AMSAT's Fox-1B satellite, also known as RadFxSat, was
scheduled for launch by NASA on November 10 (well after this issue's deadline).
The ARRL reports that it is one of four cubesats traveling as secondary
payloads aboard the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 mission launch. It carries a
435/145 MHz FM transponder.
The AMSAT News Service is cautioning users of high duty
cycle digital modes – such as FT8 or MSK144 – to be very careful of power
levels used on transmissions made via satellites, as a high-power signal can
affect all other users of a satellite transponder. AMSAT suggests possibly
avoiding the use of these modes on satellites due to problems encountered by
other users.
The SSB/CW linear transponders on China's CAS-4A and
CAS-4B satellites were turned on in mid-October, according to the AMSAT News
Service. Uplink frequencies are 435.220 MHz for CAS-4A and 435.280 for CAS-4B.
Corresponding downlink frequencies are 145.870 and 145.925 MHz. Each has a
20-kHz passband.
