Transmitting A Radio Signal To Jupiter

Given that there's no human there to receive it, how does one know whether it has arrived?

One doesn't, but I'd like to make every effort so that it is reasonable to think that it did.

I'll have two astronomy students do the antennae positioning, which we will probably put on a large, movable frame, so all I need is a powerful enough signal.

If you "Assume" there is no one there to receive it, then a 1W transmitter on a set of rabbit ears.

Or, rip apart some old microwave ovens for the transmitter (that I just forgot its name) that creates the microwaves, connect to a feed horn and a dish antenna, maybe a few of them, modulate the signal and aim at your target.

*WARNING* may be unsafe to play with those devices

for transmishion you must now power of transmitter power of signal to receave distance and frequancy

If you do a Google search for

erp moonbounce "path loss"

You will get an idea of the power and antenna gain you need to get to Jupiter. It doesn't take a lot to get there but it does take a lot to reflect off the planet. Don't use 21 MHz as Jupiter makes it own noise there.

The higher the frequency the smaller then antenna and the easer it is to get more gain from antennas. But the higher the frequency the more expensive the amplifiers feed lines etc. Frequences of 450 or 900 MHz have affordable equipment availible.

I would try for at least 10,000 ERP and 50,000 wold be better. Effective Radiated Power is the power out of the radio plus the gain of the antennas less any losses. A 50 watt radio into a 32 db gain antenna puts out 79,000 watts ERP Thats not hard to do.

Old cell pone parts moved to the 900 MHz ham bad would be my choice. I did mention that someone needs an amateur radio ticket in the deal.

I fail to see the point unless you expect the radio waves to case some action on Jupiter. If you don't buy a case off beer and go out on dark night with a dog or two a bay at Jupiter. It will have the same effect in the tombs of history.

73

Gordon W5RED

How much ERP would be optimal to just send a strong signal that doesn't get lost in the background, but with no need to receive a reflected signal? Thanks

How much of Jupiter to you want to light up? All of it, a small part or that quadrant of the galaxy.

One can only assume if you send a signal you anticipate someone or something is there to receive it. If they are receiving it be they human or something else they are very unlikely to notice the signal no matter how strong unless the listen for it as you could use anything from 20 MHz to 10 GHz to get there.

Far be it from me to cast doubt on some one else's dreams but if you want to have any chance of success I would up up as much power as I could reasonably afford on the frequency that is most likely to get the desired results what ever they are.

The easiest way to get a signal out there is to get a Amateur Radio Operators license buy one of these http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280167519550

And build two or four Quagi antennas and get 10 or 20,000 watts ERP out on 144 MHZ. If you buy a 1,500 watt amplifier you go to 180,000 watts ERP out.

That radio is pretty bullet proof so its hard to mess up and blow the finals. Your have the choice of 4 bands 28-30 MHz, 50 MHz, 144 MHz all at 100 watts and 440 MHz at lower power You can resell it for about what it cost you when your done. The Quagi is easy to built with a wooden boom and easy to match to 50 ohm Coax.

Making one way transmissions on ham radio is no legal but calling CQ Jupiter would get funny comments but if you are calling and listing for a response you are with in the law.

73

Gordon W5RED

Sorry, but it says This listing () has been removed or is no longer available. Please make sure you entered the right item number. I doublechecked. Can you please name the model?

I want my signal to penetrate Jupiter's atmosphere a bit, only the fact that the signal is there is important.

Hi Andris,Interesting project u choose.

Dear for transmitting a radio signal to a planet first u need a high frequency ,highly directional antenna(parabolic dish).high is the frequency better is results.if u want to only send signal to jupiter then a mediam power RF transmitter is enough but as u mention u also want to receive back this signal then a high power Rf transmitter is necessary,also u need a LNA(low noise amplifier) at front stage mounted on a large diameter dish pointing towards the jupiter .

For more details plz read more about doppler radars on google it helps u in understanding this concept better.

Thank you for your reply, alas I didn't write or suggest that I intend to receive the signal back, so it's a bit simpler than that.

If the "Moon Rover" stops running shortly after you transmit, you can be pretty sure that the signal got there......then watch out for NASA, they can get uppity if something upsets their basket!!!

Maybe you should query them first?

Cougar already mentioned but you'll need to know something about allocated frequencies in the US. Here's a link to some FCC stuff. If you start infringing on some radio freq's you could get fined by the FCC!

www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.pdf

Many of these freq's require a license and <5 watts power output from your transmitter.

Thank you for the information, but I'm not from the USA.
However I intend to find out how to do it legally in my country.