The Ultimate Guide to Working Ham Radio Satellites

[@coryt.spankowski2072]

I’d recommend just saying “call sign, grid square”. Extra words like “this is...”, “my grid square is...”, and “US” is gonna get you lost in the shuffle. “ABC123, EM77”. Short, clean, and less likely to get lost in the shuffle. Very nice video, I’m probably going to get on the birds again soon, I have nothing else to do during lockdown, lol. Hope to chat with you! 73 de WI9EMS

[@qroconnor8812]

Hey. I heard my voice. I was operating K4AMG

[@Atheistic007]

Wait a second, your girlfriend is in the car waiting for you listening to the radio to help you? Wow, keep her.

[@ModernHam]

Yeah she's definitely a keeper!

[@DutchmanRadio]

Honestly

[@orchidsseasonallyblooming.9909]

Thank you, Juan /K4LCD. PS. This morning I ordered a split boom Arrow II without a duplexer and a Baofeng BF-F8HP. I already have a UV-6R. Yor video was very instructive.

[@daytonj7545]

You did a great job on this video and it was easy to imagine the stress of balancing 20 things at once. Don't be bummed at all, every pitfall you felt is exactly what us other hams is going to need to learn from too. Thanks again. KG5TKF

[@Rhettopia]

A girlfriend that helps monitor radios in the field? Man is living the dream and doesn't even know it. Thanks for the video!

[@W6OBB]

Excellent video! I just watched another video that said "Beginners Guide" and all it was, was him showing his first satellite QSO. LOL! Thanks for going through everything you need to know. I worked some stations via satellite but it's been years and needed a refresher. Keep up the great videos. 73 de W6OBB

[@TheOpticalFreak]

I will never ignore the dog!😁😊👍

[@paintfree1]

You can use any voice recorder you want. I use one that is called.... voice recorder.

[@Grip_ItandrRip_It]

Nicely done. I always like seeing the "real world" version of an activity, instead of the overly scripted, slickly edited version. My only question/suggestion is, when you 'compass' malfunctioned, you should have still been able to find your bearing. Just know which direction is North, and you can always approximate it from there. Google street maps will tell you where North is, and i guess the Heavens Above app would give you the bearing. (and also give an idea of the path overhead that the satellite will follow so you can track it manually. I'm just getting into the satellite tracking thing, and your video was both enjoyable and helpful. 👍

[@BassFlatsBeyond]

I feel like this is something best done on a base station with a reference material on a computer screen. You sir are definitely playing on hard mode

[@bobherrell9202]

Hi Billy, enjoyed your video. May I suggest that you only use the 4 digit grid square. It is faster and what most people use. 73 de AJ5C EM36

[@ModernHam]

Thank you for the feedback!

[@wayneswww]

Thank you for a helpful video and checklist for the beginning Operators !

[@sptvids]

Good video, I have just got my arrow too, so hope to make some contacts soon. I'm also the same as you, short term memory is pants, so just call and grid is easier

[@ModernHam]

Hope to hear you on one of the sats!

[@JayN4GO]

I’ve been a ham for over 20 years and just now interested in birds. I’m in em77 also. Richmond. Hope to catch you on 2m sometime. Thanks for the vid man. Looks stressful as hell. Lol

[@ModernHam]

Awesome! It's a small world I'm noticing after doing this channel. I'l be on the repeaters more often now with the craziness going on outside. Hope to hear you!

[@robsterTN]

Dude! You’re in my hometown! Go big E!

[@gravestonemyth]

Thanks for the video. You are not joking about the stress. iPhones make it a lot easier with the built-in compass and the level in the measure app. More transmit power helps you win the capture on the repeater, but only at the expense of guys with HTs. What really sucks are the guys with 100W and a computer-controlled az-el rotor. They can get really chatty with their pals, killing the window for us QRP handheld guys. Still, we win our battles now and then. Overnight passes are definitely easier due to fanatics and insomniacs being the only ones out there.

[@ModernHam]

I completely agree. While I know nobody owns the Freq, it's hard to beat out those guys who have hundreds or thousands to spend on satellite equipment and use them like a local repeater lol. Later this year you may see a budget computer-controlled az-el rotor that anyone can make. We'll see.

[@EvanBoyar]

What satellites do you recommend that are active at night? I know a few are power limited except for in daylight.

[@gravestonemyth]

@@EvanBoyar There are only a few that have no batteries. Most will work 24x7. Also, the satellites are often in daylight when we're in darkness. You can often see the ISS floating across the sky for this reason.

[@chipweather]

​@@EvanBoyarTevel birds are great. Usually they don't have a ton of activity.

[@Nayana-4S7NDR]

That dog is so considerate. He patiently waited and understood he's recording a video and he silently went where he wanted to go.

[@Starlite4321]

"Doppler Shift" has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with distance [as described starting at 1:17 min]. It is a function of speed and wavelength (or frequency) alone. The analogy with moving trains is that the pitch of their whistle increases as they MOVE towards you, and decreases as they MOVE away from you, compared to what they sound like when they're not moving relative to you. It has nothing to do with the distance they are from you. Since satellites are moving along their orbits while you're communicating through them, a similar effect occurs between the operator and the satellite. (the dog is awesome)

[@gravestonemyth]

If you beep your horn at a passing train, do they hear it with the Doppler shift? Some sites recommend a transmit frequency shift, while many others only mention the receive shift. I typically start my ISS passes at 437.810 and end them at 437.790. I might program corresponding transmit shifts, but not quite as drastic. It’s hard though, since HTs generally lack granularity.

[@chrismofer]

@@gravestonemyth yes, an occupant of a moving train would hear a passing horn with doppler shift. technically your transmit frequency should also shift, but it's such small change maybe the ISS's receiver is wideband enough to not need to track?

[@-pyrosef-]

Extremely pedantic. He explained it perfectly fine. You're a fudd

[@lenaeleomar]

Portuguese (English) Obrigado! (Thanks!) Seu vídeo foi de grande ajuda para mim, um iniciante (Your video was of great help to me, a beginner) Agradeço de coração (Thank you from the heart)

[@HowToHam_Tom]

Hi Billy. I just stumbled upon your channel and been watching all night. Heavens Above is not the same app anymore. Another app in their collection can help you locate the Ham sats but no other info. By chance do you have an updated recommendation for working satellites that gives all the freq. info etc?

[@buffler1]

Thanks! I'm not sure I can keep it up anymore, so a simple alt-az tripod mount will help.

[@TheBnjmnlrd]

do you have a suggestion for one?

[@buffler1]

@@TheBnjmnlrd Orion VersaGo E-series, about 90 bucks.

[@buffler1]

also need a simple arrangement to spin the antenna boom, only needs to cover 90 degrees, an ordinary hinge.

[@josephtraverso2700]

Awesome video! Was confused on exactly what to say (I.e. etiquette). Gonna try this with the iss on the next pass! 73s from KE2CDK.

[@BretChilcott]

Great video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. 73 Bret/AC0AE

[@DougBlangsted]

Best video I have seen on the topic. Great Job.

[@Captain-ku2rm]

Appreciated the video very much, my first exposure to Satellite, and it clarified a lot, well done!

[@ModernHam]

Glad I could help!

[@gbamck]

Thanks man. Great video for someone starting up 👍

[@tomleddy7620]

Great job. Keep up the good work.

[@ModernHam]

Thank you!

[@revadan]

You need a full duplex radio not another radio since your antenna has a built in duplexer.. you are receiving on downlink and transmitting on the same frequency. You should transmit on VHF and listen on UHF download in which your radio is not capable of. I dont think that Baofeng is a full duplex radio. You might try Alinco-DG7t HT.

[@richard-fy2mu]

Well done I got one SO50 but best 4-7 Doppler setting my issue and not done as well as could have been. Ft50R +arrow even one armed I got first bird.

[@scottwood1143]

Took your phone app advice - thank you!

[@dfmayes]

Nice video; I learned a lot. I'm kind of amazed there are 25 downvotes.

[@tmccusk1]

Strong work. Thanks for the video!

[@larryhornerjr]

What a great video. A lot of very good tips. I will give the Arrow Antenna a try. Thanks.

[@ModernHam]

Glad it was helpful!

[@larryhornerjr]

@@ModernHam I was curious to see if you had tried the Trivec- Avant Antennas for Satcom? And what your thoughts are using these antennas for ham radio.

[@ModernHam]

@@larryhornerjr I actually haven't. But I may look into them here in the future.

[@amirm3621]

heavens above is a great app

[@TheBnjmnlrd]

very cool. I'll be trying this in the near future

[@Nightshft42]

Just passed my license exam. This is one thing I want to try, I just need to find such a dualband yagi ;)

[@begin_broadcast_5207]

Checkout elk antennas!

[@kedmark]

Very helpful and informative thank you for posting

[@mattk7yeg682]

Great video! Keep them coming.

[@ModernHam]

Glad you liked it!

[@JamesDavis-qt9nf]

TNX for all the great info! WV0Q

[@JohnUsp]

If there is a Wall behind you, the wall will reflect the signal and improve your radio reception?

[@ImazeVideos]

When you find the satellite how many minutes you can communicate before to turn again the antenna to a new position?

[@ModernHam]

About 15

[@tclark1122]

@@ModernHam I’m confused by your answer. If it’s a 15 minute pass from Horizon to Horizon don’t you need to be moving from the minute it comes over the horizon all the way to the other horizon to keep contact? Because it seems like you found them when they were at their height but then you didn’t start shifting over to where they were going down. I may be wrong and what I saw was going on but that might be why you lost him mid mass.

[@K6TJO]

Nice tutorial.

[@ModernHam]

Glad I could help!

[@jeffreydavis7706]

Thanks for a great video.

[@gracypineiro5890]

how do i connect the Yagi antenna to a Wouxan KG-905G GMRS 2-way radio and what connectors and cables will I need?

[@bradhiebert6403]

Very good information. I really enjoyed your video. Thank you

[@chrismosquad1056]

Been trying to get a satellite with an omni-directional 1/4 whip, but it’s been difficult. I get mostly static, but I’m better at tracking now.

[@scotth.4290]

Nice .work showing us how to work the birds. I'm just getting my feet wet in this aspect of the hobby. I'll use much of what you presented here. Hope to contact you down the log.

[@lilichka247]

Heavens Above app on IOS is not available :-/ Hope there’s another app that replaced it?

[@tozlink]

ISS Detector

[@TroyDeanMusic]

Did u say people want to make there contact and get there rewards? What did u mean by that? Thanks and awesome video!!

[@brianshanahan3878]

Awesome work and video. I am now interested in trying this! 73

[@hamtourismsrilanka6881]

Hey, I am interested in getting this antenna diagram so that I can home brew it. New to HAM.

[@quantumuninstall]

There are plenty of homebrew designs for an antenna that performs the same function. This is a commercial antenna.

[@hamtourismsrilanka6881]

@@quantumuninstall, when you are free, just give me some good diagrams. I am planning to teach some school children as well. Not a techie but determined to teach them finding some volunteers if I can. Thanks

[@ImazeVideos]

Where can i buy this satellite antenna? Also how can i find what satellite can i communicate from my country?

[@swilson317]

Nice video. Hope you have since dropped the last two characters of your grid square. Seems everyone else uses just the first four characters. :-)

[@andriikolesnyk279]

What is the type of duplexer this arrow antenna was equipped with?

[@HowToHam_Tom]

Thanks!

[@ModernHam]

You're awesome! Thank you.

[@HowToHam_Tom]

@@ModernHam So how does one “join” the channel? I don’t see a Patreon for you and only see the Thanks link. I’d like to do a recurring thing, and encourage others to as well.

[@ModernHam]

I thought it was under the videos. So I'll look into why it's not there. In the mean time, you can use this link: kzbin.info/door/Oe0_RzGUDm73XNtRozPfMwjoin Thanks again! And 73

[@markdoyle8713]

So much going on I recorded myself trying to make an so-50 contact I got a response but could not make out the call . But I heard myself saying my grid number backwards .😂

[@lieschenmiller9351]

Great video. Tx and 73

[@dawgsays]

I love how the dog hears you talking to someone, then comes to see, then thinks you're crazy because nobody is there.

[@smoke05s]

Is there a way to listen to the sub band while transmitting on the main band? My old ft530 could do it. Trying to get the UV5R to do it.

[@ebazz1]

Great video. I have my Baofeng UV5R all programmed. How do you alternate between frequencies? I'd like to try to communicate with the ISS. When I turn on the radio I see the downlink as programmed into the radio. How do I bring up the transmit frequency? I'm pressing the A\B and VFO buttons, and that just bounces the asterisk up and down. I'm using an image that I downloaded from the web. So the downlink and uplink frequencies, and all of the other parameters are all there. I don't see anything anywhere that shows you how to operate the radio buttons so that you CAN talk and listen to a satellite. B.T. W. I'm using one radio not two. Can you help? Thank you. Ernest Bazzinotti KC1LKB

[@Northstar7733]

That's the problem with cell phones, and the younger generation today. If their phone fails they know nothing! You live in the northern hemisphere, so the sun is anywhere between southeast, and southwest depending on what time of the day it is. High noon it's straight south, give or take a few degrees. Looking at the time of day, and time of year you should be able to figure out where south is at within 10 degrees. That would be at 180 degrees, then just turn to 333 degrees, and that you can kinda guess at. With no compass on any sunny day, if you know the time of day, you should be able to get yourself within 10-15 degrees easy. Later in the video you never pointed your antenna up, and over down to the 138 degree angle. I think when you were trying to make some of the later contacts your antenna was pointed way off from were the satellite was at. Beam antennas do receive from the sides, and back to, but do not transmit well off the sides, and back. I'm not trying to be rude here, just trying to help. Thank you very much for the video! You have taught me much about satellite working, and I'm hopping to give it a try soon. 73's

[@davidwp5761]

Can a DISH tv antenna be used for the bao feng?

[@EntropyOutdoors]

Where did you order the antenna from?

[@taylorwilliamm]

Arrow antennas

[@bbillp]

Good job on the video.

[@jordan1234564]

Do you just keep the TX Memory selected? Or do you have to toggle with the uv5r from tx to rx?

[@glynnetolar4423]

You know that sun things will give you an idea of the direction. No compass needed.

[@goosenp]

Try getting a lapel microphone, even an inexpensive one will help improve your audio quality

[@sethlogan9724]

Or maybe clean your ears. I can hear perfectly fine.

[@clems6989]

Thank You !! GREAT JOB !!!

[@havok4103]

Is that ft gordon in the background?

[@ModernHam]

Actually Richmond, KY

[@mikebohemia1947]

Excellent, thanks for sharing, mate. 73 de ok8msw.

[@jimei8km21]

Thanks, really enjoyed the vid.

[@MWDAdventures]

app link is dead

[@midnightcaller200]

were were you when you were working the satellite in this video

[@ModernHam]

Near Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond Kentucky.

[@fin_jan]

Great video. Thanks for the effort. But let me make sure I understand: The point of this game is just to log who you hear and who hears you? There's no online chess or anti-government propaganda?

[@ModernHam]

Not that I'm aware of. You log when you hear each other, or an established contact.

[@ifpo238]

Thanks for the video! Where do you log/confirm QSOs? Do satellite folks exchange QSL cards?

[@ModernHam]

I've found I get more qsl cards direct for sat work. So I do the same. But I also log in lotw, qrz, and eqsl. But for amsat awards, I'm pretty sure you need a physical card.

[@keesvanoosbree5911]

Did the coax come with the antenna?

[@ModernHam]

Sure did, but only because I purchased it with the duplexer.

[@wmcg.1091]

Arrow antennas are made here in Wy. I’m just starting to dabble with Sats. I just ordered one earlier today. The complete set up is $159.00 plus tax. And what about Heavens Above not being available anymore? I’m getting that message in the App Store. Does anyone recommend another good app?

[@SkogfarNo]

Awesome video that taught me a lot. I just heard my first satellite here in Norway so it triggered my curiosity. 73 LB6WI Thor

[@MattFricovsky]

Thanks. Great video. Seems like that app, Heavens Above is no longer useful. It doesn’t have any of the ability you show in the video. But there are many others out there.

[@davidverzwyvelt1962]

Man that was cool!

[@jhonetomason5078]

good video and a nice dog

[@sergiomansilla]

nice video ,bro¡¡¡¡ saludos desde argentina LU4HMS ,73"

[@kylemaxwell4372]

Hey good video

[@-pyrosef-]

Great job! You have a nice personality. Id love to be your friend

[@nortec1988]

Great video on how to get started with Satellite mode of ham radio. You mentioned the satellite frequencies would be listed somewhere, not sure where to look on your video? Keep up the good work on your videos in the future..73 from Arizona..

[@ModernHam]

The link to the page where they are all listed are in the description, pay have to expand it. Thanks for watching! 73

[@yxhankun]

Is the central boom made by plastic or wood?

[@greenolive1278]

metal, aluminum to to be specific I believe. It’s an Arrow Antenna you can but these. Hope this helps

[@jayyyyy50505]

wow thhank you

[@geoffreyallonby4936]

Wow only one channel. No dappled shift! . On ssb satellite more than one channel. Dappled should say Doppler.

[@351lrs]

KI4OMV waving a hand..EM96 saying 73

[@Francois_Dupont]

why do you guys say your grid square? cant they just lookup your callsign?

[@ModernHam]

It would be quite annoying to go to an online database some where and update your grid every time you change grid locations when operating, and then hope the operator on the other side knows to look you up in that specific database. I guess the short answer is, the grid matters, as awards can be grid specific.

[@Francois_Dupont]

@@ModernHam ahhhh i understand now. thank you

[@wesleybuff2536]

Free like for dog, haven't even even finished the video

[@appalachianadventuregirl6562]

Cute dog.

[@kchoudri]

oops that magnetic interference.... Modern TEch EHHHHH?

[@nickl3872]

Hi doggie ❤❤

[@iwan6841]

Not bad for chinees setup under 100$??

[@stephaniemajor2166]

dont know about the radio, but the antenna most certianly is not chinese or under $100! It is american made.

[@riobravomultimedia4104]

Why not get a real compass?

[@ModernHam]

Don't want one

[@imba2484]

I'm a frequent listener with only one contact so don't mind if I'm wrong, but I think you talk too fast

[@joonaasd1856]

Well it is a satellite contact. Best to keep those overs short.

[@ModernHam]

Yeah, those who work them often get used to talking and listening fast. Everybody only gets about 10 minutes, so you want to keep it short as possible.

[@imba2484]

@@ModernHam I know, but having a quarter second pause between info would help. I had to replay several times to understand you :)

[@michaelporter5906]

BIG NUTS TO NAME THIS ULTIMATE GUIDE

[@linuxinstalled]

It's one of the most in depth video guides I've seen.

[@SP-nt4sr]

You don't quite understand how satellites I'm afraid. You got some good advice in there but it's very misguided. And I believe you were transmitting on output frequency the entire time which is why you had no contacts.

[@ModernHam]

Which parts where very misguided? I've got quite a few satellite contacts in this configuration. The TX frequency changes as soon as you hit the transmit button. It then switch to RX when you let go. But if you have some input as to what was very wrong let me know so I may correct it.

[@tubeDude48]

I DID NOT find Heavens Above for my iPad or iPhone! So know T.U.

[@mikesolomon5584]

@@noschenkyou Hey, that info is actually there. When you are looking at the list of upcoming passes, click on a satellite, when you do, you get the radar page, right? Up at the top, next to the word "Radar", there's the word "Details", press that. In there you get all the info about the satellite and the pass. If you scroll down, you will see all the uplink, and downlink info. I was frustrated with the same thing and I remember stumbling on that and did the whole hand smack to the head thing. I had been switching between apps to get the info. I love the ISS Detector though some things could be more clear (like defining buttons as buttons and perhaps a scroll bar to show that there's more below. It has a scroll bar, but it is not seen if it's not moving). The Filtering is also nice as you can just select which Satellites you want to see in your list.

[@w5tmp337]

Ted Mieske me either