What are the wavelengths used for satellite transceivers?

Question

Say I launch a satellite and want to communicate over it with a friend using communicators.

What wavelengths do the transceivers need to be tuned to?

and,

How would I make a satellite transceiver needed?

Links greatly appreciated!!!

Thanx!

Answer 1

The frequencies needed would be ones which travel through the ionosphere (or else they'll get bounced back to earth, without needing a satellite at all!)

You could use an metallised balloon to reflect the signals (It's passive, so no power needed for transmission. also LIGHT, so low cost. Downside, is the reflected signal is of low power). The size of the balloon will dictate the frequency of signals which can be reflected..

Think what's normally done today is to use microwave frequencies. The up-link comes in on one frequency. The useful signal(s) is then filtered out, and then retransmitted at high power on a different frequency.

Are you and you friend going to be moving around. If so the aerials (usually like parabolic reflectors) must be capable of receiving/transmit the signal from/to the area you COULD be operating in. Less of a problem for the up-link, but the power of the downward transmission will be spread over the entire area. (It'll be something to with the inverse square law, but it's unlikely to be even, lower latitudes are likely to be closer to the satellite)