This is one of the more fascinating aspects of the amateur radio hobby, and one that you may want to explore once you have your licence.
There are a number of amateur radio satellites orbiting above us. Some transmit beacons and telemetry that you can receive, while others carry repeaters or transponders that licensed radio amateurs can use to make contacts over surprisingly long distances.
And getting started doesn’t necessarily require an elaborate satellite station. It’s possible to hear some amateur satellites using equipment that many radio amateurs already own.
What are amateur radio satellites?
Amateur radio satellites are spacecraft carrying radio equipment intended for amateur radio, education and experimentation.
Many are small satellites in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). They travel around the Earth at high speed and may only be above your horizon for a few minutes during each pass.
Depending on the satellite, you may be able to:
- Listen to telemetry or beacon signals
- Receive digital data
- Receive images
- Make voice contacts through an FM repeater
- Use an SSB/CW linear transponder
- Send and receive packet or APRS data
- Make contacts through the amateur radio equipment aboard the International Space Station
For current amateur satellite news and information, the UK organisation to know is AMSAT-UK.
Can you really contact people through a satellite?
Yes. Some amateur satellites effectively act as repeaters in space.
You transmit towards the satellite on its uplink frequency. The satellite receives your signal and retransmits it on a different downlink frequency, allowing other radio amateurs within the satellite’s footprint to hear you.
Because the satellite may be hundreds of kilometres above the Earth, its footprint can cover a very large area. This means two stations that couldn’t communicate directly on VHF or UHF may be able to make contact through the satellite.
FM amateur radio satellites
FM satellites are one of the simplest ways to understand satellite operation.
They behave rather like a cross-band repeater. You transmit on one amateur band and listen on another.
As of 2026, there are still several FM amateur satellites in service or being tested, and the International Space Station also carries amateur radio equipment that can provide an FM repeater when it is enabled.
Satellite status can change quickly, so don’t rely on an old list of frequencies. Check the current AMSAT satellite status before trying to work one.
See AMSAT’s current FM satellite list »
The International Space Station
The International Space Station (ISS) is probably the best-known spacecraft carrying amateur radio equipment.
The amateur equipment aboard the ISS can be used for several activities at different times, including:
- FM repeater operation
- APRS and packet radio
- SSTV image transmissions during special events
- Scheduled contacts between astronauts and schools through the ARISS programme
The equipment isn’t necessarily running in every mode all the time, so check the current status before heading outside with a radio.
Can I listen without an amateur radio licence?
Yes. You don’t need an amateur radio licence simply to receive amateur satellite transmissions.
Listening to satellites can therefore be an excellent way of experimenting with amateur radio before taking your Foundation exam.
You will, however, need the appropriate amateur radio licence before transmitting through an amateur satellite.
What equipment do I need to receive satellites?
You can make this hobby as simple or as sophisticated as you like.
For a first attempt at receiving an FM satellite, you might already have much of what you need:
- A VHF/UHF handheld or base radio
- An antenna
- A smartphone or computer showing the satellite’s predicted path
A handheld radio with its supplied antenna may receive strong passes, although a better antenna can make a substantial difference.
A popular next step is a small directional VHF/UHF beam that you can point manually at the satellite as it crosses the sky.
Satellite antennas
Unlike a normal repeater, an orbiting satellite is constantly moving across the sky. A directional antenna can therefore be very useful.
Portable satellite operators commonly use handheld directional antennas covering 2m and 70cm. You simply point the antenna towards the satellite and move it across the sky during the pass.
For reception only, experimentation is part of the fun. A basic vertical, handheld antenna or home-made beam may all produce results depending on the satellite and quality of the pass.
How do you know when a satellite is overhead?
This is where satellite tracking comes in.
Most amateur satellites aren’t sitting above one part of the Earth. They orbit the planet, so you need to know:
- When the satellite will rise above your horizon
- Which direction it will appear from
- How high it will get in the sky
- How long the pass will last
- Where it will disappear below the horizon
A tracking website or app can calculate all of this from your location.
A high pass is generally easier for a beginner than one that barely appears above the horizon.
AMSAT-UK satellite tracking information »
What is a satellite pass?
A pass is the period during which the satellite is above your local horizon and potentially within radio range.
For a typical Low Earth Orbit satellite, a usable pass may only last around ten minutes or so.
The satellite may first appear very low on one horizon, climb higher in the sky, reach its maximum elevation and then descend towards the opposite horizon.
That’s part of what makes satellite operation interesting: you’ve only got a relatively short window in which to find the satellite and make your contacts.
Understanding Doppler shift
One extra complication is Doppler shift.
Because the satellite is moving rapidly towards you and then away from you, the received frequency appears to change slightly during the pass.
This effect is particularly noticeable on 70cm.
For FM satellites, operators commonly compensate by changing the receive frequency in small steps as the satellite moves across the sky. Satellite software can also calculate the Doppler correction automatically.
Don’t be surprised if a satellite that should be on one frequency initially sounds slightly off-frequency – that’s perfectly normal.
Working an FM satellite
A basic FM satellite contact might go something like this:
- Check that the satellite is currently operational
- Find its uplink and downlink frequencies
- Use tracking software to find the next suitable pass
- Program the required frequencies and CTCSS tones into your radio
- Go somewhere with a reasonably clear view of the sky
- Listen for the satellite as it rises
- Adjust for Doppler shift as necessary
- Only transmit once you’re confident that you can hear the satellite
One of the most important rules is don’t transmit if you can’t hear the satellite. If you can’t hear the downlink, you have no way of knowing whether you’re getting into the satellite or talking over somebody else.
Satellite operating etiquette
An FM satellite is effectively a single shared channel covering a large geographical area, so it can become very busy.
Contacts are normally kept short. A typical exchange may simply include:
- Callsign
- Maidenhead locator
- Signal report or acknowledgement
There’s usually no need for a long conversation through a busy satellite.
Listen first, use the minimum power necessary and give other stations a chance to make contacts.
Linear satellites
Not every amateur satellite uses an FM repeater.
Some carry a linear transponder. Rather than providing one FM channel, a linear transponder retransmits a range of frequencies, allowing several stations to use SSB or CW at the same time.
These are a little more involved to operate because Doppler correction and accurate tuning become more important, but they offer a much broader style of amateur satellite operation.
Packet and APRS satellites
Some satellites also carry digital systems known as digipeaters.
These can receive a packet radio transmission from one station and retransmit it for others to receive.
The International Space Station has long been popular for APRS activity, and a number of other amateur satellites also carry packet or digital communications systems.
Again, the available satellites and their operating status change regularly, so check a current status source rather than relying on an old frequency list.
Our first experiences receiving an amateur satellite
Our first attempt at receiving signals from space goes back to November 2011.
After a little trial and error, we discovered that receiving an amateur satellite could be done very easily and cheaply.
We chose ARISSat-1, an amateur radio satellite deployed in August 2011. It transmitted a strong beacon containing spoken announcements, Slow Scan Television images, greetings messages and satellite telemetry.
ARISSat-1 is long gone – it re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere in January 2012 – but our first reception of it demonstrated just how accessible amateur satellite reception can be.
With clear line-of-sight, receiving an FM signal from a small object hundreds of kilometres above us using an ordinary 2 metre radio and basic antenna felt like quite an achievement.
Here’s the recording we made of ARISSat-1 on 145.950MHz:
Geostationary amateur radio – QO-100
Most amateur radio satellites move across the sky, but there’s one particularly interesting exception for operators in our part of the world.
QO-100, carried aboard the Es’hail-2 satellite, is a geostationary amateur radio transponder. From the UK it appears to remain in the same position in the sky rather than passing overhead for a few minutes.
QO-100 uses microwave frequencies rather than the familiar 2m and 70cm bands, so it requires different equipment, typically including a satellite dish and suitable transmitting and receiving hardware.
It’s a more advanced project, but demonstrates just how varied amateur satellite operation can be.
Getting started with amateur satellites
If you’ve never tried satellite reception before, don’t start by buying lots of specialised equipment.
Try this:
- Choose a currently-active FM amateur satellite
- Find a good high pass for your location
- Program the downlink frequencies into a VHF/UHF radio
- Go outside somewhere with a clear view of the sky
- Listen and see whether you can hear it
Once you’ve successfully received a satellite, you can start looking at directional antennas, full-duplex operation, satellite tracking software and making contacts.
Hearing your first satellite is one of those amateur radio moments that’s difficult to forget.
Useful amateur satellite links
- AMSAT-UK – UK amateur satellite organisation, news and beginners’ information
- Current FM amateur satellites – operating frequencies and status
- How to work FM satellites – AMSAT-UK beginner information
- Satellite tracking – finding out when satellites are passing overhead
New to amateur radio?
You don’t need an amateur radio licence just to listen to amateur satellites, so this is something you can start experimenting with straight away.
If you’d like to transmit and make contacts through amateur satellites, the UK Foundation licence is the normal starting point.
Essex Ham offers a FREE online Foundation training course to help you get licensed.
| Want more beginner guides? See our Getting Started Guides |
