How to track satellites as an amateur

AMSAT India demonstrates affordable satellite tracking using basic materials to encourage space enthusiasts at Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium.

On Saturday (October 5) morning, the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium ground was crowded with antennae, a computer, and radio equipment, all placed to track satellite signals and to encourage space enthusiasts to pursue their interest by providing them with a demonstration about the simplicity of materials needed to intercept satellite signals. A large number of participants — from schoolchildren to students of engineering and computer science — gathered to learn more.

AMSAT India, a collective of amateur radio operators, held a two-day practical demonstration of how to track satellites as an amateur within an 800 km altitude in collaboration with Upagrah Amateur Radio Club, U.R. Rao Satellite Centre, and Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium to celebrate World Space Week, on the open ground of the planetarium.

Schoolchildren, as well as students pursuing bachelor’s degrees in engineering and computer science, attended the demonstration on October 5.

“The objective of this demonstration is to show amateur space enthusiasts that tracking satellites requires only basic materials, which one can find at home, and is very affordable,” said Subramania, Director for Educational Outreach, AMSAT. “All you need is an antenna, for which you mainly need measuring tape, a software-defined radio, a computer, and tracking and decoding software, which are free on the internet. The cost comes up to about ₹6,000-7,000.”

The team of radio operators demonstrated how to track satellites in real-time, received and decoded signals in front of attendees, conferred with radio operators in other parts of Bengaluru, and decoded weather images.

While the most basic setup allows one to track satellites, licensed operators can transmit signals and communicate through satellites locally, statewide, and internationally.

“What we learn in college is mostly theoretical, but here we can see a practical demonstration, which increases our hands-on knowledge,” explained Shivakumar Swamy, a student from SJU Institute of Technology, while Subramania contacted another radio operator via transmission in Banaswadi. “We could even create a club in college modelled on this amateur satellite tracking programme,” he added.