OnAirSatellite & navigation · Experimental
Decode QO-100 with an SDR
OnAir receives QO-100. QO-100 (Es'hail-2) geostationary amateur satellite, 10489.5 - 10500 MHz through a Ku LNB: beacon lock corrects the LNB's error and drift, narrowband SSB listening, wideband DATV hand-over to DVB-S/S2.
What QO-100 is
QO-100 (Es'hail-2) is the first geostationary amateur radio satellite, covering Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with a narrowband and a wideband transponder at 10.49 GHz.
Frequencies and where it is used
Es'hail-2, the geostationary amateur satellite: downlink 10489.5 - 10500 MHz through a Ku LNB (IF 739.5 - 750 MHz with 9750 MHz; 9739, 10000, 10600 or any LO).
In OnAir the tuning shortcut is Es'hail-2, 10.49 GHz; you can enter any frequency your radio reaches.
What OnAir shows for QO-100
Beacon lock: the CW beacons measure the LNB's frequency error and drift (kHz, ppm, history) and correct every frequency shown; the narrowband transponder as a high-resolution spectrum and waterfall with SSB listening (USB, 2.7 kHz); the wideband transponder's DATV carriers with their symbol rates and a hand-over to DVB-S/S2.
This receiver is built from the published specification and checked end to end on simulated signals. It has had little or no testing on real transmissions yet, so reports and recordings on Discord are welcome.
Which radio you need
This mode sits at a high frequency, so check that your radio tunes it: a HackRF covers 1 MHz to 6 GHz, and RTL-SDR stops near 1.7 GHz. Some modes at these frequencies also need a fast radio (10 to 20 Msps) or a dish and an LNB.
Questions about QO-100
Can I decode QO-100 with an RTL-SDR?
Probably not: an RTL-SDR tunes up to about 1.7 GHz. A HackRF (1 MHz to 6 GHz) or another wideband radio is the usual choice for this frequency range.
Is it legal to receive QO-100?
Receiving satellite downlinks is generally legal. Encrypted or spread content is not decoded, and voice codecs that are patented are not shipped with OnAir.
Can I try QO-100 in OnAir without a radio?
Yes. Most modes include a built-in synthetic test signal, so you can open the screen and try the controls before you own a radio.
Try it without a radio
OnAir includes built-in synthetic test signals for most modes, so you can open this screen, see the layout and try the controls before you own a radio. The Tour button walks you through the app.