Getting Started With Amateur Satellites (and Progressing to Linear Birds)

We get quite a few requests from folks to explain how to get started with Amateur Radio Satellites. Requests for information on how to build a computer-controlled ground station for Linear Satellites are also pretty common. I recently got such a request from our CWA class so I decided to put together a session on this topic.

We covered a number of topics and demonstrations during the session including:

• How to put together a simple station and work FM EasySats with HTs and a handheld antenna
• A recorded demonstration of some contacts using FM EasySats
• How-to build a computer-controlled station and work Linear Transponder Satellites
• Fixed and Portable Satellite Station Antenna options
• A recorded demonstration of some contacts using Linear Satellites
• How-to work digital (APRS digipeater) contacts
• How-to receive SSTV Transmissions from the ISS

About 30 folks attended this session and there was some good Q&A throughout.

Getting Started With Amateur Satellites

The presentation was recorded and can be viewed above. Here’s a link to the associated Powerpoint Presentation.

There are lots of articles about building and operating Amateur Satellite Stations here on our blog. The following are links to several articles and series on this topic:

• An article on getting started with a simple, Portable Satellite Ground Station
• A Series on building a Computer-Controlled, Portable Ground Station for Field Day and ISS Crew Contacts
• A Series on building a Fixed Satellite Ground Station
• A Series on using a FlexRadio SDR for Satellites
• Articles about ISS Crew Contacts with schools
• A list of all Satellite Articles here on our blog

I hope that you find this information useful for your Amateur Satellite projects!

Fred, AB1OC