[MilCom] 254.2 Activity

[Larry Van Horn, N5FPW]

> Skynet 4F stationed over the Atlantic does operate on 254.200, the same 
> satellite also sends out data on 257.325.
> Based on what folks are posting on the RadioMonitors list id have to say 
> it is probably that bird.

As I told Jody in a private email offlist, I have looked at both the Skynet 
4D and 4F milsats which has downlinks on 254.200 MHz. And they have to be 
ruled out since both of their orbital slots are way to far east for their 
uplinks to pickup any transmissions from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 
According to the latest information I have from the SSC# catalog, Skynet 4d 
is at 34 west and 4f is at 6 deg east. This puts Calgary way out of both 
birds footprint. There are three other scenarios that make sense.

1) A previously retired milsat satellite operating in this range has come 
back to life and is relaying transmissions (I have ruled out all the UK 
Skynet milsat birds, see above). This is the least likely as DoD normally 
boost these birds into a higher orbit out of geo and they turn them off.
2) We have a unknown geo milsat using the 254.200 MHz downlink that has not 
been cataloged to date.
3) Jody may have uncovered a previously unknown milsat high flier in Molniya 
orbit.

Here is a complete list of Skynet milsats (none look like a likely candidate 
for Jody's transmissions from Calgary):

Bird            Intl Desig       SSC#
Skynet-1A 1969-101A / 4250 (retired)
Skynet-2B 1974-094A / 7547 (retired)
Skynet-4B 1988-109A / 19687 (reorbited above geo ring in June 1998)
Skynet-4A 1990-001A / 20401 (34 deg west)
Skynet-4C 1990-79A / 20776 (1 deg west)
Skynet-4D 1998-002A / 25134 (34 deg west)
Skynet-4E 1999-009B / 25639 (53 deg east)
Skynet-4F 2001-005B / 26695 (6 deg east)
Source: UK Registry of Space Objects with the UN 
(http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/assets/channels/about/ukregistry.pdf)

More to follow...

73 de Chief

Larry Van Horn, N5FPW
ATC (AW)      USN (Ret)
MT Milcom/Help Desk Columnist
Assistant Editor Monitoring Times
Blog Address: http://mt-milcom.blogspot.com/
Founding Father Milcom/Fedcom/Trunkcom

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bryan Herbert" <bryan at bryanherbert.com>
To: <vampire11 at comcast.net>
Cc: <milcom at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 01, 2007 6:08 PM
Subject: Re: [MilCom] 254.2 Activity


> Skynet 4F stationed over the Atlantic does operate on 254.200, the same 
> satellite also sends out data on 257.325.
> Based on what folks are posting on the RadioMonitors list id have to say 
> it is probably that bird.
>
>
>
> vampire11 at comcast.net wrote:
>
>>Currently here in North Georgia I am hearing the following on 254.2 all at 
>>the same time!
>>SNAKE flights very weak in ACM comms -AM mode
>>Calgary Alberta Approach control weak-AM mode
>>Secure comms in FM mode-
>>Clear comms in FM mode , can hear speed dialing DTMF and some random mike 
>>keys
>>
>>Anyone else copy any of this? kinda wild..
>>
>>Jody
>>North Georgia
>>
>
> -- 
> Bryan Herbert - KE6ZGP - Ridgecrest, Ca.
> http://bryanherbert.com
> http://radio.scannerbuff.net:8010/eastkern.m3u
>
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