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Jovian-1 U/V FM Transponder Test

Jovian-1 U/V FM Transponder

David Bowman G0MRF reports the successful on-air test of the AMSAT-UK U/V FM transponder has been carried out.

Destined for the 6U Jovian-1 satellite, this mode U/V FM transponder had its first on-air test on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

A 70cm 20 watts ERP signal was transmitted over a distance of 59 km with a path loss of -150 dB and received by the FM transponder on a QFH antenna. The signal was re-transmitted on 145.895 MHz.

The first contact was between Mike Willis G0MJW and Graham Shirville G3VZV

AMSAT-UK Jovian-1 Announcement September 2024
https://amsat-uk.org/2024/09/29/amsat-uk-new-project-announcement-2/

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23cm Restrictions in Europe

The 67th CEPT Electronic Communications Committee (ECC) Plenary Meeting held March 24-27 approved ECC Decision (25)01 imposing restrictions on both Amateur and Amateur-Satellite operation in the 23cm Band (1258-1300 MHz) with effect from December 27, 2025.

In order to account for amateur service installations that are authorized and operational in the frequency range 1258-1296 MHz in many CEPT countries, administrations may, on national level, define a transitional period to comply, with the expectation this could take up to three years according to national circumstances.

The meeting minutes record:

6.2 APPROVAL FOR PUBLICATION OF DRAFT ECC DECISION (25)01 ON GALILEO AND ITS PROTECTION IN 1258-1300 MHZ FROM RADIO AMATEUR

The WG FM Chairman introduced the draft ECC Decision (25)01 on Galileo and protection measures in 1258-1300 MHz in Annex 06 to 026, which was endorsed by WG FM for publication by the ECC.

24 administrations indicated their intention to implement this Decision, while 1 administration indicated their intention to implement it partially.

Germany stated that they have to determine how to implement this Decision at national level.

The United Kingdom informed the meeting that it will implement decides 1 (designation of the frequency bands for Galileo) but will not apply the technical conditions on amateur and amateur-satellite in decides 2.

Meeting minutes https://cept.org/documents/ecc/89968/ecc-25-042_minutes-67th-ecc-meeting

Amateur-Satellite Service restrictions (bandwidth must be ≤ 150 kHz):

i) 1260-1262 MHz Maximum permitted EIRP:

•   −3 dBW (500 milliwatts) for 0° ≤ θ < 15°
• 17 dBW (50 watts) for 15° ≤ θ < 55°
• 26.8 dBW (478 watts) for 55° ≤ θ < 90°

where θ = elevation angle of amateur station antenna

ii) 1262-1270 MHz: Maximum permitted EIRP = −17 dBW (20 milliwatts)

Read the full CEPT ECC Decision (25)01 to see the restrictions on the rest of the 23cm band https://docdb.cept.org/download/4782

WRC-23 ITU-R Recommendation M.2164-0

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SSTV from the ISS in July

An ARISS SSTV event from the International Space Station will begin no earlier than July 14 with the expectation that the event will run through the weekend into the beginning of the following week.

This is all subject to AX-4 schedule and other operational considerations.

The subject will be the 50th anniversary of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) and the 40th anniversary of STS-51F.

STS-51F was the second SAREX flight and had the first use of SSTV in human spaceflight.

Start: Monday, July 14 0945 GMT (1045am BST)
End: Sunday, July 20 1800 GMT (7pm BST)

Frequency: 145.800 MHz FM (+/-3.5 kHz Doppler Shift)
SSTV Mode: PD120 (Transmission cycle 2 minutes on, 2 minutes off)

You are invited to upload decoded images in the ARISS gallery, area “ARISS Series 28 Apollo Soyuz and STS-51F” at: https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/

Once you’ve submitted, just clicking on the dedicated button you can apply for the official ARISS SSTV award.

Also, you can request the ARISS QSL by contacting the European QSL bureau: https://www.ariss-eu.org/index.php/ariss-station/european-qsl-bureau

To support everyone interested in such events, the European Space Agency released tutorials about how to receive pictures transmitted over amateur radio by the International Space Station: you can find them on https://issfanclub.eu/2024/11/08/esa-tips-how-to-get-pictures-from-the-international-space-station-via-amateur-radio-2/

It’s always possible to receive the ISS SSTV signal by using the WebSDR at the Goonhilly Earth Station, the audio can then be fed into your PC or Smartphone SSTV App  https://vhf-goonhilly.batc.org.uk/

Follow @ARISS_intl on X for official updates, since changes can occur.

Reminder, the images are sent on a (roughly) 2 minutes on, 2 minutes off schedule. So if you don’t hear anything, give it 2 minutes!

Many FM rigs can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters. For best results you should select the filter for wider deviation FM. Handhelds generally have a single wide filter fitted as standard.

You can get predictions for the ISS pass times at https://www.amsat.org/track/

Useful information on receiving the pictures and links for Apps to display the pictures can be found here:
https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/

You may be able to get publicity for the amateur radio hobby if you contact your local newspaper and tell them you’ve received a picture (doesn’t have to be perfect) from the International Space Station, see
https://amsat-uk.org/2015/02/04/iss-sstv-in-uk-press/

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AMSAT-UK Support Student Payload on Sub Orbital Launch from Oman

Stellar Kinetics Kia-1 and support teams at Etlaq Spaceport Oman

A team of 6 students from the University of Surrey, the University of Portsmouth and the University of Southampton are integrating equipment they designed, manufactured and tested to a 12m high Stellar Kinetics Kia-1 rocket in Southern Oman.

Jovian-O and pod at Surrey university for vibration testing

The launch from Etlaq Spaceport, to an anticipated altitude of 500km, will be the first flight of the 2 stage Kia-1 rocket and is one of 5 planned test flights from Etlaq this year. The spaceport is located at 18 degrees latitude overlooking the Indian Ocean, making it an ideal location for launching vehicles into multiple orbits, including equatorial orbit, sun-synchronous orbit, polar orbit, medium Earth orbit, and geostationary orbit. The Spaceport should be fully operational by 2027.

The Universities payload, known as Jovian-O, will test a student designed 6U CubeSat deployment pod and its payload. The battery powered ‘satellite’ will not completely deploy from its pod, but remain tethered to it. However it will capture video and still images of the deployment process verifying correct operation of the pod. It will also flight test hardware from the imaging payload DAVE, ( Dual Aperture for Viewing Earth) which will fly on the future Jovian-1 orbital mission along with an AMSAT-UK educational outreach and U/V FM transponder.

Students integrating the Jovian-O 6U payload

The images transmitted from Jovian-O during this sub orbital test flight use 500kb/sec QPSK. AMSAT-UK provided a high gain 4W 435MHz amplifier for the mission and a deployable 435MHz antenna. Data will be received at Etlaq by the student’s portable ground station.

Follow @EtlaqSpace and @stellarkinetics on X

https://www.etlaq.om/launches/duqm-2

https://www.surrey.ac.uk/news/uk-students-launch-international-space-mission

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Amateur Radio Satellites in TES Magazine

International Space Station – Image credit NASA

Amateur radio can open up a new world of opportunities for students, says teacher Chris Aitken MM0WIC, @skipperAitken on X, who shares his tips on how to start a club in the Times Educational Supplement – TES Magazine.

“In 2023 I officially started the Wick High School Radio Club, with a callsign of GM0WHS. The aim of the club was to expose our students to the wide range of activities available in amateur radio.

I remember our first activity: talking to another amateur in England via the SO-50 satellite. I stood with three students on the rugby pitch, antennas pointing to the sky and talking to another amateur, Nick M1DDD.

By the end of the contact, we had 30 students around us wondering what was going on. Their curiosity sparked, we answered questions on what we were doing and invited them to take part.”

Read the TES magazine article at
https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/why-i-started-amateur-radio-club-my-school

There is no better way to explore the fascinating world of wireless communication than by becoming a radio amateur.

This free online 3-week amateur radio course will enable you to become a radio amateur and get an Ofcom amateur radio licence and callsign, details and booking information at
https://www.essexham.co.uk/train/book-a-place/

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