Nilesat 301

Telemetry signals in the LEOP phase. Frequencies 12498.00 RHCP and 12499.00 RHCP.

After last night's maneuver, where it was pushed into geostationary orbit. It is now about 6,8°W.

Only 12498.00 RHCP telemetry is active, while 12498.00 RHCP is currently off.

Thanks Capitan_Uncino I was looking for this earlier and could not find it since NSSDCA TLE had not been updated. The level is very variable with some fast (<10 second) and some very slow (>30 minute) cycles. It's hard to tell what's going on as it will relate to the TX antenna pattern. However, it does not look stable yet.

These plots were were close to a maximum (12498MHz = 21.4MHz):

This is a 2k second plot of the IF signal level in 2kHz:

About an hour after the plot above, the short term variations have reduced but the long term no longer seems to be repeating at the same rate.

It is currently around 9,7°W. Both telemetry are active.

Thank you Capitan_Uncino!

I can find 12498 via CS (in linear here) at about 09.7°W, too.

Carrier tests began at approximately 10,2°W. There are some transponders that appear to be around 72MHz (Wide Band), based on the published characteristics, they should be 12.

11765,84 H 33MHz

11823,38 V 33MHz

11842,56 H 33MHz

11880,92 H 33MHz

11919,28 V 72MHz

12015,18 H 72MHz

12034,36 V 72MHz

12206,98 V 33MHz

12283,70 V 33MHz

12302,88 H 33MHz

Thanks for your information Capitan_Uncino

Very poor spectrum at my place - but I can "see" it...

19.00 CET

/edit:

I can see that signal increases to the evening hours (according my spectrum) - same as on Nilesat 201...

19.30 CET

20:00 CET

20.30 CET

Further test carriers also today..

11727,48 H

11746,66 V

11785,02 V

11804,20 H

11861,74 V

11919,28 H

11957,64 H

11976,82 V

12072,72 H

12091,90 V

12130,26 V

12149,44 H

12226,16 H

The telemetry passed in linear polarity, both vertical. Then the 12498,00 returned to circular polarity, while the 12499,00 remained in linear polarity.

I left the analyser recording the maximum level for over an hour. The capture shows the peak on 11977MHz V. Most of the time the highest level is around 8dB lower. I'm not sure if the ~35MHz wide signal is transponder noise or a test signal. It looks like noise on CS.

The signals at 11950 & 12450 are local to me. The 12498 beacon is just visible on the right of the trace.

The peak CW signal is about 30dB SNR in 50kHz which equates to about 3dB in 25MHz.

Quote from s-band

The capture shows the peak on 11977MHz V. Most of the time the highest level is around 8dB lower. I'm not sure if the ~35MHz wide signal is transponder noise or a test signal. It looks like noise on CS.

I can see 11977 V here too.

...smaller...

Quote from Capitan_Uncino

while the 12499,00 remained in linear polarity.

I can confirm this with my "setup" under CS - at 07.15 CET.

...and now on opposite linear polarisation - at 09.15 CET.

...and much stronger signal a few minutes later...

...and a bit stronger signal in linear vertical at about 11.00 CET - they always change polarity in a short time...

From my screenshots today, turns out only one transponder is tested (12417,96 H). With fairly low power.

The telemetry at 12499,00 V was turned off and in its place only the beacon (without modulation) in horizontal polarity was turned on.

Testing right now:
11727,48 H

/edit: 11919,28 H - testing for a short time, too

12034 H

This morning...

11861,74 V

11823,38 V

11900 V

11976,82 V

/edit later...

12130,26 V

12283,70 V

In my opinion - Nilesat 301 is moving to the east, away from IOT - regarding 12499 at about ~09.2°W

Quote from qwer

In my opinion - Nilesat 301 is moving to the east, away from IOT - regarding 12499 at about ~09.2°W

Agreed, within 0.2 degree. It looks about 0.1 deg high but that's beyond the my position accuracy. N2YO still shows 10.21W using AFSPC TLE