T.microsat 1

Ode to joy at 401.025MHz

T.MicroSat‑1 is a small satellite, specifically a CubeSat, meaning it does not exceed 2 kg in mass and 1 dm³ in volume. It was developed by Tron Future Tech, a Thai company that manufactures anti‑drone technology and aerospace components.

Its main objective is to test a broadband communication payload in orbit, including Ka‑band technology and a high‑speed downlink. In practical terms, this means verifying whether a small satellite weighing less than 2 kilograms can host a dual‑band radio system (UHF and Ka) capable of reliably transmitting and receiving large amounts of data between space and Earth.

To achieve this, the satellite uses two transceivers for telemetry and telecommand (TT&C): one in UHF and one in S‑band. The mission control team can send commands and receive telemetry on both bands.

It is classified for amateur‑radio use with NORAD ID 98515. The launch took place on November 19, 2025. This is the company’s first CubeSat project, and the mission is part of the Taiwan Space Agency (TASA) program supporting the development of domestic CubeSats.

Of particular interest to amateur‑radio operators is the fact that its telemetry can be demodulated using dedicated software (High speed sound modem by UZ7HO and GetKISS+ by DK3WN), and that its characteristic periodic beacon, transmitted only in UHF on 401.025 MHz, does not use the usual Morse‑code identifier. Instead, it consists of the first few notes of Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy” the fourth and final movement of his Ninth Symphony, making the signal easy to recognize.

Reception from Italy is not particulary difficult; it’s possible even with omnidirectional vertical antennas on the roof. With handheld receivers or transceivers, the stock antenna is a bit too weak, so it’s better to use higher‑performance handheld antennas or build your own satellite antennas.
It should not be confused with another microsatellite with a very similar name: the old American-made Microsat1 was put into orbit in 1991, but has been out of service for some time.

Reference sites and sources:

https://db.satnogs.org/satellite-reviewed-suggestions/9905
https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/CubeSat