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United Kingdom · Licence exam

Satellite ham radio and the ISS

Amateur satellites, and the amateur station on the International Space Station, use the amateur bands, so even a Foundation licence covers the main satellite frequencies. The UK band plan keeps 145.800 MHz for space communications such as the ISS from space to Earth, and 145.200 MHz from Earth to space. Satellite ham radio works only while the satellite is above the horizon for both stations.

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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

ISS and satellite frequencies in the UK band plan

FrequencyUse
29.300-29.510 MHzSatellite links
144.000-144.025 MHzAll modes, including satellite downlinks
145.200 MHzSpace communications, for example the ISS, Earth to space
145.800 MHzSpace communications, for example the ISS, space to Earth
145.806-146.000 MHzSatellites only, all modes
435-436 MHzSatellites only
436-438 MHzSatellites and experimental DATV and data
1260-1270 MHzEarth-to-space uplinks only

Emergency groups that use 145.200 MHz are asked to avoid interfering with the ISS outside emergencies.

RSGB band plan 2026 ↗Every UK ham radio band →

How does a satellite ham radio contact work?

  • Amateur satellites orbit more than 250 km up, and most move across the sky, so each one is usable only during a pass.
  • Both you and the station you’re talking to must have the satellite above your horizon.
  • The uplink and downlink are usually in different bands. Amateur organisations publish the details for each satellite.
  • The satellite’s movement shifts the frequency you hear, called Doppler shift, so you retune as it passes.
  • Best practice is to hear your own signal on the downlink while you transmit on the uplink.
  • Satellites run on solar panels, so use only the uplink power you need. Too much wastes their limited power.
RSGB: Exam specifications (syllabus v1.6b) ↗

Which licence can use satellites?

All three. Schedule 1 gives the amateur satellite service a status on many bands. For Foundation, that includes 144-146 MHz as a primary user and 435-438 MHz as a secondary user, at up to 25 W. Intermediate and Full add bands such as 1260-1270 MHz for uplinks.

Don’t use satellite frequencies for ordinary contacts on the ground. And satellite control signals are the one place the licence allows encryption.

What each licence allows →
Sources: RSGB and 5 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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