by Martin Davidoff, K2UBC

ISBN: 0-87259-658-3

Year 2000

The Radio Amateur's Satellite Handbook

Contents

1. Introduction to the Radio Amateur Satellite Program

1. History: ->1980

2. History: 1980 -> Future

2. Introduction to Satellite Communications

3. Getting Started

4. Satellite Analog Communications Plus (SSB/FM/PARROT/CW/ROBOT)

5. Satellite Digital Communications

6. Operating Notes

Technical Reference

7. Tracking Basics

8. Satellite Radio Links

9. Antennas for Space Communication: Basics

10. Antennas for Space Communication: Practical

11. Receiving and Transmitting

12. Satellite Orbits

13. Tracking Topics

14. OSCAR: Onboard Systems

15. So You Want to Build a Satellite

Apendix A Radio Amateur Satellite History: Dates and Frequencies

Apendix B Radio Amateurs Operating in Space: Summary

Apendix C Profiles of Current Amateur Satellites

Apendix D BASIC Programs

Apendix E Internet Sites of Interest

Apendix F Conversion Factors, Constants and Derived Quantites

Apendix G FCC Rules and Regulations Governing the Amateur-Satellite Service

Apendix H Satellite Tracking: Graphic Aids

Yaesu FT-3D HT radio

February 8, 2021, I purchased a Yaesu FT-3D HT (hand held) portable radio.

It’s a full featured radio in a sub compact size.

I have had it for a month now and have had some great experiences with it.

My first contact with it was with a Diamond 77 (sma connection) antenna through the John C. Lincoln repeater run by the Thunderbird radio club.

But first, a little story how I got there.

I began programming the radio and got to the point where it was time to see if I was doing it right. I keyed the mic but no one was answering. 

Yaesu FT-3D

Arrow Antenna "Yagi" Hand Held

Yeah, this is a really nice antenna. Within the first five minutes of using it, I had already received APRS transmissions through the ISS (International Space Station)

I had seen extensive use of this antenna in the many videos that I watched to prepare myself for using it.

Arrow Antenna

APRS - ISS (International Space Station) Communications

One of the first things that I wanted to do with my little Yaesu FT-3D was to receive and bounce packets through the ISS. As soon as I had built my 1/4wave ground plane antenna, I tried a few times with no success. Little did I know that it was not me, the ISS had a faulty connection on a prior space walk upgrade. Recently they did another space walk and repaired the system back to it's original configuration and I was able to connect.

First impressions are not about the radio but how big the space station is as it arcs across the sky. This thing is HUGE and it's not a pin point, it appears to be a big fuzzy dot cruising faster than airliners do, it's also bigger.

ARISS

Arrow Antenna

Yaesu FT-3D

Kenwood TH-D74a

Diamond RH77CA HT/Scanner 2m/70cm + receive up to 900HZ Antenna

This is the BNC connector version of this popular hand held 2m radio antenna. I've choose this one quite a bit for general use for 2m, FM radio and I will try it sometime for APRS and APRS through the ISS.

Diamond RH77CA

Diamond RH3 Mini Antenna

I often will monitor a FRS channel at work and my FT-3D sits on my desk. I don't need to receive outside transmissions, just within a couple of hundred feet so I choose the RH3 as a compact alternative to the original antenna and is the BNC connector version to facilitate ease of connect and disconnect.

Diamond RH3 Mini Antenna