Curt,
The rovers operate on UHF links to their orbiting companion which link to earth on mw frequencies to my understanding. I haven't specifically researched all of the missions so one probably can get more certain information from mission websites or from JPL, which administers most of the missions.
in 1996 Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) was launched to Mars and is an orbiter. It carries 437-MHz equipment for communicating with rovers. JPL involved hams in characterizing the 437-MHz system shortly after launch. That helped the mission folks to gather real time data on how well it would work as a planet-to-orbit link. QST had an article outlining this mission at the time.
A yahoo group called amateur-DSN is a good place to ask your questions, as this is a international group who build earth stations attempting to receive signals from space probes such as the Mars missions. Typically, they try for the orbiters that have higher gain antennas and more RF power. The rovers used off the shelf UHF radio modems which probably only output a few watts to low gain or omni antennas. However, I do recall seeing a dish on the rovers so that may indicate mw backup links that might possibly be detectable by amateur stations.
Later this year I will be looking to add 8415-MHz receiving equipment to my 16-foot dish with the object to try recovery of carrier signals from some of these probes.
73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com/raseti.htm
At 09:37 AM 1/11/2009, Curt Nixon wrote:
Just watched the Nat'l Geographic Special on the Mars Rovers--Spirit and Opportunity. Great program !!
Has anyone here been able to rcv any of the signals from them? Any attempts?
Curt KU8L _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected]. Opinions expressed are those of the author. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb