, ANDE-2, MAA)
#29664
(2006-055F)

ANDE MAA was launched together with ANDE FCAL and RAFT on December 21^st 2006 from the space shuttle Discovery. ANDE MAA and ANDE FCAL are both spherical shaped. They are powered from batteries only and thus have a limited lifetime. Nav OSCAR 61 features an APRS experiment with the up- and downlink frequency 145.825 MHz (1200Bd AFSK PR). Ande burnt in the atmosphere on December 25^th 2007.
Here you can find an audio-file as well as a log-file of the transmissions of NO-61 on January 7^th 2007 which I relayed to the internet. Recorded on January 7^th 2007 by DD1US. 

Dec 21^st 2006

NRL OSCAR 62
(ANDE FCAL)
#29667
(2006-055J)

ANDE FCAL was launched together with ANDE MAA and RAFT. FCAL has a diameter of 43.9cm and is thus a bit smaller than MAA with a diameter of 48cm. However FCAL is approx. 20% heavier than MAA and therefore the lifetime of NO-62 will be slightly longer than NO-61 (both will eventually burn up in the atmosphere). NRL OSCAR 62 features an APRS experiment with a 1200Bd AFSK AX.25 downlink on 437.385 MHz. Recorded shortly after launch on December 21^st 2006 at 20:40 UTC on 437.385 MHz in FM by Mike DK3WN.

Dec 21^st 2006

Pehuensat OSCAR 63
Pehuensat-1
#29712
(2007-001D)

Pehuensat-1 features an APRS experiment with the downlink frequency 145.825 MHz (1200Bd AFSK PR) as well as a voice output in 3 languages on the same frequency. Recorded on January 26^th 2007 at 08:40 UTC on 145.825 MHz in FM by Ian Ashley ZL1AOX.

Jan 10^th 2007

Libertad-1
#31129
(2007-012N)

Libertad-1 (callsign 5K3L) was the first Columbian satellite and was built at the University Sergio Arboleda. This little Cubesat with a weight of only 1 kg featured no solar cells and thus its lifetime was limited to about 2 months. It had a packet radio (AX25) transponder with a 2m uplink at 145.825 MHz (1200bd AFSK) and a 70cm downlink at 437.405 MHz (1200bd AFSK). To save power the downlink beacon transmitted a short burst every 10 minutes. Such PR frames were received on April 17^th 2007 at 21:19UTC by Mike DK3WN.

Apr 14^th 2007

Sputnik-50
DA0SPUTNIK
balloon

On October 4^th 2007 at 00:00 MESZ a balloon was launched from a team of radio amateurs at the Sternwarte Bochum/Germany. This is of course not really a satellite. It carried a beacon with the callsign DA0SPUTNIK which was transmitting information and audio recordings of the first artificial satellite Sputnik-1 which had been launched 50 years before. Sputnik-50 transmitted on 145.200 MHz in FM until about 01:46 MESZ. On the audio file enclosed you can hear the last 5 minutes of transmissions until the modulation finally stopped. Recorded on Oct 4^th 2007 01:40 MESZ by DD1US at a distance of approx. 300km.

Oct 4^th 2007

Cubesat OSCAR 65
Cute-1.7 + APD II
#32785
(2008-021C)

The April 28^th 2008 launch of 10 satellites aboard the Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-9 (PSLV-9) rocket included 7 amateur radio cubesat, and 3 commercial/ scientific satellites. Cute-1.7 was built by Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan. The satellite transmits a CW Morse Code beacon at 437.275 MHz using FM modulation. It also features an FM FSK 9k6 / AFSK 1k2 (AX.25) downlink on 437.475MHz, The uplink frequency is 1267.6MHz (FM FSK 9k6 AX.25).

Apr 28^th 2008

The CW beacon of CO-65 was received on 437.275 MHz on May 9^th 2008 by Robert G8ATE. Please note that a second satellite, COMPASS-1, can be heard on the same recording as it transmits on the same downlink frequency and was close by. The CW signal of COMPASS-1 can be distinguished by its chirping sound.

Cute-1.7+APD II also includes a CMOS camera with a resolution of 640x480 pixels. The picture of the Earth was taken on June 25^th 2008 at 01:08:30 UTC and was received using the 9k6 AX.25 UHF downlink by Tokyo Tech. It was kindly provided by Hiroki Ashida from the Lab. for Space Systems(LSS), Tokyo Institute of Technology.

COMPASS-1
#32787
(2008-021E)

COMPASS-1 is the first Cubesat of the Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Germany and has the callsign DP0COM. It is a 10x10x10 cm³ cubic satellite with a mass of less than 1 kilogram and was launched together with 6 other amateur radio cubesats. The missions original purpose is to let everyone take and download pictures of the earth from the unique point of view of a satellite in orbit. COMPASS-1 beacon transmits periodically every ~3 minutes (every ~8 minutes during power safe) on its downlink frequency  of 437.275 MHz CW with a speed of ~15 WPM. Its telemetry and mission data downlink is on 437.405 MHz and can be activated by ground commands. It uses 1200bps (AFSK) (standard) or 2400/4800 (MSK) modulation and the AX.25 protocol. The audio of the chirping CW beacon was received on 437.275 MHz on May 9^th 2008 by Robert G8ATE. Please note that a second satellite, Cute-1.7 + APD II, can be heard on the same recording as it transmits on the same downlink frequency and was close by.

Apr 28^th 2008

Here is another recording of the CW beacon of Compass-1. It was recorded on April 30^th 2008.

AAUSat-II
AAU-Cubesat
#32788
(2008-021F)

AAUSat-II or AAU-Cubesat (Aalborg University Cubesat) was built by Aalborg University, Denmark and was launched together with 6 other amateur radio Cubesats. It will take pictures of the surface of the Earth and particularly of Denmark by using the on-board camera. The callsign is OZ2CUB and it transmits on 437.425 MHz in the following modes: USB, FFSK/MSK 1k2 1200Hz/1800Hz FX469 as well as CW (beacon). The telemetry bursts, which are 1.6sec long and transmitted every 30 sec, were recorded on May 16^th 2008 at 20:25UTC by Mike DK3WN. Please note that the pauses between the bursts were shortened in the enclosed recording.

Apr 28^th 2008

Delfi-C3 OSCAR 64
Dutch OSCAR 64
#32789
(2008-021G)

Delfi-C3 / DO-64 is the first Nanosat built by students of Technical University of Delft, Netherlands and was launched together with 6 other amateur radio Cubesats. Delfi-C3 has two VHF telemetry downlinks: 145.930 MHz (Backup downlink 1200 Baud BPSK AX.25 400mW) and 145.870 MHz (Primary downlink 1200 Baud BPSK AX.25 400mW). You can decode telemetry using the RASCAL freeware. Delfi-C3 includes also a mode UV linear transponder which is expected to be activated after the first 3 months of mission time. The Linear transponder passbands are downlink 145.880 - 145.920 MHz (inverting, 400mW PEP), and uplink 435.570 - 435.530 MHz. While in transponder mode the beacon will be active on 145.870 MHz in CW (10dB below transponder PEP).

Apr 28^th 2008

This audio file of the transponder was recorded by the Delfi-C3 team of the TU Delft while DO-64 was still in the clean-room / not yet launched. Thanks to Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ for kindly providing the file.

This audio file of the 1200 Baud BPSK AX.25 transmitter was recorded on January 17th 2008 by the Delfi-C3 team of the TU Delft while DO-64 was still in the clean-room / not yet launched. Thanks to Wouter Jan Ubbels PE4WJ for kindly providing the file.

On July 30^th 2008 at 19:55h UTC Henk PA3GUO made contact to SP9FPP in SSB using the linear transponder of Delfi-C3. Uplink was 435.500 MHz and downlink (as recorded) was 145.900 MHz. Due to a wrong setting of the mp3 recorder the first part of the recording is over-modulated. Many thanks to Henk PA3GUO for kindly providing the recording.

The CW beacon on 145.870 MHz was recorded on August 2^nd 2008 at 9:50h UTC by Henk PA3GUO.

Cubesat OSCAR 66
SEEDS-2
SEEDS-FM2
#32791
(2008-021J)

SEEDS (Space Engineering Educational Satellite) was built by Nihon University, Japan and launched together with 6 other amateur radio cubesats. Its main missions are sensing of the satellites housekeeping data, analysis of its attitude and orbit, and communication with the ground station. For communication it uses the callsign JQ1YGU and transmits in various modes on 437.485 MHz using a 1/4 wavelength monopole antenna. The modes are CW (110mW), FM DigiTalker (450mW), 1200bd AFSK Packet Radio AX.25 (450mW), FM SSTV pictures (450mW). If you are interested to analyze the status of SEEDS-2, then you may want to download the free telemetry data analyzer software from the Nihon University Cubesat Project Official Website.

Apr 28^th 2008

This audio file of the Digitalker followed by a SSTV transmission was recorded on 437.485 MHz on May 3^rd 2008 at 10:15h UTC by Henk PA3GUO.

The SSTV pictures on the right were received by Robert G8ATE on May 3^rd 2008 at 11:50 UTC and on May 4th 2008  at 10:33h UTC on 437.485 MHz.

This audio file of the Digitalker transmission was recorded on May 6^th 11:00h UTC by Robert G8ATE.

In this audio file you can hear the CW beacon of CO-66 recorded on 437.485 MHz on May 9^th 2008 by Robert G8ATE.

This packet radio transmission was recorded on 437.485 MHz on May15^th 2008 at 12:20h UTC by Robert G8ATE.

This packet radio transmission was recorded on 437.475 MHz on July 27^th 2009 at 02:23 UTC by Luc LU1FAM. Luc used a 9 element yagi and an FM handheld transceiver.

Yubileiny
RS-30
#32953
(2008-025A)

Yubileiny (english: jubilee) is a 45 kg small technology development satellite which was built by NPO to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the first artificial satellite launching. The uplink frequency is 145.8 MHz. Using the callsign RS-30 it transmits information on the history of space development and Russian cosmonauts achievements, which Radio amateurs around the world were able to receive on 435.215 MHz and 435.315 MHz. The satellite transmits a cyclic series of messages lasting for 4 minutes including a call signal and TM-data (10 seconds); a voice message (1 minute); a pause (50 seconds); the first artificial satellite imitated signals (10 seconds); an SSTV image (1 minute); with a final pause (50 seconds).

May 23^rd 2008

The 4 min transmission enclosed was recorded on May 24^th 2008 at 18:15h UTC in FM mode by Robert G8ATE. It does not really fit the cyclic plan as explained above

This CW beacon signal of RS-30 was recorded on May 25^th 2008 by Mark KF6KYI.

The CW beacon signal of RS-30 was also recorded on May 26^th 2008 by Mike DK3WN. Please note that the pauses between the bursts were shortened in the enclosed recording.

On October 4th 2008, in memoriam of Sputnik-1's 51st anniversary, Yubileiny transmitted the Russian national anthem, signals of Sputnik-1 and associated comments in Russian language. The signal of RS-30 in orbit 1664 was recorded on 435.215 MHz by Thomas HB9SKA. Please note that this 12 minutes recording is 13MByte large !

SOHLA-1

SOHLA-1 (Space Oriented Higashiosaka Leading Association 1) is a 50kg microsatellite and was launched together with 6 other satellites piggyback on GOSAT. SOHLA-1 includes an amateur radio payload and transmits 1200bd AFSK AX-25 packets on 437.505 MHz. Its 1 W transmitter also transmits sometimes CW on the same frequency using the callsign JL3YUS.

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Jan 23^rd 2009

KAGAYAKI (SORUNSAT-1)

SORUNSAT-1 is a 20 kg microsatellite and was launched together with 6 other satellites piggyback on GOSAT. Besides its scientific mission it includes a small camera at the end of the deployable boom which will enable disabled children to see their artwork, placed on the deployed membrane, in space. SORUNSAT-1 includes an amateur radio payload and is supposed to transmit signals in CW and 9600bd FSK AX-25 packets on 437.375 MHz.

I am searching for sound files. Please send them to

Jan 23^rd 2009

KKS-1
#33499
(2009-002H)

KKS-1 is a 3 kg cubesat and was launched together with 6 other satellites piggyback on GOSAT. It is a small, educational technology satellite built by the Tokyo Metropolitan College of Industrial Technology. Its purpose is to conduct experiments on micro-thrusters and on 3-axis attitude control. In addition it will take land images. KKS-1 includes an amateur radio payload comprised of a CW beacon on 437.385 MHz using the callsign JQ1YYYand of a 1200bd AFSK AX-25 downlink on 437.445 MHz. The CW beacon signal transmitting the message ""HELLO THIS IS KKS-1" was recorded on January 30^th 2009 at 00:34 UTC by Paulo CT1ETE.

Jan 23^rd 2009

STARS 1
#33498
(2009-002G)

STARS 1 is a tethered pair of satellites (mother and daughter) which were launched together with 6 other satellites piggyback on GOSAT. The mother satellite named KU and the daughter satellite called KAI separated after having been jointly released from the H-IIA F15 launcher. The tethered satellite pair communicates using a wireless Bluetooth link. Stars includes two amateur radio payloads: The mother satellite KU transmits a CW beacon on 437.305 MHz using the callsign JR5YBN. It also features a 1200bd AFSK AX-25 downlink on 437.485 MHz. The daughter satellite transmits a CW beacon on 437.2725 MHz using the callsign JR5YBO. It also features a 1200bd AFSK AX-25 downlink on 437.465 MHz. The CW beacon signal of JR5YBO was recorded on January 30^th 2009 at 00:30 UTC by Paulo CT1ETE.

Jan 23^rd 2009

PRISM
#33500
(2009-002J)

PRISM is a 5 kg pico satellite which was jointly launched together with 6 other satellites piggyback on GOSAT. It was built by the University of Tokyo and its mission is remote sensing and other experiments. It includes an amateur radio payload. PRISM transmits a 80mW CW beacon on 437.250 MHz using the callsign JQ1YZW. It also features a dual mode packet radio downlink on 437.425 MHz. This downlink transmits either 1200bd AFSK AX-25 data with 800mW output power or 9600bd GMSK AX-25 data with 2W output power. The CW beacon signal was recorded on January 30^th 2009 at 01:03 UTC by Paulo CT1ETE.

Jan 23^rd 2009

ANUSAT
#34808
(2009-019B)

ANUSAT (Anna University Satellite) is the first satellite built by an Indian University under the overall guidance of ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) and will demonstrate the technologies related to message store and forward operations. The Amateur Radio payload of this 40kg micro-satellite is a 145 MHz uplink / 435 MHz downlink (4W) Digital Store and Forward system. In addition it features a tele-command VHF receiver (PCM, FSK/AM modulation, 100 bits/sec, 149.522 or 149.2 MHz tbd) as well as a VHF telemetry transmitter (digital PSK/PM modulation, 256 bits/sec., 137.4 MHz, 0.5W).

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April 20^th 2009

DK0SB/AM
balloon experiment

On July 17^th 2009 a balloon was lainched from Sternwarte (observatory) Bochum/Germany a beacon with the callsign DK0SB/AM (AM = aeronautical mobile). This ARTOB (amateur radio transmitter on Balloon) experiment was launched in memoriam of the first man on the moon on July 17th 1969 (40 years ago). Recorded on July 17^th 2009 at 21:00 UTC on 145.200 MHz in FM by Nils von Storch.

July 17^th 2009

AGGIESAT-2
#35690
(2009-038B)

On July 30^th 2009 the DRAGONSAT-2 (Dual RF Astrodynamic GPS Orbital Navigator Satellite) project was released from Space Shuttle Endeveaur (STS-127). It consists of 2 sister satellites BEVO-1 and AGGIESAT-2. AGGIESAT´s downlink frequency is 436.250 MHz and it uses a proprietary modem protocol as the main radio is a COTS data modem. It appears that the only way to decipher the code is to have a model MHX425 that can speak the proprietary language. The radio data rate is actually at 19200 bps.

July 30^th 2009

The audio file of AGGIESAT-2 was recorded by Mike DK3WN on July 30^th 2009 at 16:04 UTC during the 2nd orbit of AGGIESAT-2.

BEVO-1
#35690
(2009-038B)

BEVO-1 was deployed together with its sister satellite AGGIESAT-2 from Space Shuttle mission 127 on July 30^th 2009 at 12:34:50 UTC as part of the DRAGONSAT program. It is a picosat mission of the University of Texas to test a GPS unit designed and built by NASA. Texas A&M and the University of Texas were required to build 5" cubesat spacecraft buses and support systems for the GPS units.
Beacon Mode
Downlink Frequency: 437.325 MHz
Modulation: FM, 200mW, Morse Code, ~20 WPM
Data Mode
Downlink Frequency: 437.325 MHz
Modulation: FSK, 1W, 9600 baud, AX.25 (default) or FM, 1W, Bell 202, AX.25.

July 30^th 2009

Status as of August 5^th 2009: Still no signals from BEVO1, although beacon packets were heard from AGGIESAT2. The current theory on the state of the satellites is that only partial separation occurred. The inhibit switches keeping the satellites powered off have been closed, allowing the satellites to boot up. However, it is likely that the antennas did not deploy correctly, leaving the antennas disconnected from their respective transmitters. AGGIESAT2 transmits with 1W of power so it is easier to hear, while BEVO1 only transmits with 200mW during beacon mode.

Unfortunately the 2 satellites did not separate after they were released from the space shuttle you will find only one single set of Keplerian elements referred to as "DRAGONSAT". On the left you can also see 2 pictures where AGGIESAT-2 (top) and BEVO-1 (bottom) are shown still attached to each other after launch.

I am searching for sound files. Please send them to

Castor
#35694
(2009-038F)

On July 30^th 2009 the ANDE-2 (Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment) project was released from Space Shuttle Endeveaur (STS-127). It consists of 2 spherical satellites called Castor and Pollux fitted with retro-reflectors for satellite laser ranging (SLR). The constant and well-determined cross section and surface properties of the ANDE spacecrafts provide an ideal set of objects for monitoring atmospheric drag and the calibration of space surveillance network (SSN) assets both radar and optical.
Castor-1 is a 49cm diameter aluminum sphere with a mass of 63 kg. It tramsmits telemetry on 145.825 MHz using the callsign KD4HBO-1. Enclosed audiofile which contains signals from Castor and Pollux was recorded by Mike DK3WN during orbit no.1 on July 30^th 2009 at 17:44 UTC.

July 30^th 2009

Pollux-1
#35693
(2009-038E)

On July 30^th 2009 the ANDE-2 project was released from Space Shuttle Endeveaur (STS-127). It consists of 2 satellites called Castor and Pollux.
Pollux-1 transmits every 33 seconds a telemetry packet on 145.825 MHz in FM/AFSK using 1200bd with F.25 (FEC) on top of AX.25. It also has the possibility to transmit 9600bd packet radio signals and test GMSK modulation. Pollux´s transmit frequency is about 1.5 to 2 khz higher than Castor´s. Furthermore the signal of Pollux is stronger than Castor´s signal in spite of the fact that they should use the same transmit power of up to 1W. Enclosed audiofile which contains signals from Castor and Pollux was recorded by Mike DK3WN during orbit no.1 on July 30^th 2009 at 17:44 UTC.

July 30^th 2009

Sumbandilasat OSCAR 67
SO-67
(ZA-002)
#35870
(2009-049F)

SumbandilaSat is sponsored by the South African Department of Science and Technology and was built at SunSpace in cooperation with the Stellenbosch University. It uses the callsign ZS0SUM for its 3 ham radio communication systems: a voice beacon (UHF downlink is 435.300 MHz), a parrot repeater and a VHF/UHF FM repeater. Both repeater operate with a VHF uplink at 145.880 MHz and a UHF downlink at 435.350 MHz.

Sept 17^th 2009

The amateur radio payload of SO-67 was first time successfully switched on from the ground by ZS6BPZ during a test phase on Sunday October 18^th 2009. During the first evening pass of that day over South Africa at 19:13h UTC the FM transponder was activated. It was found out that the actual center frequencies for up- and downlink were about 5kHZ shifted down. Thus the uplink frequency was 145.875 MHz, the downlink frequency was 435.345 MHz, the CTCSS tone to be used was 233.6 Hz. Enclosed recording of this successful first test of the SO-67 transponder was done and kindly provided by Pierre ZS6BB.

On November 7^th 2009 the FM V/U cross-band transponder was also activated for 13 minutes during a pass over Europe. Recorded on 435.345 MHz in FM on November 7^th 2009 at 08:20h UTC by DD1US.

Hope OSCAR 68
HO-68
XW-1
XIWANG-1
CAS-1
HOPE-1
#36122 (2009-072B)

XW-1 / HO-68 is a Microsatellite built by the Chinese AMSAT group CAMSAT. Its weight is 50kg and the dimensions are: diameter 68cm, height 43.2cm.  Its 145 MHz uplink RX antenna is LHCP with a gain of 2 dBi. The downlink TX antenna for 435 MHz is RHCP with a gain of 3 dBi. It was launched as a secondary payload aboard the CZ-4C rocket from Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center on December 15th 2009 into a 1200km circular sun synchronous orbit with an inclination of 105°.
XW-1 uses the callsign BJ1SA and features the following modes:
- Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater (30 dBm):
     Uplink: 145.8250 MHz FM, PL 67.0 Hz
     Downlink: 435.6750 MHz FM
- Mode V/U (J) Lin. Invert. Transponder (30 dBm):
     Uplink:145.9250 - 145.9750 MHz SSB/CW
     Downlink:435.7650 - 435.7150 MHz SSB/CW
- Mode V/U (J) PacSat BBS (30 dBm):
     Uplink:145.8250 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
     Downlink: 435.6750 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
- Mode Beacon (23 dBm):
     Downlink:435.7900 MHz CW

Dec 15^th 2009

The beacon signal was received and recorded on December 15^th 2009 at 20:27UTC in USB on 435.782 MHz by DD1US.

The FM Voice Repeater downlink including the signal of LZ1JH was received and recorded on December 29^th 2009 at 18:18UTC in FM on 435.672 MHz by DD1US.

On January 8^th 2010 SQ7DQX had a nice contact with VA3FM. Recorded on January 8^th 2010 at 22:40UTC by SQ7DQX.

If you have further recordings from space objects please let me know. I will be happy to add them to my homepage. Many thanks in advance.

Vy 55 & 73 de Matthias DD1US