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Satellite Radio Frequencies

Lincoln, UK  
2010 Sep 3, UTC  
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Radio Frequencies - Peoples' Republic of China

Satellites launched by the Peoples' Republic of China have been detected transmitting coherent pairs of frequencies near 180MHz (CW beacon and telemetry) and 480MHz (CW beacon). In all cases, the carrier frequency for the 180 MHz transmission is precisely three eighths that of the UHF beacon. Chinese satellites and the piloted spacraft, Shenzhou, can also be found transmitting at S-band frequencies.

tracking Soyuz
The 180 MHz transmissions are similar and appear to be continuous for the active life of the vehicle and the same is true at 480 MHz. 180 MHz carries two bands of telemetry and a pair of further carriers. In the case of Fengyun, the telemetry bands are 5 kHz each side of the main carrier with the other carriers at 10 kHz away from the main one. The CBERS/Zi-Yuan/Jian Bing satellites have telemetry bands at 20 kHz and the additional carriers at 40 kHz either side of the main carrier. At 480 MHz the transmission is a simple CW tone.

CBERS 1, a joint Chinese and Brazilian project, also was also reported to have a transmission frequency near to 462.5 MHz, probably to trigger transmissions from remote data collection platforms monitoring climate conditions at sea or in relatively inaccessible land areas. The two CBERS 2 satellites were designed to carry out a similar function. No transmissions at this frequency have been reported by amateur trackers.

Not all of these frequencies are currently active and the list includes historic frequencies - specifically the HF ones used by China's first two satellites. During 2008, some of the S-band frequencies from China's satellites came into the public domain. They too are listed here although not all have been tracked from the Zarya station.

With the 2010 May demise of CBERS 2B, Fengyun 1D became the sole occupant of the 180/480 MHz coherent frequency channels.

Freq (MHz) Satellite Payload Signal Type Notes
2202.000 Beidou 5
(Beidou 5 (2A))

2007-011A
31115
Navigation satellite Carrier plus multiple sidebands Probably no longer transmitting - initially tracked from Europe but line of sight lost as it approached the operational location near 140° east
180.011 CBERS 1

1999-057A
25940
Remote sensing CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 20 kHz - and further carriers at +/- 40 kHz China Brasil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 480.025 MHz - Silent since mid 2003, the last public report being 2003 Jun 6 by Maik Hermenau of www.satellitenwelt.de
480.025 CBERS 1

1999-057A
25940
Remote sensing CW - Doppler tracking beacon China Brasil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 180.011 MHz - silent since mid-2003
180.014 CBERS 2

2003-049A
28057
Remote sensing CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 20 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 40 kHz China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 480.037 MHz, also transmits 2204.400 MHz and 2267.500 MHz, ceased to transmit 2007
2204.400 CBERS 2

2003-049A
28057
Remote sensing CW carrier + sidebands China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite, also transmits 180.014 MHz, 480.037 MHz and 2267.500 MHz, ceased to transmit 2007
2267.500 CBERS 2

2003-049A
28057
Remote sensing CW carrier + sidebands China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite, also transmits 180.014 MHz, 480.037 MHz and 2204.400 MHz, ceased to transmit 2007
480.037 CBERS 2

2003-049A
28057
Remote sensing CW - Doppler tracking beacon China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 180.014 MHz, also transmits 2204.400 MHz and 2267.500 MHz, ceased to transmit 2007
180.013 CBERS 2B

2007-042A
32062
Remote sensing CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 20 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 40 kHz China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 480.033 MHz, also transmits 2204.400 MHz and 2267.500 MHz

No longer transmitting - switched off 2010 May 10 after an operating anomaly was detected 2010 March
2204.400 CBERS 2B

2007-042A
32062
Remote sensing CW carrier plus data sidebands China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite, also transmits 180.013 MHz, 480.033 MHz and 2267.500 MHz

No longer transmitting - switched off 2010 May 10 after an operating anomaly was detected 2010 March
2267.500 CBERS 2B

2007-042A
32062
Remote sensing CW carrier + sidebands China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite, also transmits 180.013 MHz and 480.033 MHz and 2204.400 MHz

No longer transmitting - switched off 2010 May 10 after an operating anomaly was detected 2010 March
480.033 CBERS 2B

2007-042A
32062
Remote sensing CW - Doppler tracking beacon China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 180.013 MHz, also transmits at 2204.400 MHz and 2267.500 MHz

No longer transmitting - switched off 2010 May 10 after an operating anomaly was detected 2010 March
2234.520 Chang'e 1

2007-051A
32273
Lunar orbiting satellite CW carrier plus data sidebands and secondary carriers - two modes - 2 MHz bandwidth and 256 kHz bandwidth Lunar probe built and launched by the Peoples' Republic of China, originally tracked in HEO and then followed to the Moon - easily detectable with simple equipment. After arrival at the Moon, Chang'e transmitted on command from ground stations.

Mission ended 2010 Mar 1 when Chang'e made a retrograde rocket firing and impacted the lunar surface.
19.995 China 2
(Shi Jian)

1971-018A
5007
Engineering experiments Pulse position data modulation Second satellite launch by the PRC - initial transmissions at 20.006 MHz then changed to this frequency - Transmission was continuous until re-entry in 1979 through natural orbital decay
20.006 China 2
(Shi Jian)

1971-018A
5007
Engineering experiments Tone-based telemetry Second satellite launch by the PRC - transmissions may have been from the final-stage rocket - After a few days, the 200.006 MHz transmission was replaced by one at 19.995 MHz
2250.000 Chuang Xin 1-02
(CX-1-02)

2008-056B
33434
Earth observation - meteorological data for disaster relief CW carrier + sidebands Frequency reported 2008
20.006 DFH-1

1970-034A
4382
Technology demonstrator Tone-based telemetry plus tune 'The East is Red' First satellite launch by the PRC
180.006 Fengyun 1C

1999-025A
25730
Meteorological imaging CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 5 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 10 kHz Active transmitter until 2007 February when attacked in ground-based interceptor test - Coherent transmission at 480.017 MHz
480.019 Fengyun 1C

1999-025A
25730
Remote sensing CW - Doppler tracking beacon Active transmitter until 2007 February when attacked in ground-based interceptor test - Coherent transmission at 180.007 MHz
180.007 Fengyun 1D

2002-024B
27431
Meteorological Imaging CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 5 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 10 kHz Coherent transmission at 480.017 MHz
480.017 Fengyun 1D

2002-024B
27431
Meteorological Imaging CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at 180.007 MHz
2246.400 Fengyun 3A

2008-026A
32958
Imaging Metsat - geosynchronous orbit CW carrier + sidebands Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2264.700 MHz, below horizon from UK
2264.700 Fengyun 3A

2008-026A
32958
Imaging Metsat - geosynchronous orbit CW carrier + sidebands Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2246.400 MHz, below horizon from UK
2273.520 Haiyang 1B

2007-010A
31113
Oceanic Remote Sensing CW plus data sidebands Weak
2241.600 Huan Jing 1A
(HJ-1A)

2008-041A
33320
Disaster monitoring within China CW plus data side-bands Part of constellation
2209.797 Huan Jing 1B
(HJ-1B)

2008-041B
33321
Disaster monitoring within China CW plus data sidebands Strong, Part of constellation
2207.500 Jian Bing 3C
(Zi Yuan 2C)

2004-044A
28470
Military reconnaissance CW carrier + sidebands Frequency reported 2008, also transmits at 2220.5 MHz
2220.500 Jian Bing 3C
(Zi Yuan 2C)

2004-044A
28470
Military reconnaissance CW carrier + sidebands Frequency reported 2008, also transmits at 2207.5 MHz
2224.065 Shenzhou 7

2008-047A
33386
Piloted spacecraft CW carrier plus side-bands PRC piloted spacecraft - frequency first detected during the Shenzhou 7 mission (2008 September) by Richard Flagg, Hawaii USA - transmission is probably continuous while in orbit
2229.605 Shi Jian 6A
(SJ-6A)

2004-035A
28413
Science/technology experiments CW carrier + sidebands -
2235.800 Shi Jian 6B
(SJ-6B)

2004-035B
28414
Science/technology experiments CW carrier + sidebands Frequency reported 2008
2213.600 Shi Jian 6C
(SJ-6C)

2006-046A
29505
Science/technology experiments CW carrier + sidebands Frequency reported 2008
2256.251 Shi Jian 6D
(SJ-6D)

2006-046B
29506
Science/technology experiments CW carrier + sidebands Weak signal
2224.564 Shi Jian 6E
(SJ-6E)

2008-053A
33408
Science/technology experiments CW carrier + sidebands -
2235.800 Shi Jian 6F
(SJ-6F)

2008-053B
33409
Science/technology experiments CW carrier + sidebands Frequency reported by other observers in 2008, but appears to be silent
2251.446 Shi Jian 6F
(SJ-6F)

2008-053B
33409
Science/technology experiments CW carrier + sidebands Relatively strong signal
2205.500 Shi Jian 7
(SJ-7)

2005-024A
28737
Science/technology experiments CW carrier + sidebands Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2227.500 MHz
2227.500 Shi Jian 7
(SJ-7)

2005-024A
28737
Science/technology experiments CW carrier + sidebands Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2205.500 MHz
2217.400 Tansuo 2
(Shiyan 2)

2004-046A
28479
Science/technology experiments CW carrier + sidebands Frequency reported 2008
2230.790 Tansuo 3
(Shi Yuan 3)

2008-056A
33433
Science/technology experiments CW carrier + sidebands Weak
2212.810 Yaogan 1

2006-015A
29092
Remote sensing, possible military connection - reportedly equipped with a synthetic aperture radar CW carrier (+sidebands?) European observations tend to be on southbound passes (these occur between passes over the PRC mainland), also transmits 2295.650 MHz. No longer active - Yaogan 1 broke into several pieces 2010 Feb 4.
2295.650 Yaogan 1

2006-015A
29092
Remote sensing, possible military connection - reportedly equipped with a synthetic aperture radar CW carrier (+sidebands?) Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2212.810 MHz. No longer active - Yaogan 1 broke into several pieces 2010 Feb 4.
2216.527 Yaogan 2

2007-019A
31490
Optical remote sensing - military or government CW carrier (+sidebands?) -
2212.809 Yaogan 3

2007-055A
32289
Remote sensing, possible military connection - reportedly equipped with a synthetic aperture radar CW carrier (+sidebands?) May not transmit on all passes - European observations are more common on southbound passes (these occur between passes over the PRC mainland), also transmits 2295.650 MHz
2295.650 Yaogan 3

2007-055A
32289
Remote sensing, possible military connection - reportedly equipped with a synthetic aperture radar CW carrier (+sidebands?) Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2212.810 MHz
2216.525 Yaogan 4

2008-061A
33446
Optical remote sensing - military or government CW carrier (+sidebands?) -
2220.500 Yaogan 5

2008-064A
33456
Remote sensing, possible military connection - reportedly equipped with a synthetic aperture radar CW carrier (+sidebands?) Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2282.100 MHz
2282.100 Yaogan 5

2008-064A
33456
Remote sensing, possible military connection - reportedly equipped with a synthetic aperture radar CW carrier (+sidebands?) Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2220.500 MHz
2280.700 Yaogan 6

2009-021A
34839
Optical remote sensing - military or government CW carrier (+sidebands?) Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2296.500 MHz
2296.500 Yaogan 6

2009-021A
34839
Optical remote sensing - military or government CW carrier (+sidebands?) Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2280.700 MHz
2216.527 Yaogan 7

2009-069A
36110
Optical remote sensing - military or government CW Carrier + sidebands -
179.951 Zi Yuan 2
(Jiang Bing 3A)

2000-050A
26481
Remote Sensing CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 20 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 40 kHz Coherent transmission at 479.865 MHz
479.865 Zi Yuan 2
(Jiang Bing 3A)

2000-050A
26481
Remote sensing CW - Doppler tracking beacon Coherent transmission at at 179.951 MHz
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