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Satellite Radio Frequencies


Tyneside, UK
2024 Mar 29
Friday, Day 89

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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 Transmission Notes
180.011
CBERS 1
1999-057A
25940
CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 20 kHz - and further carriers at +/- 40 kHz Remote sensing: 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
CW - Doppler tracking beacon Remote sensing: China Brasil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 180.011 MHz - silent since mid-2003
180.014
CBERS 2
2003-049A
28057
CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 20 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 40 kHz Remote sensing: China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 480.037 MHz, also transmits 2204.400 MHz and 2267.500 MHz, ceased to transmit 2007
480.037
CBERS 2
2003-049A
28057
CW - Doppler tracking beacon Remote sensing: China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite - Coherent transmission at 180.014 MHz, also transmits 2204.400 MHz and 2267.500 MHz, ceased to transmit 2007
2204.400
CBERS 2
2003-049A
28057
CW carrier + sidebands Remote sensing: 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
CW carrier + sidebands Remote sensing: China Brazil Earth Resources Satellite, also transmits 180.014 MHz, 480.037 MHz and 2204.400 MHz, ceased to transmit 2007
180.013
CBERS 2B
2007-042A
32062
CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 20 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 40 kHz Remote sensing: 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.
480.033
CBERS 2B
2007-042A
32062
CW - Doppler tracking beacon Remote sensing: 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
2204.400
CBERS 2B
2007-042A
32062
CW carrier plus data sidebands Remote sensing: 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
CW carrier + sidebands Remote sensing: 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
2234.520
Chang'e 1
2007-051A
32273
CW carrier plus data sidebands and secondary carriers - two modes - 2 MHz bandwidth and 256 kHz bandwidth Lunar orbiting satellite: Lunar probe built and launched by the Peoples' Republic of China, originally tracked in HEO and then followed to the Moon. Mission ended 2010 Mar 1 when Chang'e made a retrograde rocket firing and impacted the lunar surface.
2249.995
Chuangxin
1-02
2008-056B
33434
CW carrier + sidebands Earth observation - meteorological data for disaster relief: -
20.006
Dong Fang
Hong 1
1970-034A
4382
Tone-based telemetry plus tune 'The East is Red' : First satellite launch by the PRC
180.006
Fengyun 1C
1999-025A
25730
CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 5 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 10 kHz Meteorological imaging: 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
CW - Doppler tracking beacon Meteorological imaging: 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
CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 5 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 10 kHz Meteorological imaging: Coherent transmission at 480.017 MHz, also transmits 2201.050 MHz
480.017
Fengyun 1D
2002-024B
27431
CW - Doppler tracking beacon Meteorological imaging: Coherent transmission at 180.007 MHz, also transmits 2201.050 MHz
2201.050
Fengyun 1D
2002-024B
27431
CW Meteorological imaging: Appears to be continuous transmission - first noted 2010 September, also transmits 180.007 and 480.017 MHz
2246.400
Fengyun 3A
2008-026A
32958
CW carrier + sidebands Meteorological imaging: Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2264.700 MHz, below horizon from UK
2264.700
Fengyun 3A
2008-026A
32958
CW carrier + sidebands Meteorological imaging: Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2246.400 MHz, below horizon from UK
2273.520
Haiyang 1B
2007-010A
31113
CW plus data sidebands Oceanic Remote Sensing: Weak
2241.600
Huan Jing
1A
2008-041A
33320
CW plus data side-bands Disaster monitoring within China: Part of constellation
2209.797
Huan Jing
1B
2008-041B
33321
CW plus data sidebands Disaster monitoring within China: Strong, Part of constellation
243.000
Shenzhou

Signal content not known Piloted spacecraft: Recovery beacon transmitted during descent under parachute - NOTE: this is an international distress frequency
2224.065
Shenzhou

CW carrier plus side-bands Piloted spacecraft: Frequency first detected during the Shenzhou 7 mission (2008 September) by Richard Flagg, Hawaii USA - transmission is probably continuous while in orbit
19.995
Shijian 1
1971-018A
5007
Pulse position data modulation Engineering experiments: 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
Shijian 1
1971-018A
5007
Tone-based telemetry Engineering experiments: Second satellite launch by the PRC - transmissions may have been from the final-stage rocket - After a few days, the 20.006 MHz transmission was replaced by one at 19.995 MHz
2224.564
Shijian
6-03A
2008-053A
33408
CW carrier + sidebands Science/technology experiments: -
2235.800
Shijian
6-03B
2008-053B
33409
CW carrier + sidebands Science/technology experiments: Frequency reported by other observers in 2008, but appears to be silent
2251.446
Shijian
6-03B
2008-053B
33409
CW carrier + sidebands Science/technology experiments: Relatively strong signal
2229.605
Shijian
6A
2004-035A
28413
CW carrier + sidebands Science/technology experiments: -
2235.800
Shijian
6B
2004-035B
28414
CW carrier + sidebands Science/technology experiments: Frequency reported 2008
2213.600
Shijian
6C
2006-046A
29505
CW carrier + sidebands Science/technology experiments: Frequency reported 2008
2256.251
Shijian
6D
2006-046B
29506
CW carrier + sidebands Science/technology experiments: Weak signal
2205.500
Shijian 7
2005-024A
28737
CW carrier + sidebands Science/technology experiments: Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2227.500 MHz
2227.500
Shijian 7
2005-024A
28737
CW carrier + sidebands Science/technology experiments: Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2205.500 MHz
2217.367
Shiyan 2
2004-046A
28479
CW carrier + sidebands Science/technology experiments: Strong, possibly pulsating rapidly
2230.795
Shiyan 3
2008-056A
33433
CW carrier + sidebands Science/technology experiments: Weak
2232.215
Tiangong 1
2011-053A
37820
- Experimental space laboratory: Frequency reported by Richard Flagg, Hawaii. Continuous transmission. Also transmits 2250.720 MHz.
2250.720
Tiangong 1
2011-053A
37820
- Experimental space laboratory: Frequency reported by Richard Flagg, Hawaii. Continuous transmission. Also transmits 2232.215 MHz.
2212.810
Yaogan 1
2006-015A
29092
CW carrier (+sidebands?) Remote sensing with synthetic aperture radar, government and military: 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
CW carrier (+sidebands?) Remote sensing with synthetic aperture radar, government and military: 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
CW carrier (+sidebands?) Optical remote sensing - military or government: -
2212.809
Yaogan 3
2007-055A
32289
CW carrier (+sidebands?) Remote sensing, possible military connection - reportedly equipped with a synthetic aperture radar: 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
CW carrier (+sidebands?) Remote sensing, possible military connection - reportedly equipped with a synthetic aperture radar: Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2212.810 MHz
2216.525
Yaogan 4
2008-061A
33446
CW carrier (+sidebands?) Optical remote sensing - military or government: -
2220.476
Yaogan 5
2008-064A
33456
CW carrier (+sidebands?) Remote sensing, possible military connection - reportedly equipped with a synthetic aperture radar: Also reportedly transmits 2282.1 MHz
2282.100
Yaogan 5
2008-064A
33456
CW carrier (+sidebands?) Remote sensing, possible military connection - reportedly equipped with a synthetic aperture radar: Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2220.476 MHz
2280.716
Yaogan 6
2009-021A
34839
CW carrier (+sidebands?) Digital imaging for remote sensing, government/military use: Weak, also reported at 2296.500 MHz
2296.500
Yaogan 6
2009-021A
34839
CW carrier (+sidebands?) Digital imaging for remote sensing, government/military use: Frequency reported 2008, also transmits 2280.716 MHz
2216.527
Yaogan 7
2009-069A
36110
CW Carrier + sidebands Optical remote sensing - military or government: -
2266.319
Yaogan 8
2009-072A
36121
Weak CW Remote sensing: -
179.951
Ziyuan
2-01
2000-050A
26481
CW carrier on centre frequency plus telemetry sidebands at +/- 20 kHz- and further carriers at +/- 40 kHz Remote Sensing: Coherent transmission at 479.865 MHz. No longer transmitting.
479.865
Ziyuan
2-01
2000-050A
26481
CW - Doppler tracking beacon Remote Sensing: Coherent transmission at at 179.951 MHz. No longer transmitting.
2207.500
Ziyuan
2-03
2004-044A
28470
CW carrier + sidebands Military reconnaissance: Frequency reported 2008, also transmits at 2220.5 MHz
2220.500
Ziyuan
2-03
2004-044A
28470
CW carrier + sidebands Military reconnaissance: Frequency reported 2008, also transmits at 2207.5 MHz
2285.525
ZP 1A2
2010-047C
37167
Weak CW Microelectronics studies: -
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