Amateur radio:
I have been a licensed amateur radio operator since 1979 having previously held the callsigns of VK3VKH, VK3KID, VK3DMD and now the callsign of VK3UR since 1983.
My Station:
Over the 45 years I have had many radios and antennas ranging from the 160m radio band through to the 23cm radio band. Most of my activity is now based around using amateur radio satellites and this is the latest station that I have setup to play with as part of retirement.
The antennas comprise a 10 element 70cm Yagi and a 7 element 2m yagi both of which are vertically polarized. The 70cm yagi is vertically polarized so that at some point in the near future I can hopefully use it to receive the Amateur TV Repeater, VK3RTV, which is located in Glen Waverley. These antennas are connected to a Yaesu G5500 rotator which allows me to change both their azimuth and elevation to any point in the sky. There is also a SSB Electronics 70cm preamplifier in the chain to amplify weak signals. A Diamond X-5000 vertical antenna is used for local 2m and 70cm FM operations.
Inside the shack is an Icom IC-9700, as my primary radio for satellite operations, an Icom IC-7300, for HF operations (but no HF or 6m antennas at the moment), and a Icom IC-2820H for local operations and to monitor the ISS Voice / SSTV activities on 145.800FM. A CSN Satellite Tracker interfaces between the rotator and the IC-9700 to track a variety of satellites and also to adjust the change in frequencies due to Doppler shift. The laptop is connected to the IC-9700 to download SSTV activity.
Over the 45 years I have had many radios and antennas ranging from the 160m radio band through to the 23cm radio band. Most of my activity is now based around using amateur radio satellites and this is the latest station that I have setup to play with as part of retirement.
The antennas comprise a 10 element 70cm Yagi and a 7 element 2m yagi both of which are vertically polarized. The 70cm yagi is vertically polarized so that at some point in the near future I can hopefully use it to receive the Amateur TV Repeater, VK3RTV, which is located in Glen Waverley. These antennas are connected to a Yaesu G5500 rotator which allows me to change both their azimuth and elevation to any point in the sky. There is also a SSB Electronics 70cm preamplifier in the chain to amplify weak signals. A Diamond X-5000 vertical antenna is used for local 2m and 70cm FM operations.
Inside the shack is an Icom IC-9700, as my primary radio for satellite operations, an Icom IC-7300, for HF operations (but no HF or 6m antennas at the moment), and a Icom IC-2820H for local operations and to monitor the ISS Voice / SSTV activities on 145.800FM. A CSN Satellite Tracker interfaces between the rotator and the IC-9700 to track a variety of satellites and also to adjust the change in frequencies due to Doppler shift. The laptop is connected to the IC-9700 to download SSTV activity.
Amateur Radio Satellites:
Found this on YouTube recently. My first satellite contact through AO-91 (Fox-1B) recorded by Musa YD9MBM
Slow Scan Television (SSTV) received through amateur satellites and the International Space Station
Sakhacube-Cholbon (RS18S):
SAKHACUBE-CHOLBON is a small spacecraft developed and built as part of a joint project with the Sakha Science Academy to launch the first Sakha satellite. The spacecraft purpose is to perform educational and scientific research tasks, as well as to test the ground support infrastructure.
The spacecraft carries a YKSA LLC payload with 12 Arduino-compatible microcontrollers and a set of sensors to study the environment. School students of the Sakha Republic will be able to upload programs to the spacecraft and conduct their own research.
The spacecraft also performs an amateur radio mission. Telemetry and images from the onboard camera, SSTV postcards, audio messages, and other data will be transmitted. Communications are performed in the 437-439 MHz amateur radio band.
SAKHACUBE-CHOLBON is a small spacecraft developed and built as part of a joint project with the Sakha Science Academy to launch the first Sakha satellite. The spacecraft purpose is to perform educational and scientific research tasks, as well as to test the ground support infrastructure.
The spacecraft carries a YKSA LLC payload with 12 Arduino-compatible microcontrollers and a set of sensors to study the environment. School students of the Sakha Republic will be able to upload programs to the spacecraft and conduct their own research.
The spacecraft also performs an amateur radio mission. Telemetry and images from the onboard camera, SSTV postcards, audio messages, and other data will be transmitted. Communications are performed in the 437-439 MHz amateur radio band.
UmKA-1 (RS40S) and Vizard-Meteo (RS38S) SSTV Images:
Remember the "Salute in Space" cat book giveaway ? We promised the winners a trip to orbit by sending their photos into orbit. That moment arrived on February 14th and 15th. The photos sent by the winners will be broadcast simultaneously from two Space-π satellites:
UMKA-1 (437.625 MHz) and Vizard-meteo (437.825 MHz ) (Robot36 mode) .
Remember the "Salute in Space" cat book giveaway ? We promised the winners a trip to orbit by sending their photos into orbit. That moment arrived on February 14th and 15th. The photos sent by the winners will be broadcast simultaneously from two Space-π satellites:
UMKA-1 (437.625 MHz) and Vizard-meteo (437.825 MHz ) (Robot36 mode) .
MONITOR-3 (RS58S) SSTV Images:
To celebrate 80. or anniversary of the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics at Moscow State University Lomonosov (SINP MSU).
Since the 1950s, SINP MSU has been actively involved in space research and the development of scientific equipment for orbital missions. In honor of 80. or anniversary of the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics at Moscow State University Lomonosov, founded on February 1, 1946, a special transmission will be held from the MONITOR-3 (RS58S) spacecraft. The thematic imagery broadcast is scheduled for the period from January 30 to February 2, 2026 and continues the tradition of popularizing space science and supporting the radio fan community.
The small satellite "MONITOR-3 (RS58S)" was launched on June 27, 2023 from the Vostochny Cosmodrome as part of the Space-Pi program. The satellite was operated by the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics at the Moscow Lomonosov State University.
The payload of the spacecraft MONITOR-3 (RS58S) is the DECOR-2 instrument, developed by scientists from the Institute of Nuclear Physics at Moscow State University. Its primary goal is to monitor the flows of charged particles in the low-Earth orbit.
To celebrate 80. or anniversary of the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics at Moscow State University Lomonosov (SINP MSU).
Since the 1950s, SINP MSU has been actively involved in space research and the development of scientific equipment for orbital missions. In honor of 80. or anniversary of the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics at Moscow State University Lomonosov, founded on February 1, 1946, a special transmission will be held from the MONITOR-3 (RS58S) spacecraft. The thematic imagery broadcast is scheduled for the period from January 30 to February 2, 2026 and continues the tradition of popularizing space science and supporting the radio fan community.
The small satellite "MONITOR-3 (RS58S)" was launched on June 27, 2023 from the Vostochny Cosmodrome as part of the Space-Pi program. The satellite was operated by the Skobeltsyn Institute of Nuclear Physics at the Moscow Lomonosov State University.
The payload of the spacecraft MONITOR-3 (RS58S) is the DECOR-2 instrument, developed by scientists from the Institute of Nuclear Physics at Moscow State University. Its primary goal is to monitor the flows of charged particles in the low-Earth orbit.
UmKA-1 (RS40S) SSTV Images:
UmKA-1 (RS40S) and Vizard-Meteo (RS38S) Challenge:
In January 2026 these two satellites transmitted a series of 4 SSTV images comprising color tables. The challenge was to download all four tables, place them in a code map and then reassemble them into a single image. Apart from missing a few pixels due to Row 20 being overwritten with file details, and I suspect a few table errors, I ended up with a good result.
In January 2026 these two satellites transmitted a series of 4 SSTV images comprising color tables. The challenge was to download all four tables, place them in a code map and then reassemble them into a single image. Apart from missing a few pixels due to Row 20 being overwritten with file details, and I suspect a few table errors, I ended up with a good result.
UmKA 1 (RS40S):
Images transmitted for the 2026 New Year celebrations from the Russian satellite UmKA 1.
Images transmitted for the 2026 New Year celebrations from the Russian satellite UmKA 1.
ArcticSat 1 (RS74S):
More images from ArcticSat 1.
More images from ArcticSat 1.
ArcticSat 1 (RS74S):
Russian satellite transmitting drawings from school students. All 10 images successfully recorded.
Russian satellite transmitting drawings from school students. All 10 images successfully recorded.
VIZARD-Meteo (RS38S):
Russian satellite transmitting images to celebrate the 25th anniversary of amateur radio on the International Space Station and also the Scout's Jamboree On The Air (JOTA). I managed to receive 11 out of the 12 images.
Russian satellite transmitting images to celebrate the 25th anniversary of amateur radio on the International Space Station and also the Scout's Jamboree On The Air (JOTA). I managed to receive 11 out of the 12 images.
Propagation:
