PA3GUO HO-68 (Hope-1) Satellite Experiments

Hope-1 HO-68 (XW-1) information:

CAMSAT website (schedules, TLE, satellite information)

Satellite Type: Microsatellite
Apogee:  1200km
Perigee: 1200km
Inclination: 105
Period: 109

Weight:    50kg
Dimension: 680mm×432mm

Mode V/U (J) FM Voice Repeater (30 dbm (1 w)):
Uplink:   145.8250 MHz FM, PL 67.0 Hz.
Downlink: 435.6750 MHz FM
 
Mode V/U (J) Linear Transponder (Inverting) (30 dbm (1 w)):
Uplink:   145.9250 - 145.9750 MHz SSB/CW
Downlink: 435.7650 - 435.7150 MHz SSB/CW
 
Mode V/U (J) PacSat BBS (30 dbm (1 w)):
Uplink:   145.8250 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS
Downlink: 435.6750 MHz AFSK 1200 BPS

Mode Beacon (23 dbm (200mw)):
Downlink: 435.7900 MHz CW


December 30, 2009 17:53utc
SSTV tests

During a low elevation (20 degrees) pass, Mike DK3WN and Henk PA3GUO made the very first SSTV contact via the HO-68 – linear transponder.

A few images were transmitted between the two radio stations in Germany and The Netherlands. Signals were transmitted via HO-68, which was 1200km above earth and about 8000km distant from both radio amateur stations.

Pictures received via HO-68 from PA3GUO (left is the original):
HO-68 SSTV   HO-68 SSTV HO-68 SSTV HO-68 SSTV

Pictures received via HO-68 from PA3GUO (left is the original):
HO-68 SSTV   HO-68 SSTV HO-68 SSTV

Pictures received via HO-68 from DK3WN:
HO-68 SSTV   HO-68 SSTV HO-68 SSTV


December 29, 2009 10:08utc
Released a short video on YouTube featuring HO-68.

Today I released a short (2 minute) video on YouTube featuring
the launch, the satelite and its various modes of operation.
When listening carefully you may here these callsigns:
M3PQQ, N1AIA, KC9ELU, VA3FM, WA3CZY and I6IBE.



December 24, 2009 10:08utc
Experimenting with the FM Voice Repeater of HO-68 at 435.675 MHz.
Uplink: 2x6 elements antenna, Kenwood TS2000X/100W/PL:67.0Hz/Frequency fixed at 145.825MHz
Dnlink: 2x8 elements antenna, pre-amp, Kenwood TS2000X

MP3 recording of QSO with M3PQQ via the FM Voice Repeater (Dec 21, 2009).
The FM repeater works fine, many stations were active.

In parallel the FM repeater was used for digital operations:
BJ1SA-12>BBSTAT>UI,C,F0:
Open BJ1SA-12:0

BJ1SA-12>DD1JSN>DM,C
BJ1SA-12>BBSTAT>UI,C,F0:
Open BJ1SA-12:0

BJ1SA-11>G1OCN>UI,C,F0:
NO -2 G1OCN\D

BJ1SA-12>BBSTAT>UI,C,F0:
Open BJ1SA-12:0

BJ1SA-12>BBSTAT>UI,C,F0:
Open BJ1SA-12:0

BJ1SA-12>G1OCN>DISC,P
BJ1SA-12>G1OCN>DISC,P
BJ1SA-12>DD1JSN>UA,F
BJ1SA-12>DD1JSN>I00,C,F0: ..ºb3K.


December 23, 2009 10:08utc
Experimenting with the Linear Transponder of HO-68.
Uplink: 2x6 elements antenna, Kenwood TS2000X/100W, (USB)
Dnlink: 2x8 elements antenna, pre-amp, Kenwood TS2000X (LSB)

MP3 recording of QSOs with DK3WN, IW4DVZ, ON4HF, OZ1MY, I6IBE, OM3WAN, DC8TS via the Linear Transponder (Dec 22, 2009).
The transponder worked fine. Satellite receive antenna seems to be very sensitive to polarization type, and I switched a few times during the pass my uplink antenna polarization, resulting in a big difference in signal strength on the downlink. Using HRD for automated doppler correction, I had to add ~6KHz to the published uplink frequency.


December 21, 2009 10:08utc
Reception of the CW Beacon of HO-68 at 435.790 MHz.
2x8 elements antenna + pre-amp, Kenwood TS2000X 50 Hz filter.

MP3 recording of the CW beacon (Dec 21, 2009).
Using HRD for computer controlled doppler correction the beacon is proven to be extremely stable, as the signal stayed for the entire pass within the narrow filter of 50Hz only.