Hams Decode SSMIS Satellite Data Removed by DoD, NOAA

SatDump now features software which will decode data transmitted by the Special Sensor Microwave Imager Sounder (SSMIS) onboard defense meteorological satellites. The release from SatDump comes after the US Department of Defense announced that data from the satellites would no longer be made available to the public.

Lead developer and ham radio operator Alan Antoine said the US authorities were turning off the online distribution of real time data while the satellite passes over the US stations at Wallops Island, Virginia, and Fairbanks, Alaska.

Access to the latest versions of SatDump are available on GitHub - https://github.com/SatDump/SatDump

Satellite SO-124 FM Repeater Now Active

AMSAT has designated the recently launched HADES-R as Spain-OSCAR 124 (SO-124). The satellite features an FM repeater and is now open for amateur radio use. The upload frequency is 145.925 MHz and the downlink frequency is 436.885 MHz. SO-124 also supports APRS and FSK telemetry.

At the request of AMSAT-EA, AMSAT has officially designated HADES-R as Spain-OSCAR 124 (SO-124) in recognition of its contributions to amateur satellite communications. This designation underscores the satellite’s role in expanding access to space-based communications for the amateur radio community. AMSAT congratulates AMSAT-EA on this achievement and looks forward to the continued success of this and future projects.

SO-124 (HADES-R) - https://www.amsat.org/two-way-satellites/so-124-hades-r/

AMSAT-Switzerland Honours Historic Ham Satellite QSO

Satellite enthusiasts in Switzerland are inviting everyone to help pay tribute to a radio operator who was in the vanguard of making QSOs via those birds in the sky.

AMSAT-Switzerland proudly uses the callsign HB9RG as a way to honour Hans-Rudolf Lauber. Hans became a Silent Key in 2017 at the age of 92 but until then, the callsign belonged to this innovative Swiss amateur who completed the first amateur radio satellite QSO in March of 1965. The contact with Alfons Häring DL6EZA was completed via the OSCAR-Eleven satellite.

Hans-Rudolf will be honoured again by satellite enthusiasts in March, when AMSAT-HB hosts the Hans-Rudolf Lauber, HB9RG Memorial Trophy event.

In the spirit of this avid DXer, the trophy will recognise contacts made over significant distances during the two weeks between the 3rd and 16th March. Contacts must be made using only low-earth orbit, medium-earth orbit and high-earth orbit satellites