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Subel. E2
13 questions
Amateur Extra Class (2012-2016)
Subelement E2
OPERATING PROCEDURES
Section E2A
Amateur radio in space: amateur satellites; orbital mechanics; frequencies and modes; satellite hardware; satellite operations
What is the direction of an ascending pass for an amateur satellite?
  • From west to east
  • From east to west
  • Correct Answer
    From south to north
  • From north to south

An astronomical object is Ascending when it is moving north in latitude with respect to the celestial sphere or "up" with respect to the usual ground map. Descending means moving south or "down" with respect to the map.

Last edited by rwbonnerjr. Register to edit

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What is the direction of a descending pass for an amateur satellite?
  • Correct Answer
    From north to south
  • From west to east
  • From east to west
  • From south to north

The best way to remember this is to think of a map. Normally maps are held with north on top, so going "down" on the map is going from north to south.

Last edited by kk4uwv. Register to edit

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What is the orbital period of an Earth satellite?
  • The point of maximum height of a satellite's orbit
  • The point of minimum height of a satellite's orbit
  • Correct Answer
    The time it takes for a satellite to complete one revolution around the Earth
  • The time it takes for a satellite to travel from perigee to apogee

The definition of the word period in this case is a round of time marked by the recurrence of some phenomenon or occupied by some recurring process or action.

So, the "orbital period" is a round of time marked by the recurrence of the orbit of an earth satellite -- in other words, it's the time it takes for a satellite to complete one revolution around the Earth.

Last edited by kd7bbc. Register to edit

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What is meant by the term mode as applied to an amateur radio satellite?
  • The type of signals that can be relayed through the satellite
  • Correct Answer
    The satellite's uplink and downlink frequency bands
  • The satellite's orientation with respect to the Earth
  • Whether the satellite is in a polar or equatorial orbit

Historically OSCAR uplink (transmit to) and downlink (receive from) frequencies were designated using single letter codes.

Mode A: 2 m uplink / 10 m downlink

Mode B: 70 cm uplink / 2 m downlink

Mode J: 2 m uplink / 70 cm downlink

New uplink and downlink designations use sets of paired letters following the structure X/Y where X is the uplink band and Y is the downlink band.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSCAR#Mode_designators

Last edited by qubit. Register to edit

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What do the letters in a satellite's mode designator specify?
  • Power limits for uplink and downlink transmissions
  • The location of the ground control station
  • The polarization of uplink and downlink signals
  • Correct Answer
    The uplink and downlink frequency ranges

Historically OSCAR uplink (transmit to) and downlink (receive from) frequencies were designated using single letter codes.

  • Mode A: 2 m uplink / 10 m downlink
  • Mode B: 70 cm uplink / 2 m downlink
  • Mode J: 2 m uplink / 70 cm downlink

New uplink and downlink designations use sets of paired letters following the structure X/Y where X is the uplink band and Y is the downlink band.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSCAR#Mode_designators

Last edited by rjstone. Register to edit

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On what band would a satellite receive signals if it were operating in mode U/V?
  • Correct Answer
    435-438 MHz
  • 144-146 MHz
  • 50.0-50.2 MHz
  • 29.5 to 29.7 MHz

The paired letters U/V indicate the uplink (receive) and downlink (transmit) bands that the satellite uses, where:

  • U - 70 cm (in the UHF range)
  • V - 2 m (in the VHF range)

See Wikipedia's page on amateur radio satellite a complete list of mode designators.

The order is uplink/downlink, which from the perspective of the satellite is receive/transmit.

Last edited by glitteribbon. Register to edit

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Which of the following types of signals can be relayed through a linear transponder?
  • FM and CW
  • SSB and SSTV
  • PSK and Packet
  • Correct Answer
    All of these choices are correct
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Why should effective radiated power to a satellite which uses a linear transponder be limited?
  • To prevent creating errors in the satellite telemetry
  • Correct Answer
    To avoid reducing the downlink power to all other users
  • To prevent the satellite from emitting out of band signals
  • To avoid interfering with terrestrial QSOs

Satellite transponders are power-sharing. If one signal received at the satellite is stronger than the others, all other retransmitted signals will get a smaller portion of the available power.

Last edited by marvsherman419. Register to edit

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What do the terms L band and S band specify with regard to satellite communications?
  • Correct Answer
    The 23 centimeter and 13 centimeter bands
  • The 2 meter and 70 centimeter bands
  • FM and Digital Store-and-Forward systems
  • Which sideband to use

Transponder link designators:

Frequency Designator
21Mhz H
29Mhz T
145Mhz V
435Mhz U
1.2Ghz L
2.4Ghz S
5.7Ghz C
10.5Ghz X
24Ghz K

-w3mit

Study Hint: Think "(L)ittle and (S)mall" for 23 and 13 cm. “LS” looks like 23 and "ls" looks like 13.

See the mode designator chart

Last edited by ironcal67. Register to edit

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Why may the received signal from an amateur satellite exhibit a rapidly repeating fading effect?
  • Correct Answer
    Because the satellite is spinning
  • Because of ionospheric absorption
  • Because of the satellite's low orbital altitude
  • Because of the Doppler Effect
This question does not yet have an explanation! Register to add one

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What type of antenna can be used to minimize the effects of spin modulation and Faraday rotation?
  • A linearly polarized antenna
  • Correct Answer
    A circularly polarized antenna
  • An isotropic antenna
  • A log-periodic dipole array

Faraday rotation is the change in radio wave polarization due to the presence of a magnetic field, while spin modulation is also a polarization change, but due to the rotation of the signal source or of an object that reflects the radio wave, such as a satellite. Both effects can result in rotating radio waves, which can be minimized by a circularly polarized antenna.

Memory trick: “spin” in a ”circular” motion.

Last edited by tgoodrich860. Register to edit

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What is one way to predict the location of a satellite at a given time?
  • By means of the Doppler data for the specified satellite
  • By subtracting the mean anomaly from the orbital inclination
  • By adding the mean anomaly to the orbital inclination
  • Correct Answer
    By calculations using the Keplerian elements for the specified satellite

By calculations using the Keplerian elements for the specified satellite.

Keplerian elements are the inputs to a standard mathematical model of spacecraft orbits. Most often the calculations needed would include the Keplerian elements, an accurate time clock and your current location.

AMSAT Info on Keplerian elements

Last edited by kd7bbc. Register to edit

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What type of satellite appears to stay in one position in the sky?
  • HEO
  • Correct Answer
    Geostationary
  • Geomagnetic
  • LEO

A geosynchronous satellite is actually moving along its orbit just like any other satellite. It is at a height and position such that this orbital rotation matches the earth’s rotation and so it appears to be stationary.

LEO means "Low Earth Orbit" and HEO means "Highly Elliptical Orbit" and both are not relevant to this question. A geomagnetic orbit is not a thing, I think.

Hint: It’s the only question with stationary in it.

Last edited by kd7bbc. Register to edit

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