Every day, more stations are joining the network, establishing connections via QO-100. According to online log statistics, there are already about 500 of them, and even relatively exotic destinations such as The Gambia, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Mauritius, and others are no exception. This is also because this method of communication can be used in emergencies. In countries where there is no stable electricity, mobile, or internet connection, an amateur radio station can be a lifesaver.
Many stations are experimenting with different antennas. On the 13 cm QO-100 uplink, parabolic antennas with various radiators are most commonly used. Circularly polarized radiators, such as helix and patch antennas, are preferred. However, some stations also use linear antennas. The diameter of the parabolic dish depends on the power used. The typical diameter of a parabolic dish for the uplink is 60 to 120 cm. Some stations also have larger dishes, but this is rather rare.
On the QO-100 3-cm downlink, many stations can be listened to using an online SDR receiver. Good reception can also be achieved using a dish with a standard LNB and an SDR receiver.
My log contains 100 contacts. Most are from Europe; among the more distant ones are HS0AJ from Thailand, ZS6TW from South Africa, and PY2RN, PY2BS, PS8RF, and PY2GN from Brazil. The activity of Slovak stations is also very interesting. Currently, my log includes OM0MS, OM0WT, OM3CLS, and OM4MX.
On the maps, you can see the locators with which I made contacts (there are 92 locators here; the other stations did not transmit their locators).
Locator map of Europe for QO-100 contacts via OM0AAO
My setup for QO-100:
- Kenwood TM-455E
- LZ5HP 70 cm/13 cm 2 W transverter
- Pacific Wireless PW-24 antenna, vertical polarization, rated gain 24 dBi
- 85 cm offset dish
- Amiko LNB (unmodified)
- Newgen 0.5 ppm USB SDR
- SDR Console 3.0.7 on an Acer Aspire One
With this setup, the carrier is approximately 20 to 21 dB above the noise floor. On SSB, it’s 12 to 13 dB with the compressor enabled at a level of 6 dB. The compressor really makes a difference—the contrast between the compressed and uncompressed signals is striking.
A good way to stay informed is to follow, for example, Twitter #qo100, Facebook OSCAR-100, QO-100, Es'Hail, satellite operators and experimenters, or the AMSAT-DL forum.
