Setup a Ham Radio Satellite Station
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- čas přidán 30. 12. 2023
- (NOTE: the hex address is different for each model of Icom radio. The hex address 60h is for the IC-910; A2h is default for the IC-9700.) How I setup my amateur radio satellite station based on an Icom IC-910 radio, a CSN Technologies S.A.T. controller module, a Yeasu G-5500 azimuth/elevation rotator, and a pair of M2 low earth orbit (LEO) satellite antennas. This configuration applies to any of the Icom satellite-capable transceivers, namely the IC-820, IC-821, IC-910, IC-9100, and the IC-9700. This setup would also apply to other name brand transceivers, however the CSN Technologies' S.A.T. module only works with Icom radios at this time. For other brand radios there are many satellite programs that perform functions similar to the S.A.T., but with more components needed. Using this configuration an amateur radio operator can work the transponder satellites, usually SSB and CW, as well as the FM repeater and digital type satellites, especially the International Space Station.
As far as rotators go, the CSN S.A.T device will interface with PSTRotator, which is a program that supports just about rotor that’s out there. And as far as loggers goes, it supports the popular logging programs as well as creates ADIF files that can be imported into just about any logging program.
Thanks.
Im saving this as im getting close to settling up my station.
Thanks for this video! It helped a lot setting up my new S.A.T. box with my 9700. Can’t get much simpler. Ken/N7KB
Well this is cool. Makes it super easy! Thanks for sharing and 73!
Very interesting video; I just got active on the satellites again after many years away from it. (I was active back in the days of AMSAT AO-13, which had fantastic coverage).
I’ve already had an IC-9700 for several years, purchased mainly for VHF / UHF / microwave weak-signal SSB / CW / FT8 work. I acquired a used (but in pristine condition) KENPRO / YAESU G-5400 EL/AZ rotor system about a month & 1/2 ago, managed to get it & a set of used Yagis for 2 M / 70 cm. installed a top a single Rohn 25 top section just before the ground froze up here in Southeastern MA.
I’ve been using Orbitron tracking software (free!), & the Kenpro rotator included a satellite controller interface, but so far no luck getting everything to “play nice” together; this has me frantically trying to track the satellites manually, as well as manually try to adjust the IC-9700 for Doppler shift. I knew about the S.A.T. controller, but wanted to try getting the one that came with my rotator working first. After fussing with it & getting nowhere in the last several days, the S.A.T. is starting to look VERY interesting! 😊
73,
Tom WA1LBK
I really love the IC-9700. (Except for the clock battery!) By rotator controller interface, do you mean just a cable, or an actual controller box? There has to be a box, like the S.A.T., or a Fox Delta ST2, or better yet a Yaesu GS-232B interface (for the G-5400 only). I was using a Fox Delta ST2 for a long time and it worked fine and was less than $100, but it had more cables and only controlled the rotator. I've never used Orbitron, but most satellite tracking software will control the IC-9700 for doppler correction with just the USB cord connection. I used Ham Radio Deluxe and MacDoppler for rig control before I got the S.A.T. and they worked fine. Best of luck with getting operational. Maybe I'll have a QSO with you in the next few weeks. 73!
Would love to see this in person someday if you could oblige! Ronny W4TRI in Winter Haven
Hehe, you'd be traveling quite a while! I assembled this to ship to the Philippines. Can't get a lot of the needed parts in the Philippines so I put it together here and sent it off. And I visit Winter Haven often to get many of my essential parts! 😃
Well done, Thanks for sharing. KK7PUG Mike.
Nice one just what the doctor ordered M1ayt 73s
Great info - thanks!
Thanks for the new video, looks like that set up it plays well. I have the SARCTRAC and I am working on putting it together with my beam and software.
Lucky you got your SARCTRAC when you did, given that they discontinued offering the rotator.
Thanks for the video
Good stuff 😊 see ya on da birds 73
thanks from brasil
I'm setting up a satellite station that same transceiver and the S.A.T.
Everything is working fine but the SAT doesn't enable the PL tone on the radio. Have you run into this? I checked with CSN and they suggested asking you because they don't have this receiver.
73
Peter KG8VR
Yes, it seems the problem is that once you turn on the SAT and it takes control of your radio it is difficult to wrestle control from the SAT to manually turn on the PL tone. Two approaches: first, turn on the PL tone in the radio before turning on the SAT, and the other is to just keep clicking on the tone button on the radio and usually you can get the tone to turn on in between the SAT switching back and forth between transmit and receive bands. I sometimes have the same issue with my IC-9700. I was fighting the SAT PL tone last night when SO-50 was passing over. And that was with my IC-9700. Hope that works! 73
So have you made a similar video for sat’ comms using the 9700? That’s what I was hoping this video was. 73 Tom KC3QAC
The setup for the IC-9700 is the same, except for the hex address is different for the IC-9700. Where the IC-9700 really shines is with the waterfall display. It is SO EASY to sync TX and RX when you can see your return signal on the waterfall. Plus, the RIT range on the IC-9700 is very broad making syncing very simple. The RIT range on the IC-910 is only 1Khz, which is inadequate for RIT tuning with the satellites. I've been planning to make a video on tuning both the IC-9700 and the IC-910 for satellites, but my 910 is already on its way to the Philippines. Watch for it in a few months.
You set up a setup.
Good Morning Jeff and Happy New Year. Very informative video. I know the IC-707 does not have a CIV port, but do you think it is possible to have the S.A.T control it through Hamlib as the CIV interface is presented via USB to my computer.
Do you mean the IC-705? I’ve never used Hamlib, but I do know that some rig control software does work with the IC-705. See my IC-705 satellite ops video. In that video I use MacDoppler to control the radio for satellite ops. If you test it out on Hamlib, let me know how it works out. Good luck!
The S.A.T. is prerty nifty but I dont like how it expects you to use RIT to find your uplink. Thats completely opposite of how its normally done, you should be moving your uplink around to center it in your RX passband. It would also be nice if they added support for Kenwood and Yeasu radios too. There are probably more TS-2000s in circulation than the IC-9700 and IC-910 combined, and I personally have a TS-790 too thats no slouch either.
If you note the RIT offset, you can enter it into the SAT and it will make that adjustment for future passes. Now I'm almost always spot on without adjustment when I get on the satellites. But, on the IC-910, you can't use the RIT anyway, because Icom placed both RIT and transmit only on the main VFO, which means the main VFO must be TX, so RIT is not available at all. So for the IC-910 (and perhaps others), I unlock the VFOs, dial the receive channel to find my downlink, then re-lock the VFO so that the SAT continues to track both up and down links. It's a bit of a chore and I'm not sure why Icom decided to limit BOTH RIT and transmit only to the main VFO.
@@jeffreybaker4285 Thank you for the reply, that's good to know you can update your uplink frequency and save it, I wasn't aware of that. Hopefully they eventually add UP/DOWN buttons to make it even easier like SatPC32 does. I'd buy one for myself then. I also didn't know the IC-910 RIT works the way you describe...that must be frustrating. I have an IC-821 that actually works more like you'd expect in Satellite mode although it doesn't display the change in frequency as you adjust RIT. The TS-790 does satellite mode perfectly - it displays the adjusted RX frequency when you twittle RIT, good CAT capabilities, and even has separate sequenced "SEND" signals at the accessory jack for 2M/70CM/23CM for use with preamps and/or linears which even the IC-9700 lacks. It's a shame they are so often overlooked due to their age.
I cannot find the M2 antenna anywhere do you have a link?
www.m2inc.com/FGLEOPACK Or at DX Engineering.
what S.A.T. program are you using?
The software is built into the S.A.T. Box. You just go to its IP address with an internet browser. No programs loaded on your computer.
What kind of pre-amps are those?
Mirage. They’re cheap and they work, but there are a lot of better quality pre-amps out there. I did not use the pre-amps in my demo QSOs because I didn’t have the bias-t power source in line.
@@tekspeditionplanet9109 thanks, good to know your QSO's didn't rely on the pre-amp. Sounds like you were getting decent signal w/out which is what I was wondering.
Looks like your radio is modified with an IF out. Might be useful to add an SDR to it for the SSB satellites. Frequency will be around 10.9 MHz.
Yes, the previous owner added the SDR tap. Unfortunately I’ve been unable to get it working. I’ll have to open it up and see if something has come loose. That would definitely simplify turning on the transponder satellites.
@@tekspeditionplanet9109 tune to 10.85 or 10.95 MHz and zoom into that frequency, leave it there and try to find a SSB signal on one of the satellites. You should be able to see that signal on the SDR receiver. All the running have to be done with your Icom radio. Not with the SDR….
@@speedymartin2 yes, that’s where I’ve been looking. I just need to play with it more.
@@tekspeditionplanet9109 maybe I see you on a cross Atlantic QSO in the future 73’ PD1MV
How many radios do you have?? OMG I’ve only got the UHSDR 918 under the x6100,
But it doesn’t seem to TX!
No SWR meter or Power meter responses when I press PTT on mic.. red TX led lights up, (obviously antenna is connected)
I’ve gone through all the settings as Pa bias needs to be manually adjusted..
Will the firmware update perhaps sort out this no TX issue?
I have zero experience with either of those radio options, so I can't really give you any informed feedback. Maybe query one of the Facebook amateur satellite pages, or a satellite group at groups.io. Best of luck! 73
Great info, tnx es 73, VE7APF.