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Author Topic: QO-100 Satellite  (Read 447 times)

KC0W

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QO-100 Satellite
« on: August 04, 2021, 08:44:43 AM »

 Sit back & enjoy the websdr sounds of a geosynchronous satellite which 1/3 of the worlds amateur radio population can use 24/7...........Perhaps in another 100 years North/South America will have something like this. QO-100 makes operating the FM satellites seem stupid.

 https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/


                                                                                Tom KH0/KC0W   
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VE3WGO

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Re: QO-100 Satellite
« Reply #1 on: August 04, 2021, 11:05:48 AM »

Thanks for sharing that very interesting link, Tom!

It's awesome that we can listen to a 10 GHz downlink like that, and see so many simultaneous conversations on the waterfall, and listen just by clicking on the one we want.  I heard several French and German QSOs in progress.  There was also what may sounded to me like an Italian QSO too.  At this moment there are 7 SSB QSOs, and several digital QSOs in progress.

The VHF (144-146 MHz) SDR at Goonhilly is available too, by clicking on the base station photo at the upper right corner of the QO-100 SDR web page.  We can hear the mode-B downlinks there too, when they are in range of the omni antenna.

73, Ed
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VA3VF

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Re: QO-100 Satellite
« Reply #2 on: August 04, 2021, 11:17:50 AM »

That's a great site. It has been around for a while now, as I remember visiting it some time ago. I'll second the call/wish for another sat covering the colonies. ;)

That said, there is a PY station on the bird right now, and he is not on the coast but around Brasilia.
« Last Edit: August 04, 2021, 11:20:52 AM by VA3VF »
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KF4HR

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Re: QO-100 Satellite
« Reply #3 on: August 04, 2021, 07:09:30 PM »

Thanks for posting this Tom.  A geo-sync'ed bird is certainly the Rolls-Royce amateur satellite situation.  And I agree with your thoughts on the FM LEO's - no interest.  Heck, I'd be happy if AMSAT would just concentrate on more linear transponder LEO's, and ideally focusing on a HEO replacement for AO-13 and AO-40.   

Butch KF4HR
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N4UFO

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Re: QO-100 Satellite
« Reply #4 on: August 05, 2021, 07:27:33 AM »

Heck, I'd be happy if AMSAT would just concentrate on more linear transponder LEO's, and ideally focusing on a HEO replacement for AO-13 and AO-40.

Several more working linear birds (~9) up compared to FM (~3.5). There is PLENTY of interest in HEO... the problem is affordable rides into orbit. If memory serves, AMSAT is/was working on plans on how to get a bird to lower orbit then slowly get it higher.
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KF4HR

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Re: QO-100 Satellite
« Reply #5 on: August 05, 2021, 08:55:08 AM »

There is PLENTY of interest in HEO...

Good to know.  To put this in perspective, the last AMSAT HEO launch was AO-40 on November 16, 2000, over 20 years ago.

KF4HR
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W1VT

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Re: QO-100 Satellite
« Reply #6 on: August 05, 2021, 11:35:18 AM »

It was nearly thirty years ago that I packed a mode S station and made half a dozen contacts Oscar 13 from Hawaii.
6 watts on 70 cm to a 5 ft long CP Yagi and a 2 foot dish on receive.  The satellite moved slowly enough at apogee that I could manually move both antennas and operate CW.

Zak W1VT
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K9JKM

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Re: QO-100 Satellite
« Reply #7 on: August 07, 2021, 11:25:44 AM »

Microwave uplink and downlink frequencies are getting easier for amateur radio:

https://telanganatoday.com/hyderabad-hams-develop-low-cost-transverter-for-qo-100-satellite

This is a general interest article so it doesn't include any technical specs, cost, or delivery information. But it will be something to keep an eye on.
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KD7RDZI2

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Re: QO-100 Satellite
« Reply #8 on: November 07, 2021, 07:55:41 AM »

Indeed, you may consider QO-100 a direct substitute of HF propagation. It's really good. However I liked the idea of AO-40 even more than QO-100, as AO-40 being more distant and non geostationary could slowly cover any zone of the world. But the day I received my 2.4 Ghz downconcoverter, AO-40 decided to go... South! The 10 Ghz downlink of QO-100 seems the way to go. Large gains and reasonably sized dish antennas but considering the lower FSPL a downlink at 2.4 Ghz seems to me still worth considering, money permitting.
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