UHF-Satcom.com - UHF monitoring                                                                                                                 (19/11/2009 21:29:08 -0000)

UHF-Satcom generally refers to frequencies between 240MHz and 270MHz. To receive it, you'll need a reasonable antenna, perhaps a LNA, and a receiver that covers the relevant frequency range. To get an idea of what sort of antenna you might like to build, check the uhf-satcom equipment gallery which has pictures submitted by readers of this site.

Generally you will not hear much clear audio from legitimate users, although there are many pirate users on the satellite, mostly from Brazil and Portugal. Occasionally you hear interesting transmissions, but the really interesting stuff is that which is unintentionally relayed. Some orbiting satellites use UHF for downlinks too, in particular the Russian Gonets satellites. Also see the page on the Italian Sicral satellite which has a three UHF transponders. The new British Skynet 5A satellite also has UHF transponders. For some light reading on UHF satellites, try the Multi-service tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for ultra High frequency Tactical Satellite and Demand assigned Multiple access Operations

A nice design for a low-noise gaasfet preamp can be found here. If you are looking for a UHF helix or yagi design, see the antenna page. AOR8600 memory files are available here for AOR satellites and Sicral (Use ar86ctrl to upload these)

A table with a further breakdown of the transponders can be found here, and a spectrum analysis of all the transponders from AOR , complete with plots can be found here. <-- NEW!

Maik from Germany (Satellitenwelt.de) has a brilliant page with a complete breakdown of UHF transponders by satellite- well worth a visit.

The frequency list below shows the Atlantic and Indian Ocean transponders that have been discovered through off-air monitoring.

Thanks go to xBr, blh, Freq, pjm, Nils, Maik, Gonzo and other hearsat'ers for input to this list.

Frequency	Bandwidth	Satellite Name		Satellite position	Comments
243.785		52KHz		Milstar 2-3		30.0 East		FHSS / 'Waterdrops'
243.8225	52KHz		Milstar DFS1		39.1 West		FHSS / 'Waterdrops'
243.995		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
244.005		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
244.015		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
244.025		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
244.035		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
244.045		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
244.055		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
244.065		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
244.075		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		
244.080		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
244.085		4.4KHz		Fltsatcom 8		15.5 West
244.090		4.4KHz		Fltsatcom 8		15.5 West
244.095		4.4KHz		Fltsatcom 8		15.5 West
244.100		4.4KHz		Fltsatcom 8		15.5 West
244.105		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
244.110		4.4KHz		Fltsatcom 8		15.5 West
244.115		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
244.125		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
244.135		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
244.145		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
244.975		37KHz		ComsatBW-1		63.0 East
245.850		35KHz		Skynet 5A		1.0  West
245.900		38KHz 		Skynet 5C		17.9 West
247.380		35KHz		Skynet 5B		53.0 East		DAMA traffic
248.175		37KHz		ComsatBW-1		63.0 East
248.975		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
248.985		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
248.995		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
249.005		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
249.015		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
249.025		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
249.035		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
249.045		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
249.055		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
249.065		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
249.075		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
249.085		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
249.095		5KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
249.105		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.115		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.125		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.135		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.145		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.155		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.165		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.175		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.185		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.195		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.205		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.215		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.225		5KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
249.4395	8KHz		Skynet 5B		53.0 East
249.4495	8KHz		Skynet 5B		53.0 East		QRT 16/01/2008
249.460		8KHz		Skynet 5B		53.0 East
249.4795	8KHz		Skynet 5A		1.0  West
249.4995	8KHz		Skynet 5B		53.0 East
249.500		8KHz 		Skynet 5C		17.9 West
249.5095	8KHz		Skynet 5B		53.0 East
249.5295	8KHz		Skynet 5A		1.0  West
249.550		8KHz 		Skynet 5C		17.9 West
249.8495	8KHz		Skynet 5A		1.0  West
249.880		8KHz 		Skynet 5C		17.9 West
249.900		8KHz 		Skynet 5C		17.9 West
249.950		8KHz		Skynet 5B		53.0 East
250.100		8KHz 		Skynet 5C		17.9 West
250.1295	8KHz		Skynet 5A		1.0  West
250.1795	8KHz		Skynet 5B		53.0 East
250.1995	8KHz		Skynet 5A		1.0  West
250.550		30KHz		Fltsatcom 8		15.5 West		Fleet Broadcast
251.325		PSK		SDS 3-F2		10.0 West		4.8Kbps BPSK
251.700		PSK		90027			HEO			4.8Kbps BPSK
251.775		37KHz		ComsatBW-1		63.0 East
251.850		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
251.900		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
251.950		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
252.000		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
252.050		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		DAMA kg_net= 7 9k6
252.150		25KHz		Fltsatcom 8		15.5 West		DAMA kg_net= 5 9k6
252.275		150KHz		Sicral 1		16.3 East
252.400		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
252.450		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
252.500		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
252.550		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
252.950		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
253.550		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
253.600		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
253.650		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
253.700		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
253.750		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
253.8055	35KHz		Skynet 4D/4F		34.0 West
253.850		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		DAMA kg_net= 9 9k6+32k
253.930		35KHz		Skynet 5A		1.0  West
253.950		32KHz		Nato 4B			35.4 East
253.980		35KHz		Skynet 5B		53.0 East
254.125		35KHz		Skynet 4D/4F		34.0 West
254.150		38KHz		Skynet 4E		53.1 East
254.730		38KHz 		Skynet 5C		17.9 West
254.830		38KHz		Skynet 5B		53.0 East
255.250		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
255.350		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
255.400		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
255.450		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		DAMA kg_net= 3 9k6+19k2+32k
255.500		37KHz		ComsatBW-1		63.0 East
255.550		25KHz		Fltsatcom 8		15.5 West
256.375		PSK		90027			HEO			4.8Kbps BPSK
256.600		38KHz 		Skynet 5C		17.9 West
256.850		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
256.900		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
256.950		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
257.000		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
257.050		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		DAMA kg_net= 4 9k6+32k
257.100		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
257.150		25KHz		Fltsatcom 8		15.5 West		DAMA kg_net= 6 9k6
257.425		35KHz		Skynet 4D/4F		34.0 West		DAMA kg_net= 0 9k6+19k2
257.448		32KHz		Nato 4B			35.4 East
257.505		35KHz		Skynet 4D/4F		34.0 West		BPSK modem
257.655		35KHz		Skynet 4E		53.1 East
257.700		35KHz		Skynet 5A		1.0  West
257.900		35KHz		Skynet 5B		53.0 East
258.225		150KHz		Sicral 1		16.3 East		PSK modem + interference
258.350		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
258.450		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East		PSK modem
258.500		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
258.550		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
258.650		25KHz		Fltsatcom 8		15.5 West		Strong GMSK
258.775		PSK		SDS 3-F2		10.0 West		4.8Kbps BPSK
259.425		37KHz		ComsatBW-1		63.0 East
259.975		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
260.025		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
260.075		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
260.125		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
260.375		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
260.425		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		DAMA kg_net= 8 9k6+19k2
260.475		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
260.525		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		BPSK modem
260.575		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
260.625		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
260.675		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
260.725		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
261.100		38KHz 		Skynet 5C		17.9 West
261.279		35KHz		Skynet 5A		1.0  West
261.650		500KHz		Fltsatcom 8		15.5 West
261.675		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
261.775		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
261.875		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
261.925		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
262.000		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
262.050		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
262.075		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
262.125		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
262.175		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
262.200		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
262.225		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
262.275		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
262.325		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
262.375		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
262.425		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
262.4995	38KHz		Skynet 5B		53.0 East
262.675		PSK		SDS 3-F2		10.0 West
263.575		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
263.600		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
263.625		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		BPSK modem
263.675		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
263.700		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
263.725		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
263.775		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
263.825		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
263.875		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
263.925		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
265.250		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
265.350		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
265.400		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
265.450		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		Daily RATT transmissions
265.500		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
265.550		25KHz		Fltsatcom 8		15.5 West		Many interfering carriers in tpx
266.750		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
266.850		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
266.900		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
266.950		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		Russian phone relays
267.050		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West
267.175		150KHz		Sicral 1		16.3 East
267.875		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
267.950		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
268.000		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
268.050		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
268.100		30KHz		Sicral 1b		11.8 East
268.150		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
268.200		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
268.250		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East
268.300		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
268.350		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		DAMA kg_net= 1 9k6+19k2+32k
268.400		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
268.450		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		Many interfering carriers in tpx
268.675		PSK		SDS 3-F2		10.0 West		4.8Kbps BPSK
269.650		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
269.700		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
269.750		25KHz		UFO-2			28.3 East		Wheel
269.800		25KHz		UFO-10/11		70.0 East
269.850		30KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		DAMA kg_net= 2 9k6+19k2+32k
269.950		25KHz		UFO-7			23.3 West		PSK modem

Any additions or corrections, please email info at uhf-satcom dot com