JI1FGX/DU9 Amateur Radio Diary, Mindanao, Philippines, IOTA OC-130.
English. Japanese.



Yesterday's access.
Introduction. [Lily Diary.】
A diary of life in Mindanao.

25/09/13  3.5MHz SWR increased
25/09/12 3.5MHz Zepp antenna adjustment
25/09/10  Geostationary satellite QO-100
25/09/09  Preparing for the satellite station
25/09/08  DU9JJY satellite station
25/09/07  14MHz late at night
25/09/03  Mitsubishi Strada Pickup Truck
 Oil Change
25/08/18 WSJT-X Automatic operation Ver0.1.0
25/08/18  JTDX Autonomous operation Program Ver0.6.3
25/08/10  Software List
25/07/26 AutoCWType_Ver1.5.8
25/07/20  Create one month's worth of ADIF files from JTDX Ver 2.6.5
25/07/19  Japan's Radio Wave Usage Tax
25/07/13  IARU HF Contest
25/07/10 Software updates
25/07/08 DXV500ZS linear amplifier repair
25/07/07 CQ Machine Program
25/06/21 LoTW system upgrade
25/06/18 RG8 for 3.5MHz arrived
25/06/15  Time setting Ver0.5
25/06/14 Drone Habsan ZINO arrives
25/06/12 Philippine Independence Day
25/06/11 Algeria 7X2RF QSL card.
25/06/10 Translation API Program
25/06/09 DXCC150 award certificate arrived
25/06/08 AutoCWType_Ver1.4.1
25/06/07 Introducing the Shack
25/06/06 A portrait drawn by ChatGPT.
25/05/26 Windows full-width/half-width switching.
25/05/17 OK2ZAW BCD to 16 converter.
25/05/16 For 3.5MHz Zepp antenna.
Stepping motors
25/05/15 3.5MHz stepping motor design.
25/05/14 3.5MHz tuning coil installed.
25/05/11 3.5MHz antenna installation completed.
25/05/03 JTDX Autonomous Driving Program Ver0.4.3.
25/04/26 Drone Habsan ZINO.
25/04/25 Time setting Ver0.3.
25/04/24 AutoCWType_Ver1.3.
25/04/23 Preparing for FTDX3000 LCD repair.
25/04/22 Installation plan for 3.5MHz Zepp antenna.
25/04/21 AutoCWType_Ver1.1.
25/04/20 10,14MHz antenna installation completed.
25/04/19 JTDX Autonomous Driving Program Ver0.4.1.
25/04/19 14MHz antenna pole installed.
25/04/18 ThinkPad X390 repair completed.
25/04/17 Search is now possible.
25/04/15 Preparing the 10MHz dipole.
25/04/12 Hexbeam Part8.
25/04/06 My ThinkPad X390 is broken.
25/04/05. Time setting program.
25/03/31 JTDX Autonomous Driving Program.
25/03/30 Automatic log sending from CWType to Hamlog.
25/03/21 Hexbeam Part 7.
25/03/20 FreeDV Part 3 First QSO.
25/03/18 FreeDV Part 2 QSO in the shack.
25/03/16 Hexbeam Part 6.
25/03/15 Install FreeDV Part1.
25/03/09 Hexbeam Part5.
25/03/07 Hexbeam Part 4.
25/03/05 28MHz antenna modification
25/03/01 FTDX3000 is broken!
25/02/28 Pileup at 50MHz FT8.
25/02/28 DXV500ZS linear amplifier repair.
25/02/27 Tower pipe rebuilding plan.
25/02/26 Direction to Japan from Ozamiz.
25/02/26 28MHz is not available.
25/02/23 DXV500ZS linear amplifier repair.
25/02/22 Hexbeam Part 3
25/02/21 Hexbeam Part 2
25/02/18 28MHz antenna construction.
25/02/17 18,24MHz antenna height construction.
25/02/16 Z26NS Cosovo.
25/02/14 21MHz FT8
25/02/12 7,21MHz antenna repair.
25/02/08 Operating CW at 21MHz.
25/02/05 DXV500ZS linear amplifier failure.
25/01/19 Input Director.
25/01/14 Temporary license renewal.
Geostationary satellite QO-100(2025/09/10)
Tasmi DU9JJY from Mindanao and Peter DH1NGP from Germany were talking to me about the QO-100 satellite.
The QO-100's coverage area is said to be Europe, Africa, India, etc.

Unfortunately, Japan, East Asia, and the Philippines are not covered.
Eastern Europe and eastern North America are also excluded.
The QO-100 is not available in Asia, but you can watch it using WebSDR.
https://eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/
I can hear stations from Europe and Africa having fun.
According to ChatGPT:

Project introduction: ESA FutureGEO
  • The FutureGEO project is a European Space Agency (ESA)-backed initiative aimed at placing amateur radio payloads on geostationary satellites. The design proposed by AMSAT-DL (a German amateur satellite organization) envisions a geostationary orbit at approximately 43 degrees west longitude, providing wide coverage of North America (eastern) and Eastern Europe.
  • The payloads include a narrowband transponder with a 13cm uplink and a 3cm downlink, as well as a possible wideband transponder for amateur television.
  • A call for expressions of intent (RFEI) will be opened at the end of June 2025 to build an international collaborative framework.

However, at this time, there is no official date set for when the satellite will actually be launched.
The QO-100 (Es'hail-2 / OSCAR-100) amateur radio transponder comes in two varieties: narrowband (NB) and wideband (WB, DATV).

1. Narrowband Transponder (NB)
  • Uplink (terrestrial to satellite): 2.400 – 2.450 GHz (13cm band, USB recommended)
  • Downlink (satellite to ground): 10.489 – 10.499 GHz (3cm band, USB)
  • Applications: SSB, CW, digital modes (FT8, RTTY, etc.)

2. Wideband Transponder (WB / DATV)
  • Uplink: 2.400 – 2.450 GHz
  • Downlink: 10.491 – 10.499 GHz
  • Use: DATV (Digital Amateur Television)
3. Beacon frequency (NB)
  • Lower Beacon: 10.489.550 MHz
  • Upper Beacon: 10.489.800 MHz
    You can check the reception status for these two carriers.
Yes, as Ueno said, the QO-100's downlink is in the 10 GHz band (3 cm band), which is much more difficult to use than general HF/VHF/UHF operation.
Difficulties with the 10 GHz band
  • High frequency = stability required
    → In the days of Gunn diode microwave oscillators, drift was particularly large, making it very difficult to use them for SSB/CW.
  • Component Availability
    → In the past, the only option was to make it yourself, which was quite a challenge, including using waveguides and parabolas.
  • High gain antenna required
    → The wavelength of 10 GHz is approximately 3 cm, which means that a parabola, horn, or high-precision offset dish is required.

Modern Solution (for QO-100)
  • Downlink 10GHz
  • It is common to use a modified LNB with PLL (a converter for receiving satellite broadcasts).
  • It converts 10.489 GHz to 739 MHz etc., so it can be received on a standard VHF/UHF rig.
  • If you replace the frequency reference with GPSDO or TCXO, the frequency stability will be sufficient.
  • Uplink 2.4 GHz
  • Wi-Fi equipment (2.4GHz PA, filters) can be reused.
  • It is common to combine a small parabolic antenna with a helical antenna or patch antenna.
    https://physicsopenlab.org/2020/10/10/a-simple-11-2-ghz-radiotelescope/
　　　
Image of practical system
  • Reception: Parabolic + modified LNB → IF is 739 MHz → Received with HF/VHF rig
  • Transmitter: 2.4GHz amplifier (5-10W) + small parabolic/helical → LNB and coaxial arrangement
  • This allows full duplex operation (transmit 2.4GHz / receive 10.489GHz).

Summary I think 'The barrier to frequency stability' was a big Gunn diode transmitter and receiver that Ueno made a long time ago.
Currently, the environment is set up to enjoy the QO-100 relatively easily using commercially available PLL LNBs and 2.4GHz equipment adapted from Wi-Fi.
Many people want to enjoy the DIY element, and there is room for creativity when modifying the antenna and converter.
AMSAT-UK
https://amsat-uk.org/satellites/geo/eshail-2/
 
September 9, 2025.   September 12, 2025.