Over Christmas 2020 I’ve made my first contact via the narrowband amateur transponder on Es’Hail QO-100 geostationary satellite. Its not as tricky as you might think!

My portable setup being tested indoors in the warm, (not ideal). (More details on SatCom pages). Whilst counting and repeating nursery rhymes to myself, I was called by Prem VU2OLU in Kerala southern India. Not bad for a first contact.

I made this recording of our QSO. (Its from the webSDR at Goonhilly earth station)

QO-100 / Es’hail-2 Narrowband WebSDR (batc.org.uk)

Transceiver setup is based on the Adalm Pluto SDR and SG Labs PA shown here with the box lid off sitting next to the dish on the bed.