Getting started on the QO-100 amateur radio satellite

Getting operational on the QO-100 geostationary amateur radio satellite was originally my project for the winter of 2019/20 but the coronavirus lockdown has given me the opportunity to finish my project.
This is a description of my setup for QO-100, using a LimeSDR mini, cheap 2W 'wifi' amplifier, and POTY antenna with a 90cm dish. I also give a brief introduction to the satellite for beginners. Please be aware there are many other ways of getting QRV on the satellite - the equipment here shouldn't necessarily be your shopping list!
Correction: The 3cms downlink is at 10.489.5GHz, not 10.6GHz. Everything I say here still applies, however!
References:
M1GEO's blog post (also includes details of the Wifi amp modification): www.george-smart.co.uk/2019/0...
POTY antenna source: www.passion-radio.com/satelli...
Lime Mini SDR: limemicro.com/products/boards...
BATC WebSDR for QO-100: eshail.batc.org.uk/nb/
STL file for 3D printing the LNB holder: www.thingiverse.com/thing:407...
SDR Console: www.sdr-radio.com/console
Thanks to M1GEO, M0WUT and M0VFC for their assistance getting me started!

[@R2DMD]

Thank you Dominic. Excellent video. Plenty of useful information. Your video answered all the questions I had.

[@m1geo]

Nicely presented, Dom!
George. M1GEO.

[@neilbundle5112]

This is brilliant. Thanks Dominic. Neil G4LRV

[@KC2BKM]

Good stuff Wish i had found you sooner.

[@sgtclubba1732]

Thank you Dom, very informative.

[@cnsport9564]

great video. thank you sir

[@scadabg]

Thanks for the cool video

[@techno_one]

excellent

[@johanpaasnippen3627]

Thanks for a very informativ video

[@randyterrell2261]

Thank you very much Dominic for the nice and informative presentation. Breaks my heart we can't access it, or an equivalent sat. here in NA.

[@lioii]

Just got set up on receive in the last few days and waiting for an SG Labs 13cm transverter to be delivered in the next few weeks...

[@SteveHomer]

Great video - Hope to have a QSO on the sat soon - Thanks de EI2GYB

[@Ei2iP]

Excellent, so would you have a block diagram of what's required, and how everything is connected, in order to get setup..

[@cbnation1]

Great video. Was hoping you would demonstrate the transmit part as well. Building up the station here. Hope to be able to transmit myself soon. 73 de ON4CKM

[@vidasvv]

GREAT demonstration, TNX 4 the upload !
73 N8AUM

[@robinburke1469]

Thanks for the great video! W2RSB | F4WCM

[@la3dna]

Nice presentation, I could just like to know the minimum requirement of dish diameter. I'm living near the Arctic Circle (66° north) Norwegian coast, I already have an 120cm fiber glass offset laying around but I'm not sure if the gain will be sufficient for working the QO-100? Any suggestions are appreciated. 73's de LA3DNA Leif

[@titoaugustopu2ozk984]

Hello!
Congratulations!
Please! Make a video with the Lime Suite Gui settings.
73 from PU2OZK

[@user-gn9mk4ge2b]

not sure if the effective radiated power is really 500 watts, but nice video!

[@rammohang7787]

Thank you very much Dominic for the nice presentation. I have been using the Lime Mini SDR for over a year. It is doing a good job. I would like to know how you work CW ? Look forward hearing from you 73 VU2GRM, Ram Bangalore, India

[@mctscott123]

So why does it use such high frequencies rather than something more common like 70cm? Is it to do with penetration of the atmosphere?

[@mahargkp]

Hi...Do you build and sell these units...Great video...M1bsz.. Graham...

[@Py1axRADIOAMADORISMOSEMSTRESS]

Very nice explain tks i have LNB with PLL and 4w 2.4ghz wifi normal and have alredy dx patrol first trasverter 434mhz to tx go to this ampli i fhink to live in box in harm of my 65cm antena arm box send coaxial my rig and 12v for ampli and dx patrol rx LNB to sdr to my computer i just need to configurate my program sdr ok tks for info i will sine you channel i have channel as well mor in portugues because not much material for ham in portugueis ok 73

[@Py1axRADIOAMADORISMOSEMSTRESS]

ua-cam.com/channels/xFTZCtaVBF6pHrzYUiFNfg.html

[@davidg8hjt369]

Being rather pedantic - It is the QO-100 TRANSPONDER on the Eshail SATELLITE !!
This comment may appear to be very nit-picking but I believe being incorrect like this causes newcomers a great deal of confusion !!

[@AntexVideo]

Speaking of safety, could 2 watts of microwave radiation do any harm to the body other than heat it up a couple of fractions of a degree? In this cotext, I'm sure there's nothing to be afraid of.

[@dnas2]

Hi Anton, you're probably right but in the UK we not have to calculate compliance distances and ensure nobody can get within a certain distance of an antenna. For 2w at 13cm with a 1m dish at 1m AGL, the compliance distance is 4.3m, so we have to ensure nobody can stand within 4.3m of the dish.