Working via Satellite in 2026: LEO and GEO Operations
Description
This article provides an overview of amateur radio satellite operations as of May 2026, focusing on both Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and geostationary (GEO) satellites. It explains how to get started with satellite communication, emphasizing the importance of listening before transmitting. The resource details methods for listening to QO-100 in real time via the Goonhilly Earth Station WebSDR and tracking LEO satellites using N2YO.com, Heavens-Above, and amsat.org/status. It differentiates between LEO satellites (e.g., ISS, SO-50, RS-44, FO-29, AO-7, GreenCube), which require real-time tracking, antenna rotation, and Doppler compensation, and the geostationary QO-100 satellite. The article is intended for hams interested in current satellite operating practices and equipment considerations for making their first satellite QSOs.