CatSat Team Opening Public Amateur Radio Operations

The CatSat team is now open to requests for spacecraft amateur radio operations from the larger community.

The onboard linear transponder allows CatSat to receive signals transmitted from the ground at 5.62 GHz and retransmit them at 10.47 GHz. The operational bandwidth is +- 100 kHz around these center frequencies. These transmissions are handled through the patch antennas on the -Y face of the spacecraft, with main lobes of about 60 degrees in width. The spacecraft has the capability to rotate and track targets on the surface with these antennas, allowing static stations to access the transponder for the full duration of a satellite pass, up to 10 minutes long. Due to power availability on CatSat, activations of the linear transponder onboard are limited in duration and require time for the spacecraft to recharge.

CatSat can also operate a 10.47 GHz downlink beacon, transmitting an FSK modulated telemetry stream with no uplink to the spacecraft. This operation is subject to the same external capabilities and restrictions as the linear transponder mode.

To date, the team has demonstrated reception of the X-band beacon internally with a 1-meter dish, and externally by Mike Seguin N1JEZ using a 0.5-m dish. The team has also demonstrated the C/X-band linear transponder mode with a 1-meter transmitting dish and a 6.1-meter receiving dish.

To submit a request for a pass, please fill out the pass request form. While the team hopes to provide as much utility to the community as possible, we cannot guarantee acceptance of all requests.

Operations for the spacecraft are typically programmed on a weekly basis. To receive direct updates, sign up for the CatSat Amateur Radio Announcements mailing list. To subscribe, send an email to "catsat_hamradio@list.arizona.edu" from the email address you wish to subscribe with subject line "subscribe catsat_hamradio firstname lastname" with "firstname lastname" changed to your first and last name, respectively. Leave the body blank and remove all email signatures.

For more information, please contact 

Hilly Paige, W7HIL: hwp@rincon.com

Sarah Li, K7SLI: sli@rincon.com

Walter Rahmer, KK7IOV: wrahmer@arizona.edu