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What sort of antenna would I need to listen in with a rtl-sdr? Would I have any chance with a simple home built 1/2 wave dipole?

GekkePrutser 6y ago
Yes I've received it on a portable even. For a satellite it's easy probably because they're so close (LEO) and have plenty of power too burn.
- tomfanning 6y ago
  Yeah, it's a lightly modified Kenwood mobile VHF/UHF set typically used in a car. Model D710GA. Stock it's a 50W radio, though can be run at 5W. Cube sats have around the hundreds of milliwatts. So yes, much higher power than a cube sat.
  - mindcrime 6y ago
    Some more info on the equipment being used: https://www.jvckenwood.com/en/press/2020/03/press_200313_2.html https://www.jvckenwood.com/en/press/2020/03/press_200313_2.h...
  - deleted 6y ago
    [deleted]
mindcrime 6y ago
I was able to hear some of the traffic using my Baofeng F8HP with a stock rubber ducky antenna, so you don't need much on the receive side. At least when the ISS is close to you. Not sure what the window is as far as how far removed it can be from directly overhead, and yet still be able to receive that signal with a small antenna like that. What it takes to hit the repeater I'm less sure. I've heard it can be done with an HT like mine, but I'm guessing that's only possible when it's directly overhead, or very near so. That said, I'd be happy to find out that I'm wrong about that.
signaturefish 6y ago
I believe you can hit it with an HT, although the Youtube videos I've seen of doing it have been an HT with a hand-held Yagi cabled in in place of the usual whip antenna. A resonant dipole would probably pick it up - as others have said, the signal's fairly powerful. Satellite comms is something I want to play with, personally, so I welcome this news. Need to get my Foundation license (UK) before I can go two-way, though.
- jimnotgym 6y ago
  Go for it! It really isn't hard, it just requires a small amount of application.
tmostak 6y ago
Definitely can pick it up with a HT, just caught it for ~3 minutes in the Bay Area on a Baofeng HT with whip antenna, and even picked up the first part while I was still indoors. There was a lot of static although I could make out some of the sentences.
- signaturefish 6y ago
  Wow, that's a stronger signal than I thought. Maybe I'll give it a go with a whip the next time the ISS passes over me.
tomfanning 6y ago
For listening, a QFH antenna is ideal for LEO objects. It's typically made of copper pipe or the braid of stiff coax.
jimnotgym 6y ago
Absolutely you will do well with a dipole.

GekkePrutser 6y ago

Yes I've received it on a portable even. For a satellite it's easy probably because they're so close (LEO) and have plenty of power too burn.

tomfanning 6y ago
Yeah, it's a lightly modified Kenwood mobile VHF/UHF set typically used in a car. Model D710GA. Stock it's a 50W radio, though can be run at 5W. Cube sats have around the hundreds of milliwatts. So yes, much higher power than a cube sat.
- mindcrime 6y ago
  Some more info on the equipment being used: https://www.jvckenwood.com/en/press/2020/03/press_200313_2.html https://www.jvckenwood.com/en/press/2020/03/press_200313_2.h...
- deleted 6y ago
  [deleted]

mindcrime 6y ago

I was able to hear some of the traffic using my Baofeng F8HP with a stock rubber ducky antenna, so you don't need much on the receive side. At least when the ISS is close to you. Not sure what the window is as far as how far removed it can be from directly overhead, and yet still be able to receive that signal with a small antenna like that. What it takes to hit the repeater I'm less sure. I've heard it can be done with an HT like mine, but I'm guessing that's only possible when it's directly overhead, or very near so. That said, I'd be happy to find out that I'm wrong about that.

signaturefish 6y ago

I believe you can hit it with an HT, although the Youtube videos I've seen of doing it have been an HT with a hand-held Yagi cabled in in place of the usual whip antenna. A resonant dipole would probably pick it up - as others have said, the signal's fairly powerful. Satellite comms is something I want to play with, personally, so I welcome this news. Need to get my Foundation license (UK) before I can go two-way, though.

jimnotgym 6y ago
Go for it! It really isn't hard, it just requires a small amount of application.

tmostak 6y ago

Definitely can pick it up with a HT, just caught it for ~3 minutes in the Bay Area on a Baofeng HT with whip antenna, and even picked up the first part while I was still indoors. There was a lot of static although I could make out some of the sentences.

signaturefish 6y ago
Wow, that's a stronger signal than I thought. Maybe I'll give it a go with a whip the next time the ISS passes over me.

tomfanning 6y ago

For listening, a QFH antenna is ideal for LEO objects. It's typically made of copper pipe or the braid of stiff coax.

jimnotgym 6y ago

Absolutely you will do well with a dipole.