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Product overview

VHF products

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UHF products

Possible transceivers and transmitters

These are the transceivers found to use in small satellites for VHF and UHF communications.

Lithium-1	BBUHF	VUTRX	NanoCom AX100	NanoCom SDR	TRXUV¹	TRXUV²	UHF Digital Radio SatCOM UHF	TRX-U Satellite UHF Transceiver

More information can be found in the following table:

Component	Company	Type	Cost	Power consumption	Size (mm3)	Weight (g)	RF output (dBm)	Frequency range (MHz)	Modulation	Data rate	TRL	Source
Lithium-1	Astronautical Development LLC	TxRx	5,000$	RX: 0.2 W TX: 10 W	32 x 62	50	250 mW – 4 W	130 – 450	FSK/GMSK	9.6 kbps (38.4, 76.8 license)	9*	http://www.astrodev.com/public_html2/downloads/datasheet/LithiumUserManual.pdf
BBUHF	BitBeam, Inc.	TxRx	2,900$	-	46.5 x 50.8	-	2.6 W	398 – 452	-	-	8*	http://www.spaceflight.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/BitBeam-Price-List.pdf
VUTRX	Clyde Space Ltd.	TxRx (UHF, VHF)	8600$	Tx: 4-10 W Rx: 0.25 W	96 x 90	90	27-33	Tx: 420-450 Rx: 130-150	GMSK, AFSK	GMSK: 9.6 kbps AFSK: 1.2 kbps	9*	https://www.clyde.space/products/14-cput-vutrx
NanoCom AX100	GOMSpace ApS	TxRx	-	TX: 4-10 W Rx: 0.4-2.81 W	65 x 40 x 6.5	24.5	24-30	UHF: 430-440 UHF-L: 395-405 VHF: 140-150	FSK, MSK, GFSK, GMSK	0.1- 115.2 kbps	8*	https://gomspace.com/UserFiles/Subsystems/datasheet/gs-ds-nanocom-ax100-33.pdf
NanoCom SDR	GOMSpace ApS	TxRx	30,000$	3 W (iddle)	65.0 x 40.0 x 14.8	100	-	70-6000	SDR	-	7*	https://gomspace.com/UserFiles/Subsystems/datasheet/gs-ds-nanocom-tr600-13.pdf
TRXUV¹	ISIS B.V.	TxRx (VHF, UHF)	€ 8,500	0.2 W (Rx only) 1.7 W (Tx on)	90 x 96 x 15	85	23	TX: 145.8 – 146 RX: 435 - 438	TX: BPSK RX: AFSK	Down: 1.2-9.6 kbps Up: 1.2 kbps	9*	https://www.isispace.nl/brochures/ISIS_TRXUV_Transceiver_Brochure_v.12.5.pdf
TRXUV²	ISIS B.V.	TxRx (UHF, VHF)	€ 8,500	0.48 W (Rx only) 4 W (Tx on)	90 x 96 x 15	75	27	TX: 435 - 438 RX: 145.8 – 146	TX: BPSK, GMSK RX: AFSK, GMSK, FSK	Down: 1.2-9.6 kbps Up: 1.2-9.6 kbps	9*	https://www.isispace.nl/brochures/ISIS_TRXUV_Transceiver_Brochure_v.12.5.pdf
UHF Digital Radio SatCOM UHF	Nanoavionics	TxRx	4,500 €	"low"	95.9 x 90.2 x 10	60	33	430-440	2FSK, 2GFSK, 4FSK, 4GFSK, MSK, OOK	9.6 kbps	-	https://n-avionics.com/cubesat-components/communication-systems/cubesat-uhf-digital-radio-transceiver-satcom-uhf/
TRX-U Satellite UHF Transceiver	SpaceQuest	TxRx	-	RX: 250 mW TX: 8 W for 2 W RF Out	83 x 57 x 16	140	1 -5 W	390-450	FSK, GFSK	2.4-19.2 kbps	-	https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53fb871ce4b02e1724b07963/t/5a2ffd4c419202b4788c9941/1513094476566/SQTRXU_datasheet_20171211.pdf

Source for TRLs: https://sst-soa.arc.nasa.gov/09-communications

Possible S-band antennas for satellite

These are the antennas found to use in small satellites for VHF/UHF communications.

NanoCom ANT430	UHF BLADE P/N 6300	Deployable Antenna System for CubeSats	UHF antenna	UHF antenna

More information can be found in the following table:

	Company	Cost (€)	Frequency (MHz)	Size (mm3)	Weight (g)	Gain (dBi)	Polarisation	Half power beamwidth (º)	Source
NanoCom ANT430	GOMSpace ApS	-	400-480	98 x 98 (for 1U)	30	1.6 to -1	LHCP, RHCP	~omni	https://gomspace.com/UserFiles/Subsystems/datasheet/gs-ds-nanocom-ant430-32.pdf
UHF BLADE P/N 6300	Haigh-Farr, Inc.	-	400 – 450	147 x 46	165	2.1*	Linear Vertical	-	http://www.haigh-farr.com/datasheets/TSB6300_UHF_Blade_RevA.pdf
Deployable Antenna System for CubeSats	ISIS B.V.	4,750-5,000€	VHF, UHF	98 x 98 x 7	100	0	Linear polarization	-	https://www.isispace.nl/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/ISIS-Antenna-systems-Brochure-v1.pdf
UHF antenna	Nanoavionics	2,500 €	400-500	70 x 70 x 14	16.5	4.2?	-	~omni	https://n-avionics.com/cubesat-components/communication-systems/cubesat-uhf-antenna/
UHF antenna	EnduroSat	3,000 €	435-438	98 x 98 x 12.5	85	1	LHCP, RHCP	~80	https://endurosat-mxa7y13fkfokttd.netdna-ssl.com/modules-datasheets/UHF_Antenna_User_Manual_Rev1.3.pdf