Satellite Frequencies - 150 MHz and 400 MHz

Orbital Focus - International Spaceflight Facts and Figures

Satellite Radio Frequencies

Tyneside, UK
2024 Oct 3
Thursday, Day 277

Curated by:

Robert Christy

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150 and 400 MHz - a Coherent Pairing

These two frequencies are coherent in the ratio 8:3. Both the Soviet Union and the USA chose the pair for their navigation satellites, driven partly by space available in the worldwide radio spectrum. Latterly, some of the ex-Soviet frequencies are still used by the ongoing Parus satellite series and the US navsats still transmit. Latterly The Formosat/Cosmic satellites use these two frequencies as part of a triple coherent frequency set with 1066 MHz. There is more on these satellites in the Coherent Frequencies page (see the left hand menu).

US Satellites

The USA's Transit navigation satellites and their derivatives found their way here. The Transit system no longer operates but some of the later, Transit-O (OSCAR) vehicles still transmit, though their function was changed in 1996 to acting as ionospheric research beacons under the US Navy's Ionospheric Monitoring System (NIMS).

A coherent pair also exists for use by the US military for Doppler tracking and orbit measurement under the RadCal programme. Signals from the satellite are used for precise orbital measurement and the results can be cross-corellated with radar tracking..

Soviet and Russian Satellites

The Soviet Union's 'Tsikada' navigation satellites, later 'Nadezhda' also operated here also but have now been switched off.

Another former Soviet system currently operated by Russia also transmits here. The 'Parus' transmissions are Tsikada-like in content but they hide another purpose. They may have included a navigation function originally but they carry a second, clandestine, payload for communications. The 'navigation' transmissions are probably more about allowing the user to calculate where to point the transmitting aerial rather than working out their location on the Earth's surface.

Freq (MHz)	Satellite	Transmission	Notes
149.910	Cosmos 2341 1997-017A 24772	FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - coherent transmission at 399.920 MHz
149.910	Cosmos 2398 2003-023A 27818	FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - coherent transmission at 399.760 MHz
149.940	Cosmos 2378 2001-023A 26818	FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - coherent transmission at 399.840 MHz
149.940	Cosmos 2454 2009-039A 35635	FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - coherent transmission at 399.840 MHz
149.940	Cosmos 2463 2010-017A 36519	FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - coherent transmission at 399.840 plus duplicated transmissions at other frequencies around 150 and 400 MHz . The transmitter is faulty.
149.970	Cosmos 2336 1996-071A 24677	FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - coherent transmission at 399.840 MHz
149.970	Cosmos 2389 2002-026A 27436	FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Transmission contains an almanac for all active satellites in the constellation - coherent transmission at 399.920 MHz
149.979	Oscar 29 1987-080B 18362	Modulated CW carrier	Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS): Maintenance frequency - Coherent transmission at 399.944 MHz (has been heard to transmit tones similar to the other OSCAR satellite but 2003 December 28 - this frequency was occupied by a modulated 'buzzing' signal - No longer transmitting as of 2008 Feb 1
149.979	Oscar 31 1988-074B 19420	FM telemetry (tones) +/- 2.4 kHz from carrier	Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS): Maintenance frequency - Coherent transmission at 399.944 MHz - Occasionally changes between this frequency and the operational one - Sometime between 2007 Dec 21 and 2008 Feb 7, the normal transmissions at both frequencies were replaced with a highly unstable CW carrier (wandering frequency + variations in strength)
149.988	Oscar 27 1987-080A 18361	FM telemetry (tones) +/- 2.4 kHz from carrier	Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS): Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 399.968 MHz - Occasionally changes between this frequency and the maintenance one) - No longer transmitting as of 2008 Jan 1
149.988	Oscar 23 1988-033A 19070	FM telemetry (tones) +/- 2.4 kHz from carrier	Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS): Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 399.968 MHz - Occasionally changes between this frequency and the maintenance one)
149.988	Oscar 32 1988-033B 19071	FM telemetry (tones) +/- 2.4 kHz from carrier	Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS): Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 399.968 MHz - Occasionally changes between this frequency and the maintenance one)
149.988	Oscar 25 1988-074A 19419	FM telemetry (tones) +/- 2.4 kHz from carrier	Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS): Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 399.968 MHz - Occasionally changes between this frequency and the maintenance one)
150.000	Nadezhda	FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz	Navigation - plus Search and Rescue monitoring: Several satellites - the system is no longer operational, has been silent since 2003 November 26 - Coherent transmission at 400.000 MHz
150.000	Tsikada	FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz	Navigation - plus Search and Rescue monitoring: Several satellites - the system is no longer operational, has been silent since 2003 November 26 - Coherent transmission at 400.000 MHz
150.012	Unknown	'Wandering' CW	Unidentified satellite: Satellite in GEO, possibly graveyard orbit, also transmits 400.032 MHz
150.012	Geosat 1985-021A 15595	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Oceanography - wave height measurement: Detected being switched on and off over Europe, not continuously active. Sometime around 2007, transmissions ceased to be detected but Geosat was subsequently determined to be transmitting continuously while in sunlight. Coherent transmission at 400.032 MHz
150.012	RADCAL 1993-041A 22698	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Radar calibration: Radar Calibration satellite - Coherent transmission at 400.032 MHz, operation is intermittent
150.012	GFO 1998-007A 25157	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Oceanography - wave height measurement: Geosat Follow On satellite - Coherent transmission at 400.032 MHz and also transmitted at 2207.5 MHz. Ceased to transmit 2008 November.
150.012	ARGOS 1999-008A 25634	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	USAF space experiments: Coherent transmission at 400.032 MHz - Ceased to transmit 2003
150.012	USA 147 1999-067A 25991	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Military meteorological satellite: Defense Meteorological Satellite Program - Also transmits at 2207.535 MHz, 2237.5 MHz and 2252.5 MHz, and 400.032 MHz - Post-launch testing revealed interference with other equipment from the 150/400 MHz transmitters so they remained inactive (apart from further testing) until 2006 Aug 14
150.012	Picosat 9 2001-043B 26930	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	USAF Space Test Program (STEP): Coherent transmission at 400.032 MHz - Ceased to transmit late-2004
150.012	Formosat 3A 2006-011A 29047	CW	Atmospheric studies: Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 400.032 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
150.012	Formosat 3B 2006-011B 29048	CW	Atmospheric studies: Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 400.032 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
150.012	Formosat 3C 2006-011C 29049	CW	Atmospheric studies: Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 400.032MHz and 1066.752 MHz
150.012	Formosat 3D 2006-011D 29050	CW	Atmospheric studies: Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 400.032 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
150.012	Formosat 3E 2006-011E 29051	CW	Atmospheric studies: Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 400.032 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
150.012	Formosat 3F 2006 29052	CW	Atmospheric studies: Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 400.032 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
150.030	Cosmos 2361 1998-076A 25590	FM time and position information - sidebands at 3 kHz, 5 kHz and 7 kHz	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Coherent transmission at 400.080 MHz
150.300	Cosmos 2373 2000-058A 26552	AM telemetry - wide bandwidth	Photographic mapping: Coherent transmission at 400.800 MHz - Cameras and film recovered after mission running between 2000 September 29 and 2000 November 14 - no longer in orbit
150.300	Cosmos 2415 2005-034A 28841	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Photographic reconnaissance: Coherent transmission at 400.800 MHz - Cameras and film recovered after mission mission running between 2005 September 2 and 2005 October 14 - transmissions heard over the USA - no longer in orbit
399.760	Cosmos 2341 1997-017A 24772	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Coherent transmission at 149.910 MHz
399.760	Cosmos 2398 2003-023A 27818	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Coherent transmission at 149.910 MHz
399.840	Cosmos 2378 2001-023A 26818	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Coherent transmission at 149.940 MHz
399.840	Cosmos 2389 2002-026A 27436	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Coherent transmission at 149.940 MHz
399.840	Cosmos 2454 2009-039A 35635	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Coherent transmission at 149.940 MHz
399.840	Cosmos 2463 2010-017A 36519	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Coherent transmission at 149.940 MHz plus plus duplicated transmissions at other frequencies around 150 and 400 MHz due. The transmitter is faulty.
399.920	Cosmos 2336 1996-071A 24677	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Coherent transmission at 149.970 MHz
399.944	Oscar 29 1987-080B 18362	Modulated CW carrier	Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS): Maintenance frequency - Coherent transmission at 149.979 MHz (known to change between this frequency and the operational one) - No longer transmitting as of 2008 Jan 1
399.944	Oscar 31 1988-074B 19420	Modulated CW carrier	Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS): Maintenance frequency - Coherent transmission at 149.979 MHz (known to change between this frequency and the operational one) - Sometime between 2007 Dec 21 and 2008 Feb 7, the normal transmissions at both frequencies were replaced with a highly unstable CW carrier (wandering frequency + variations in strength)
399.968	Oscar 27 1987-080A 18361	Modulated CW carrier	Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS): Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 149.988 MHz (known to change between this frequency and the maintenance one) - No longer transmitting as of 2008 Feb 1
399.968	Oscar 23 1988-033A 19070	Modulated CW carrier	Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS): Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 149.988 MHz (known to change between this frequency and the maintenance one)
399.968	Oscar 32 1988-033B 19071	Modulated CW carrier	Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS): Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 149.988 MHz (known to change between this frequency and the maintenance one)
399.968	Oscar 25 1988-074A 19419	Modulated CW carrier	Ionospheric modelling for US military (NIMS): Operational frequency - Coherent transmission at 149.988 MHz (known to change between this frequency and the maintenance one)
400.000	Nadezhda	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Navigation - plus Search and Rescue monitoring: Coherent transmission at 150.000 MHz - no longer active (see 150 MHz note)
400.000	Tsikada	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Navigation - plus Search and Rescue monitoring: Coherent transmission at 150.000 MHz - no longer active (see 150 MHz note)
400.032	Unknown	'Wandering' CW	Unidentified satellite: Satellite in GEO, possibly graveyard orbit, also transmits 150.012 MHz
400.032	Geosat 1985-021A 15595	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Oceanography - wave height measurement: Detected being switched on and off over Europe, not continuously active. Sometime around 2007, transmissions ceased to be detected but Geosat was subsequently determined to be transmitting continuously while in sunlight. Coherent transmission at 150.012 MHz
400.032	RADCAL 1993-041A 22698	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Radar calibration: Radar Calibration satellite - Coherent transmission at 150.012 MHz, operation is intermittent
400.032	GFO 1998-007A 25157	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Oceanography - wave height measurement: Geosat Follow On - Coherent transmission at 150.012 MHz and also transmittedat 2207.5 MHz. Ceased to transmit 2008 November.
400.032	ARGOS 1999-008A 25634	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	USAF space experiments: Coherent transmission at 150.012 MHz - Ceased to transmit 2003
400.032	USA 147 1999-067A 25991	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Military meteorological satellite: Defense Meteorological Satellite Program - also transmits at 2207.535 MHz, 2237.5 MHz, and 150.012 MHz - Post-launch testing revealed interference with other equipment from the 150/400 MHz transmitters so they remained inactive (apart from further testing) until 2006 Aug 14 .
400.032	Picosat 9 2001-043B 26930	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	USAF Space Test Program (STEP): Detected being switched on and off over Europe, not continuously active - Coherent transmission at 150.012 MHz - Ceased to transmit late-2004
400.032	Formosat 3A 2006-011A 29047	CW	Atmospheric studies: Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
400.032	Formosat 3B 2006-011B 29048	CW	Atmospheric studies: Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
400.032	Formosat 3C 2006-011C 29049	CW	Atmospheric studies: Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 1066.752 MHz, during 2007 December, Formosat 3C appeared to be about 5 kHz lower than the nominal frequency - the other frequencies may be shifted pro-rata
400.032	Formosat 3D 2006-011D 29050	CW	Atmospheric studies: Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
400.032	Formosat 3E 2006-011E 29051	CW	Atmospheric studies: Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
400.032	Formosat 3F 2006 29052	CW	Atmospheric studies: Switched on when observation required, European observations usually 08:00-17:00 UTC Mon-Fri, also transmits 150.012 MHz and 1066.752 MHz
400.080	Cosmos 2361 1998-076A 25590	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Positional signal transmissions and store/forward comms: Non operational but still transmitting 2000 December 13 - Coherent transmission at 150.030 MHz
400.800	Cosmos 2373 2000-058A 26552	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Photographic mapping: Coherent transmission at 150.300 MHz - Cameras and film recovered after mission running between 2000 September 29 and 2000 November 14 - no longer active
400.800	Cosmos 2415 2005-034A 28841	CW - Doppler tracking beacon	Photographic reconnaissance: Coherent transmission at 150.300 MHz - Cameras and film recovered after mission running between 2005 September 2 and 2005 October 14? - no longer active