I'm new to amateur radio, and I would like to listen to those satellites in the orbit.
- Where do I start?
- What types of amateur radio satellites exist?
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Sign up to join this communityI'm new to amateur radio, and I would like to listen to those satellites in the orbit.
First Steps in Satellites
As with trying anything new, it’s best to take small steps as you learn. Here’s a simple exercise to help you get started: listening for the AO-91 FM satellite.
Go to AMSAT or N2YO.com, or download one of the satellite tracking apps, and get the latest pass information on the FM satellite AO-91 (also known as Fox-1B). AO-91 has a downlink frequency of 145.960 MHz, so it won’t be as affected by Doppler as other satellites.
Use your current 2 meter radio and hook it up to the best antenna you have. If you’re trying this from your car with a mobile whip, try and go to a park or other area with as clear a horizon as possible. If you have a directional antenna, you will have to rotate your antenna to follow the satellite across the sky as it goes overhead.
At AOS, open the squelch on your radio so you can hear static all the time. Start listening for signals through the static. With luck and experience, you will soon hear signals coming through the static as the pass progresses, until the pass is over.
Try several different passes at different elevations above the horizon.