Field Trial of the Communications Subsystem of Masat-1

The purpose of the measurement

The purpose of the field trial, performed between 4 and 5 PM on 4 April 2009, was to test the communications subsystem of Masat-1 under realistic conditions, including the operation of the radio, the antenna and the communications protocol. The model was lifted up to a height of 1200 m by a balloon taking off from the beach of Agárd.

The cargo of the balloon

One of the operating models of the Masat-1 small satellite (containing a UHF transceiver, a control computer and a battery) was hanged on the balloon.

The tasks of the model flying on 4 April were

to decode the digitally modulated radio signals which were transmitted to it, and to transmit these signals back to the terrestrial control station. The latter one stores these data for later evaluation. In the absence of a received signal, the model transmitted an ID code sequence after a certain waiting time period, enabling the detection of Masat-1 by a radio receiver and a corresponding computer even if the receive signal level was far below the noise.

Radio amateurs: when and what to observe

If you succeeded to receive it, please send us the recorded audio in *.wav format. Further information can be found on this site and also here…