China's First Amateur Radio Satellite: XW-1

[Satanic Mechanic]

Over the last two years I have gotten back to my hobby of amateur radio or ham radio.  I thought this would be a good topic to post here from the soldersmoke.com website.  China launched its first ham radio satellite piggy-backed on a military launch, here is a video of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6oDgUTHCwg&feature=player_embedded

I have never worked a satellite before but I have tried.  If you notice the video shows the footprint of coverage of this satellite is huge compared to other ham radio sats.  XW-1 is in HEO and you could talk coast to coast with this sat if it is in the right position.

SM

[spacecat27]

That's surprising-
considering the Chinese government's repression of info- blockage or heavy screening of Google & other net resources and such- you wouldn't think they would support amateur radio. 

[Satanic Mechanic]

That's surprising-
considering the Chinese government's repression of info- blockage or heavy screening of Google & other net resources and such- you wouldn't think they would support amateur radio. 

Ham radio in China is very regulated.  It is difficult to secure a license.
You are right about repression of signals, the Chinese use a very powerful transmitter, nicknamed "Firedrake", to over power incoming or clandestine broadcasts.  Firedrake transmitted a lot before and during the Olympics and screwed up the amateur bands with their power.  They basically play classical Chinese music over the signal, here is a link:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd8T2EdPOkQ&feature=related

[Satanic Mechanic]

I looked up how a citizen of China could become a ham.  They must be a licensed short-wave listener first, pass 25 wpm (words-per-minute) code test and pass the exam that is given once a year.

Wow, I can only do 5wpm!

SM

[Johno]

Oh, and they must be aware of the magnificence that is the Peoples' Republic of China, and be prepared to support said awesome republic in everything it does.  After all, such a country richly deserves to take its place of pre-eminence.