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.
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 |