ameture satilites

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gerald123
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ameture satilites

Post by gerald123 »

hi can someone tell me what are the eseast ameture satelites to track and monitor... and the frequencies to monitor them..i have downloaded [ orbitron tracker]
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Auldgeek
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by Auldgeek »

The best source of information is available from Amsatuk.

https://amsat-uk.org

However, here's a link to a German website that has a list of the current Amateur satellites with their corresponding transponder frequencies.

http://www.dk3wn.info/p/?page_id=29535

For listening purposes, you only need to look at the downlink side.
Generally, satellites with HF or VHF downlinks are the easiest to hear as you do not need sophisticated equipment and aerials. The funcubes are easy to hear, as is Oscar 7 (A-O7)
A quadrifilar helix (QFH) for 2m is an ideal aerial for general satellite reception. Easily built with some pvc tubing, copper tubing and coax cable. Another option is a turnstile. Plenty info on the web about both. Google is your friend. :thumbup:
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gerald123
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by gerald123 »

thank you for the fast reply kilimax.. some great info there..will keep me busy for a while..
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by Auldgeek »

gerald123 wrote: 04 Apr 2018, 10:19 thank you for the fast reply kilimax.. some great info there..will keep me busy for a while..
You're welcome :thumbup:

For info, here's a photograph of my Quadrifilar Helix. This one is sized to work best at 137Mhz, specifically to receive the NOAA westher sats. It does work on 2m though.

Image
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by gerald123 »

thanks again for the photoe ...i am going to have a go at making theQuadrifilar Helix antenna...can you tell me the best software to track the sats .... is there something better than orbitron..
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by Auldgeek »

gerald123 wrote: 05 Apr 2018, 10:57 thanks again for the photoe ...i am going to have a go at making theQuadrifilar Helix antenna...can you tell me the best software to track the sats .... is there something better than orbitron..
I use software called wxtrack. Nothing better in my opinion.
Designed to track weather sats but does the job for amateur sats too.

http://www.satsignal.eu/software/wxtrack.htm
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by gerald123 »

i have opned the zip file and extracted ... for wxtrack but canot get software to run.....help
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by bozzy »

Just to expand on a link that was posted.

http://amsat.org.ar/pass.htm#

Once you get used to the graphics and set your location (and zoom in a bit), it is very useful to see what is currently above you.

Also best using chrome browser with it.
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by Auldgeek »

gerald123 wrote: 05 Apr 2018, 23:44 i have opned the zip file and extracted ... for wxtrack but canot get software to run.....help
You will need some additional runtime files (dll's) before launching the software. Scroll further down the page on the wxtrack site and there's additional information on what you need.
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gerald123
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by gerald123 »

bozzy wrote: 06 Apr 2018, 16:30 Just to expand on a link that was posted.

http://amsat.org.ar/pass.htm#

Once you get used to the graphics and set your location (and zoom in a bit), it is very useful to see what is currently above you.

Also best using chrome browser with it.
thanks for the link ...verry good
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by Auldgeek »

bozzy wrote: 06 Apr 2018, 16:30 Just to expand on a link that was posted.

http://amsat.org.ar/pass.htm#

Once you get used to the graphics and set your location (and zoom in a bit), it is very useful to see what is currently above you.

Also best using chrome browser with it.
That's just far too busy and extremely poor graphical coding. It's informative but I just couldn't use that on a regualr basis.
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by Samalex »

SATPC32

tracks and can control radio if needed.

i just started playing a few months ago and used a log till i put a 9 ele for 2m and 23 for 70cm
going to change them to cross yagis soon or X-Quads

fm sats easy as most have fm radio so SO-50 AO-85 AO-91 AO-92 Freqs you probably have now

have fun :)
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by Auldgeek »

Samalex wrote: 08 Apr 2018, 18:26 SATPC32

tracks and can control radio if needed.

i just started playing a few months ago and used a log till i put a 9 ele for 2m and 23 for 70cm
going to change them to cross yagis soon or X-Quads

fm sats easy as most have fm radio so SO-50 AO-85 AO-91 AO-92 Freqs you probably have now

have fun :)
I can recommend the Wimo X-Quads. Very good performance and rear mounting for maximum performance and much easier to elevate than conventional X-Yagis.
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by Samalex »

thanks Drew for the recommendation
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Re: ameture satilites

Post by gerald123 »

thanks you all for the feed back verry much apresiated .
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