Amateur Radio
Amateur radio is one of the most important components of the MANTIS mission. Without it, communication between satellites and Earth would not be possible. Every command sent to the spacecraft, and every piece of payload and telemetry data received relies on reliable radio communications.
As part of our agreements with Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU), Dalhousie Space Systems Labs is committed to advancing amateur radio education and encouraging public participation in space communications. Through MANTIS, we aim to make satellite operations accessible to students, amateur radio operators, and anyone interested in learning more about these technologies.
Our commitments
The MANTIS project is part of the Canadian Space Agency’s CUBICS program, which provides university students with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by designing, building, testing, and operating a satellite mission.
The primary scientific objective of MANTIS is to study climate related environmental phenomena from low Earth orbit. With an initial focus on monitoring harmful algal blooms, MANTIS plans to collect scientific data to transmit back to earth.
Beyond its scientific mission, MANTIS is an educational platform. The project allows students to gain practical experience in nano satellite engineering, systems integration, software development, communications, and mission operations.
As part of this educational mission, DSS is committed to sharing knowledge, supporting the amateur radio community, and providing opportunities for the public to participate in the mission.
Telemetry Beacon
Once MANTIS reaches orbit, it will continuously transmit a digital telemetry beacon at scheduled intervals using the AX.25 packet protocol.
These beacon transmissions will contain telemetry and power data about the satellite, allowing amateur radio operators around the world to monitor the spacecraft and assist in collecting operational data.
Prior to launch, the MANTIS website will provide everything required to receive and decode the telemetry, including:
- Beacon frequencies
- Modulation information
- AX.25 packet structure
- Decoding guides
- Sample telemetry data
- Recommended software
Whether you are an experienced amateur radio operator or are receiving satellite telemetry for the first time, we aim to make participating in the mission as straightforward as possible.
Telemetry Beacon Access
Following launch, live telemetry from MANTIS will be available through this website.
This page will provide:
- Current beacon status
- Live telemetry packets
- Downloadable telemetry logs
- Decoder documentation
- Frequency information
- Mission updates
- Community reception reports
Check back as launch approaches for complete technical documentation and operating information.
Education, Tutorials, & Technical Support
Making satellite communications accessible is one of the core goals of the MANTIS project. To support students and amateur radio enthusiasts, DSS will provide a collection of educational resources designed to help users follow, receive, and understand the satellite transmissions.
Moblie ground station
To encourage participation from schools, clubs, and individual amateur radio operators, DSS will develop and publish a plan to design a portable ground station design capable of communicating with MANTIS and future CUBICS satellites.
The project will include:
- Hardware Recommendations
- Link Budget Spreadsheets
- Video Instructions
- Software Configuration Guides
- Testing Plans
- Operating Documentation
Development of this station will occur alongside the construction of the primary MANTIS ground station. Throughout the process, DSS will work closely with members of the amateur radio community, including local Amateur Radio Clubs and other experienced operators, to ensure the design remains affordable, practical, and possible to reproduce.
Our goal is to lower the barrier to entry for satellite communications and encourage more people to become involved in amateur radio.
Video Tutorials
To complement our written documentation, DSS will produce a series of online video tutorials covering topics such as:
- Getting started with amateur radio
- Tracking satellites
- Receiving and decoding data
- Building a portable ground station
- Satellite communications fundamentals
- Engineering fundamentals
- Project management and teamwork within engineering projects
These resources are intended for beginners and experienced operators alike, and will continue to grow throughout the lifetime of the project.
Live Satellite Tracking
The MANTIS website will feature live satellite tracking, allowing visitors to monitor the spacecraft’s current position in real time.
Additional resources will include:
- Pass predictions
- Ground track maps
- Communication schedules
- Operating procedures
- Instructions for tracking MANTIS using iOS and Android applications
- Documentation explaining radio communication and signal reception
These tools will help users know when MANTIS will be visible from their location and how to prepare for successful communications.
Join the MANTIS Experiment
MANTIS is more than a student satellite. It is a collaborative mission involving students, educators, amateur radio operators, and space enthusiasts from across Canada and around the world.
Whether you want to receive telemetry data, build your own ground station, contribute reception reports, or simply learn more about satellite communications, we invite you to become part of the MANTIS mission.
Together, we can inspire the next generation of engineers, scientists, and amateur radio operators while contributing to Canadian space exploration.
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