1. “Building a Simple Satellite and CubeSat Ground Station”
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
“Building a Simple Satellite and CubeSat Ground Station”
ASAT 2014 May 2, 2015
Jann and Bob Koepke
Photo from NASA Space Network

2. ARISS (Amateur Radio on ISS)
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Presentation Goals
Identify resources and materials to build a simple and inexpensive ($100-$200 + PC) ground station
ARISS (Amateur Radio on ISS)
Kingston Australia
AIAA OC Rocketry
Orange, CA

3. AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
“Starting With The Ground Station” (recommendation from Jordi Puig-Suari Cal Poly SLO)
Excellent starting point
Forces you to research what has been done
Which satellites are in orbit
How to locate those satellites
Frequencies
Modulation
Resources and materials available
Antennas
Radios
Software

4. What do we need & need to know?
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
What do we need & need to know?
Need to know
What CubeSats exist and can we hear them
What frequencies do those satellites use?
What data is sent and how is it sent?
What resources and equipment is available
Radio receiver
Antenna
Computer (2nd monitor is very nice)
Operational and Tracking software

5. Common Communications
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Common Communications
Power
30mW – 2W for CubeSats
Common to lower power in eclipse
10W ERP for NOAA
Antennas: Dipole, monopole, turnstile, patch, QFH
Modulation: FSK, AFSK, BPSK, CW, SSTV
Protocol: AX.25, mobitex, Morse code, proprietary
Data Rates: – 9600 BAUD, 11 – 50 WPM
Voice: FM, SSB

6. Satellite and CubeSat Frequencies of Interest
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Satellite and CubeSat Frequencies of Interest
Frequency
Usage
Comments
MHz
Very Low
Experimental and Earth Exploration
21 MHz & MHz
Low
Ham Band: Amateur Uplink and Downlink
137 – 138 MH
NOAA Weather Satellite APT imagery
145 – 146 MHz
Very High
Ham Band: Common Amateur Voice/Data Uplink and data downlink and beacon
400 MHz & 425 MHz
Common Amateur Voice/Data Downlink
432 – 438 MHz
Ham Band: Common Amateur Voice/Data Downlink
450 MHz & 465 MHz
Government
915 MHz & 980 MHz
Experimental and Government
1.6 & GHz
Experimental Amateur
5.84 GHz & 8GHz
Amateur
13 GHz
Private
CubeSat Comm Table (Bryan Klofas) JE9PEL/I All Satellites Frequency list

7. Simple Satellite Ground Station
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Simple Satellite Ground Station

8. The Radio AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
The Radio
Fixed Multiband Amateur Radio Transceiver MHz, MHz and MHz
Audio FM, AM, SSB and data modes
Kenwood TS-2000 $1500
Portable Multiband Amateur Radio Transceiver
MHz, MHz and MHz Audio FM, AM, SSB and data modes
Yaesu FT-817ND $700
Software Defined Radio Receiver only
30MHz to 1.7GHz; some cover higher & lower
Audio FM, AM, SSB, and data modes
Nuand Blade RF 300MHz to 3.8GHz $650
Software Defined Radio Receiver only
30 MHz to 1.7GHz
Audio FM, AM, SSB, and data modes
NooElec RTL-SDR $24

9. The Low Noise Amplifier
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
The Low Noise Amplifier
Low Noise Amplifier
20 – 23dB gain from 28 MHz to 1GHz
LNA4ALL $100
Low Noise Amplifier with Antenna Polarization Switch
100 – 500 MHz
From AMSAT $65
Generic no-name
20MHz to 2.4GHz
EBay $15

10. Antennas AIAA OC Rocketry 137MHz Quadrifilar Omnidirectional
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Antennas
137MHz Quadrifilar
Omnidirectional
Right Hand Circularly Polarized
144 MHz Turnstile
Omnidirectional
Feed out of phase for circular polarization
QFH pattern from ARRL Italy; Turnstile from QSL.net

11. Antennas (cont’d) AIAA OC Rocketry 144MHz Lindenblad Omnidirectional
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Antennas (cont’d)
144MHz Lindenblad
Omnidirectional
Circularly polarized
Yagi
Directional
3 element 144 MHz
7 element 430 MHz
Use 2 crossed 90 degrees out of phase for circular polarization
Lindenblad antenna and Yagi pattern from ARRL antenna book

12. Directional Antennas AIAA OC Rocketry Can be handheld and pointed
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Directional Antennas
Can be handheld and pointed
Mount on a camera tripod for stability
Easiest is a motorized alti-azimuth rotator
Alti-Azimuth Rotators can be home built – WRAPS from AMSAT is about $300 in parts
A commercial system is around $700 for the rotator and $600 for the controller
Photo From QST article on WRAPS posted on AMSAT.org

13. Software – for SDR Allows control of the radio Tuning Modulation type
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Software – for SDR
Allows control of the radio
Tuning
Modulation type
Bandwidth
Filters
Tracking – Automatic Doppler and Alti-Azimuth antenna control
IQ Recording (can tune and change parameters during playback)
Many options – many are free to download
SDR Console (our choice)
SDR #
HDSDR
Linrad
Many, many more

14. Software – for Data Decoding
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Software – for Data Decoding
General Software
WxtoImg for NOAA APT Decoding
MMSSTV for Slow Scan Television
Software TNC (Terminal Node Controller) for APRS (Amateur Packet Reporting System)
Satellite specific software – available on CubeSat web pages
Funcube-1/Ukube-1
FO-29
Swisscube
Many more

15. S/W & Resources - Locating and Tracking
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
S/W & Resources - Locating and Tracking
Software uses Keplerian Elements – the satellite specific inputs to a standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits
On Line – Pass Predictions and Real Time Tracking
N2YO
Satview
Heavens Above
Many more
Downloaded Software
SatPC32
Orbitron

16. Simple Satellite Ground Station
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Simple Satellite Ground Station

17. The Ground Station Part I
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
The Ground Station Part I
The LNA and SDR are on a PVC pipe that slips over the antenna mast
Antenna, Software Defined Radio (SDR), and Low Noise Amplifier (LNA)
The Antenna (Right Hand Circularly Polarized Quadrifilar)

18. The Ground Station Part II
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
The Ground Station Part II
Or operate comfortably inside for an omnidirectional antenna
The tailgate of a pickup truck is an excellent “desk” when you need to manually track the satellite (position and Doppler) – with the antenna mounted on a photographic tripod

19. Bringing up the ground station
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Bringing up the ground station
Try tuning a local FM radio station (K-Earth 101 at MHz)
Try tuning the local NOAA weather station (great for adjusting and measurements)
– San Diego
MHz – Santa Ana
– Los Angeles
Try tuning the NOAA Weather Satellites (Use WxtoImg to decode)
137.1 MHz – NOAA 19
MHz – NOAA 15
MHz – NOAA 18
Try tuning FO-29 Ham Satellite (Decoder on FO-29 website)
MHz beacon
435.8 – MHz SSB Transponder
Try tuning Funcube-1 and Funcube-2 (UKube-1) CubeSats (Decoder on Funcube website
MHz - Funcube-2/UKube-1 3U CubeSat
MHz – Funcube-1 1U CubeSat

20. Locating and Tracking Web Based (e.g. N2YO)
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Locating and Tracking Web Based (e.g. N2YO)
Tracking
10 Day Predictions

21. Locating and Tracking Stand-Alone Software (e.g. SatPC32)
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Locating and Tracking Stand-Alone Software (e.g. SatPC32)

22. Software Defined Radio SDR Console (Control of Radio & Recording)
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Software Defined Radio SDR Console (Control of Radio & Recording)

23. Software Defined Radio SDR Console (Locating and Tracking)
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Software Defined Radio SDR Console (Locating and Tracking)

24. AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
NOAA-18
Not a CubeSat, but very easy to validate the ground station
Launched May 20, 2005
NORAD 28645
Sun Synchronous Orbit at 870km altitude in 102 minutes
1419kg; 4.2m x 1.88m (body); Solar Array 2.73m x 6.14m
Communications:
APT (Automatic Picture Transmission) on MHz at 10W ERP
Many other transmissions around MHz, MHz, MHz, MHz
Photos from Wikipedia and NASA Critical Path

25. Start with an “Easy” Satellite - NOAA
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Start with an “Easy” Satellite - NOAA
Video Link (video must be in same folder as PPT)

26. ISS AIAA OC Rocketry Expedition 1 launched October 31, 2000
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
ISS
Expedition 1 launched October 31, 2000
NORAD 25544
Orbits at 330 – 435 km altitude in 92 minutes
419,555kg; Truss length109m; Module Length 51 meters; Solar Array length 73 m
Public Communications:
– Voice Uplink
Packet up and down
Packet up and down
437.8 Repeater uplink
145.8 Repeater downlink and SSTV
Photo from NASA

27. Slow Scan TV from the ISS
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Slow Scan TV from the ISS
Video Link (video must be in same folder as PPT)

28. Funcube 1 (AO-73) AIAA OC Rocketry One unit CubeSat
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Funcube 1 (AO-73)
One unit CubeSat
Launched November 21, 2013
NORAD 39444
Sun Synchronous at 670km in 97 minutes
<1 kg; 10cm x 10cm x 10cm (3U)
Communications:
Power: Beacon 30 – 300 mW
Telemetry: BPSK
Transponder: – MHz UP LSB (inverting) and – MHz down USB
Photo from AMSAT UK

29. UKube-1 (Funcube 2) AIAA OC Rocketry Three Unit CubeSat
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
UKube-1 (Funcube 2)
Three Unit CubeSat
Launched July 8, 2014
NORAD 40074
Sun Synchronous near circular orbit at 625km in 97 minutes
3.5 kg; 10cm x 10cm x 34cm (3U)
Communications:
Power: Beacon 30 – 300 mW; Transponder 300 mW
Telemetry: at mW
Beacon: at mW
Transponder: – MHz UP and – MHz down MHz down SSB & CW at 300 mW
Sband MHz 1Mb/s at 1 W
myPocketQub – MHz at 11 mW
Photo from AMSAT UK

30. Ukube-1 CubeSat AIAA OC Rocketry AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Video Link (video must be in same folder as PPT)

31. Saudi-OSCAR 50 (SO-50) AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Saudi-OSCAR 50 (SO-50)
Not a CubeSat but easy to work with ground station
Launched December 20, 2002
NORAD 27607
Sun Synchronous orbit at 625km in 97 minutes
10 kg; ~25cm cube
Communications:
Repeater: MHz UP and MHz down FM with 74.4 Hz PL Tone to arm and 67 Hz tone to activate at 250mW
Photo from AMSAT

32. Fuji Oscar 29 (JAS-2) AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Fuji Oscar 29 (JAS-2)
Not a CubeSat, but easy to validate the ground station
Launched August 17, 1996
NORAD 24279
Polar Orbit 1300km altitude in 112 minutes
50 kg; 44cm x 47 cm
Communications:
Power: Beacon 100mW; Transponder 1 Watt
Beacon: (CW) at 100mW
Transponder: MHz UP and MHz down, USB & CW
Photo from pe0sat

33. FO-29 Amateur Satellite (OSCAR)
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
FO-29 Amateur Satellite (OSCAR)
Video Link (video must be in same folder as PPT)

34. Challenges and Suggestions
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Challenges and Suggestions
Determining which satellites are still active
Many CubeSats and Amateur Radio Satellites have multiple names
Get an Amateur Radio license (allows you to talk through the satellites)
A lot of information on satellites is available through Amateur Radio Satellites (OSCAR – AMSAT)
A lot of information on CubeSats is available on line in student theses

35. Local Club DigitalSats Club of Southern California
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Local Club
DigitalSats Club of Southern California
Organized by Dr. Don Black

36. AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Thank you
Questions?

37. Additional Information
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
Additional Information
CubeSats at Cal Poly SLO (PolySat):
Amateur Radio Satellites US (AMSAT):
Amateur Radio Satellites UK (AMSAT-UK):
PE0SAT – Info about Amateur Radio Satellites:
ARRL – Bringing space into the classroom:
CubeSat.org – Collaboration of organizations:
NASA CubeSat Initiative:
Google CubeSat for research papers and theses

38. AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
General Links
CubeSat Comm Table (Klofas):
JE9PEL/1 All Satellites list:
Ham Satellite Status:
SwissCube Decoder:
NOAA KLM User’s Guide:
FO-29 PE0SAT:
FO-29 AMSAT:
Satview (tracking):
Satflare (tracking):
NOAA-18 information:
NOAA-18 Status;
QFH Antenna pattern:
Turnstile antenna pattern:
WRAPS article:
SwissCube Live:

39. General Links SwissCube: http://swisscube.epfl.ch/
AIAA OC Rocketry
AIAA OC Section – NAR #718
General Links
SwissCube:
List of SDR Software:
N2YO - Tracking:
Satview – Tracking:
Heavens Above - Tracking:
SatPC32:
Orbitron:
WxtoImg – NOAA Weather:
MMSSTV – Slow Scan Television:
CalPoly Ground Station:
Reference
ARRL Antenna Book, 22nd edition