Video: AMSAT SA (Click on image to view video.)
Have you ever imagined bouncing your signal off a shooting star? As radio amateurs, we don’t have to rely on satellites or repeaters to reach distant stations—sometimes, the natural phenomenon of meteors blazing through our atmosphere gives us the perfect reflector. This fascinating technique is called meteor scatter communication.
The AMSAT SA and SARL Meteor Scatter Communication webinar recording is now available on YouTube by clicking HERE. The webinar was presented by AMSAT SA and the SARL to promote interest and participation in Meteor Scatter Communication. The presenter was Derek Gravett ZS5Y with guest participation of Frank Schneider ZS6GE. In the presentation, Derek Gravett, ZS5Y, explains how meteor scatter works, why MSK144 has become the preferred mode for modern radio amateurs, and the practical setup you need to start making your own “cosmic” contacts. Just imagine bouncing your signal off a shooting star. As radio amateurs, we don’t have to rely on satellites or repeaters to reach distant stations, sometimes, the natural phenomenon of meteors blazing through our atmosphere provides perfect reflection. This fascinating technique is known as meteor scatter communication.
MSK144 is part of the WSJT-X suite, developed by Nobel laureate Joe Taylor, K1JT. It uses fast, efficient minimum-shift keying to capture those fleeting bursts of reflected signals from meteor trails bursts that may last only fractions of a second. With this mode, VHF and UHF operators can achieve contacts of 500 to 2 000 kilometres or more, even when the bands seem completely dead.
- AMSAT SA & SARL
