Amateur-satellite service

First amateur-satellite station OSCAR 1, 1961

Amateur-satellite station OSCAR 10, 1983

Doug Wheelock, KF5BOC, flight engineer of the Expedition 24, uses a ham radio system in the Zvezda Service Module of the ISS, 2010

Amateur-satellite service (also: amateur-satellite radiocommunication service) is – according to Article 1.57 of the International Telecommunication Union´s (ITU) Radio Regulations (RR)^[1] – defined as «A radiocommunication service using space stations on earth satellites for the same purposes as those of the amateur service.»

See also

Main articles: Radio station and Radiocommunication service

Classification

This radiocommunication service is classified in accordance with ITU Radio Regulations (article 1) as follows:
Radiocommunication service (article 1.19)

• Amateur service (article 1.56)
  • Amateur-satellite service (article 1.57)

Frequency allocation

The allocation of radio frequencies is provided according to Article 5 of the ITU Radio Regulations (edition 2012).^[2]

In order to improve harmonisation in spectrum utilisation, the majority of service-allocations stipulated in this document were incorporated in national Tables of Frequency Allocations and Utilisations which is within the responsibility of the appropriate national administration. The allocation might be primary, secondary, exclusive, and shared.

• primary allocation: is indicated by writing in capital letters (see example below)
• secondary allocation: is indicated by small letters (see example below)
• exclusive or shared utilization: is within the responsibility of national administrations

Example of frequency allocation

Additional Amateur Satellite Service Allocations

In addition to the formal allocations in the main table such as above, there is also a key ITU-R footnote RR 5.282 that provides for additional allocations:-

5.282 In the bands 435-438 MHz, 1 260-1 270 MHz, 2 400-2 450 MHz, 3 400-3 410 MHz (in Regions 2 and 3 only)

and 5 650-5 670 MHz, the amateur-satellite service may operate subject to not causing harmful interference to other

services operating in accordance with the Table (see No. 5.43). Administrations authorizing such use shall ensure that

any harmful interference caused by emissions from a station in the amateur-satellite service is immediately eliminated

in accordance with the provisions of No. 25.11. The use of the bands 1 260-1 270 MHz and 5 650-5 670 MHz by the

amateur-satellite service is limited to the Earth-to-space direction.

Of these, the 435-438 MHz band is particularly popular for amateur/educational small satellites such as Cubesats.

References / sources

• International Telecommunication Union (ITU)