Weekly Satellite Report

🛰️ GCARC Satellite Report

Gloucester County Amateur Radio Club · W2MMD
Week of September 26, 2026
Generated: September 20, 2026 at 06:32 AM EDT

📅 This Saturday at the Clubhouse — Saturday, September 26

September 26 offers 8 passes during the 9 AM–3 PM window — 8 FM and 0 linear transponder opportunities. Top passes: AO-123 (excellent at 89°, 10:14 AM), ISS-FM (excellent at 57°, 01:27 PM), SO-50 (good at 32°, 02:34 PM). Note: AO-123 and JO-97 at 11:59 AM overlap — assign two operators.

8
Total Passes
8
FM Satellites
0
Linear (SSB/CW)
Start (ET) Satellite Mode Quality Dir Dur Frequencies
09:44 AM
Peak: 09:49 AM
AO-91 FM Fair 27° W 10 min 435.250 ↑ / 145.960 ↓
PL 67.0 Hz
10:14 AM
Peak: 10:23 AM
AO-123 FM ⭐ Excellent 89° S 17 min 145.850 ↑ / 435.400 ↓
PL 67.0 Hz
10:31 AM
Peak: 10:36 AM
JO-97 FM Fair 25° E 10 min 145.850 ↑ / 435.910 ↓
PL 88.5 Hz
11:59 AM
Peak: 12:07 PM
AO-123 FM Fair 16° NW 14 min 145.850 ↑ / 435.400 ↓
PL 67.0 Hz
12:04 PM
Peak: 12:09 PM
JO-97 FM Fair 17° WNW 9 min 145.850 ↑ / 435.910 ↓
PL 88.5 Hz
12:55 PM
Peak: 01:01 PM
SO-50 FM ✅ Good 31° ESE 13 min 145.850 ↑ / 436.795 ↓
PL 74.4 Hz
01:27 PM
Peak: 01:33 PM
ISS-FM ⭐ FM ⭐ Excellent 57° SE 10 min 145.990 ↑ / 437.800 ↓
PL 67.0 Hz
02:34 PM
Peak: 02:41 PM
SO-50 FM ✅ Good 32° NW 13 min 145.850 ↑ / 436.795 ↓
PL 74.4 Hz

📡 Frequency Reference — Saturday, September 26

  • AO-91 (FM): ↑ 435.250 MHz / ↓ 145.960 MHz, PL 67.0 Hz
  • AO-123 (FM): ↑ 145.850 MHz / ↓ 435.400 MHz, PL 67.0 Hz
  • JO-97 (FM): ↑ 145.850 MHz / ↓ 435.910 MHz, PL 88.5 Hz
  • SO-50 (FM): ↑ 145.850 MHz / ↓ 436.795 MHz, PL 74.4 Hz
  • ISS-FM (FM): ↑ 145.990 MHz / ↓ 437.800 MHz, PL 67.0 Hz

📅 Looking Ahead — Saturday, October 03

October 03 offers 10 passes during the 9 AM–3 PM window — 10 FM and 0 linear transponder opportunities. Top passes: AO-123 (excellent at 88°, 10:18 AM), ISS-FM (excellent at 83°, 11:06 AM), JO-97 (excellent at 70°, 11:18 AM).

10
Total Passes
10
FM Satellites
0
Linear (SSB/CW)
Start (ET) Satellite Mode Quality Dir Dur Frequencies
09:31 AM
Peak: 09:35 AM
ISS-FM FM Low 10° SE 8 min 145.990 ↑ / 437.800 ↓
PL 67.0 Hz
09:52 AM
Peak: 09:57 AM
AO-91 FM Fair 24° W 10 min 435.250 ↑ / 145.960 ↓
PL 67.0 Hz
10:18 AM
Peak: 10:27 AM
AO-123 FM ⭐ Excellent 88° W 17 min 145.850 ↑ / 435.400 ↓
PL 67.0 Hz
11:06 AM
Peak: 11:12 AM
ISS-FM ⭐⭐ FM ⭐ Excellent 83° NW 10 min 145.990 ↑ / 437.800 ↓
PL 67.0 Hz
11:18 AM
Peak: 11:23 AM
JO-97 FM ⭐ Excellent 70° WNW 10 min 145.850 ↑ / 435.910 ↓
PL 88.5 Hz
11:35 AM
Peak: 11:42 AM
SO-50 FM ⭐ Excellent 66° SE 13 min 145.850 ↑ / 436.795 ↓
PL 74.4 Hz
12:04 PM
Peak: 12:11 PM
AO-123 FM Fair 16° NW 14 min 145.850 ↑ / 435.400 ↓
PL 67.0 Hz
12:44 PM
Peak: 12:49 PM
ISS-FM FM Fair 17° NNW 9 min 145.990 ↑ / 437.800 ↓
PL 67.0 Hz
01:17 PM
Peak: 01:23 PM
SO-50 FM Fair 18° NW 12 min 145.850 ↑ / 436.795 ↓
PL 74.4 Hz
02:22 PM
Peak: 02:27 PM
ISS-FM FM Low 11° N 8 min 145.990 ↑ / 437.800 ↓
PL 67.0 Hz

📡 Frequency Reference — Saturday, October 03

  • ISS-FM (FM): ↑ 145.990 MHz / ↓ 437.800 MHz, PL 67.0 Hz
  • AO-91 (FM): ↑ 435.250 MHz / ↓ 145.960 MHz, PL 67.0 Hz
  • AO-123 (FM): ↑ 145.850 MHz / ↓ 435.400 MHz, PL 67.0 Hz
  • JO-97 (FM): ↑ 145.850 MHz / ↓ 435.910 MHz, PL 88.5 Hz
  • SO-50 (FM): ↑ 145.850 MHz / ↓ 436.795 MHz, PL 74.4 Hz

🌐 ISS Status — September 26
System Frequency Status
ISS APRS (RS0ISS) 145.825 MHz Check ariss-usa.org/ARISS_APRS/ for live packets
Crossband FM Repeater (NA1SS) 145.990 ↑ / 437.800 ↓ (PL 67) Check ARISS for current activation status
Voice (ARISS school contacts) 145.800 MHz See ariss.org for schedule

ISS passes Saturday September 26 (9 AM–3 PM ET):

  • 01:27 PM peak 01:33 PM — 57° SE — 10 min — Excellent

🌍 RS-44 Cross-Atlantic DX — Week of September 26, 2026

RS-44 continues to offer cross-Atlantic DX opportunities on low-to-moderate eastern passes where the footprint covers both New Jersey and Europe simultaneously. Passes below ~55° from ENE/E/ESE favor cross-Atlantic geometry. All times ET, 8 AM–10 PM window only.

Date / Time (ET) Max El. Direction Duration Notes
Sun Sep 20, 06:23 PM ✅ 30° E 🌍 20 min Cross-Atlantic DX geometry
Sun Sep 20, 08:15 PM ⭐ 56° W 22 min Domestic / high-elevation
Mon Sep 21, 08:03 AM ✅ 31° W 20 min Domestic / high-elevation
Mon Sep 21, 06:46 PM ✅ 47° E 🌍 21 min Cross-Atlantic DX geometry
Mon Sep 21, 08:40 PM ✅ 37° WNW 21 min Domestic / high-elevation
Tue Sep 22, 08:27 AM 19° W 18 min Domestic / high-elevation
Tue Sep 22, 05:20 PM 12° ENE 🌍 16 min Cross-Atlantic DX geometry
Tue Sep 22, 07:09 PM ⭐ 73° E 🌍 22 min Cross-Atlantic DX geometry
Tue Sep 22, 09:05 PM 24° WNW 20 min Domestic / high-elevation
Wed Sep 23, 08:52 AM 11° WNW 15 min Domestic / high-elevation
Wed Sep 23, 05:42 PM 22° E 🌍 19 min Cross-Atlantic DX geometry
Wed Sep 23, 07:33 PM ⭐ 76° W 22 min Domestic / high-elevation
Wed Sep 23, 09:30 PM 15° WNW 18 min Domestic / high-elevation
Thu Sep 24, 06:04 PM ✅ 34° E 🌍 20 min Cross-Atlantic DX geometry
Thu Sep 24, 07:57 PM ⭐ 51° W 22 min Domestic / high-elevation
Thu Sep 24, 09:56 PM 9° NW 15 min Domestic / high-elevation
Fri Sep 25, 06:27 PM ⭐ 54° E 🌍 22 min Cross-Atlantic DX geometry
Fri Sep 25, 08:21 PM ✅ 33° WNW 21 min Domestic / high-elevation
Sat Sep 26, 08:09 AM 17° WNW 17 min Domestic / high-elevation
Sat Sep 26, 05:01 PM 15° E 🌍 17 min Cross-Atlantic DX geometry
Sat Sep 26, 06:51 PM ⭐ 81° E 🌍 22 min Cross-Atlantic DX geometry
Sat Sep 26, 08:46 PM 22° WNW 20 min Domestic / high-elevation
Sun Sep 27, 08:34 AM 9° WNW 14 min Domestic / high-elevation
Sun Sep 27, 05:23 PM 25° E 🌍 19 min Cross-Atlantic DX geometry
Sun Sep 27, 07:14 PM ⭐ 69° W 22 min Domestic / high-elevation
Sun Sep 27, 09:12 PM 13° NW 17 min Domestic / high-elevation
Mon Sep 28, 05:46 PM ✅ 39° E 🌍 21 min Cross-Atlantic DX geometry
Mon Sep 28, 07:39 PM ✅ 46° W 22 min Domestic / high-elevation
RS-44 (inverting V/u transponder, IC-9700): Transmit LSB on 145.935–145.995 MHz, receive USB on 435.610–435.670 MHz. Full duplex recommended. CW beacon 435.605 MHz. Coordinate cross-Atlantic skeds via AMSAT Discord or DX cluster in advance.

🎓 STEM Club — Students on the Air (StOTA)

AMSAT’s StOTA Days are the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month — student-to-student satellite contacts encouraged. All satellite operators welcome to get on and make students feel welcome.

ARISS School Contact Applications: Proposals for Jan–Jun 2027 contacts due May 22, 2026 at 11:59 PM PT. Informational webinar April 30, 8 PM ET via Zoom. See ariss.org — Woodruff Middle School is an ideal candidate for a live ISS contact.

Upcoming StOTA Tuesdays — Woodruff Middle School (2:00–3:30 PM ET window):

Date Passes Available
Tue, Sep 22 ISS-FM 03:01 PM (61°), SO-50 03:05 PM (61°)
Tue, Sep 29 ISS-FM 02:18 PM (17°)

Equipment on site: Yaesu FT-991A (FM satellites). Good targets: JO-97, AO-123, SO-50, ISS FM repeater.

🚀 AMSAT News & Satellite Notes

Hamvention 2026 — May 15–17, Xenia OH: AMSAT forum Saturday May 16, 1:50–3:10 PM, Forum Room 2. TAPR/AMSAT Banquet Friday May 15, 6:30 PM, $75, Kohler Presidential Banquet Center — purchase deadline May 11 at 5 PM EDT. AMSAT booth: Building 1, booths 1007–1010 and 1107–1110.

44th AMSAT Space Symposium — October 8–11, 2026 · Crowne Plaza JAX Airport, Jacksonville FL. Rooms $109/night. Watch AMSAT News Service for registration details.

W2MMD on SatNOGS: The clubhouse ground station is Station #223 — one of the most capable receiving sites in the Northeast. Schedule an observation at network.satnogs.org/stations/223.

Ten-Koh 2 (NORAD #68261, Nihon University 6U CubeSat, V/U linear transponder): Weak signals only — faint CW on 435.860 MHz. Okuyama Lab requesting SatNOGS reception reports. Upload a waterfall — null results are also useful data.

📻 W2MMD Station & Operating Notes
W2MMD Clubhouse (Mullica Hill, NJ): IC-9700 with full-duplex capability — FM satellites and linear transponders. SkyRoof for Doppler correction on linear passes. Operating window: 9 AM–3 PM ET Saturdays.
  • SO-50: Arm with 2-second 74.4 Hz tone burst before transmitting (10-minute timer)
  • AO-7: Mode B only when in sunlight — shuts down in eclipse (no battery)
  • RS-44 & FO-29: Inverting V/u transponder — transmit LSB on uplink, receive USB on downlink
  • AO-73 (FUNcube-1): Active in eclipse — inverting V/u: up LSB 435.130–435.150 / dn USB 145.950–145.970 MHz
  • JO-97 (FO-118): Also has linear transponder: up LSB 435.100–435.120 / dn USB 145.855–145.875 MHz
  • Pass predictions ±2 min — data from N2YO.com, coordinates 39.73°N 75.21°W

 Save as PDF