Satellite Emitters monitored in the 136 to 138 MHz Band at Melbourne, Australia.

Version: 1 October 2024    Added WREN-1 OWL
                          
Name
Catalog
Number
COSPAR
ID
Frequency
MHz
Modulation
Notes
TRANSIT
965
1964-83D
136.653
FM/PM
Note 1. Decoder paper
SOLRAD 7B
1291
1965-16D
136.80
FM/AM
Note 2.
ALOUETTE 2
1804
1965-98A
136.98
Carrier only
Note 18
ERS 15 2411
1966-77B
136.44
Carrier only
Note 4 
ERS 20
2768
1967-40D
136.26
PM
910 Hz, 4 sec period Note 5
ISIS 1
3669
1969-9A
136.41
Carrier only

S69-4
4237
1969-82E
137.41
Carrier only
Note 8
TIMATION II
4256
1969-82B
137.383
FM/AM
Note 6.
SHINSEI
5485
1971-80A
136.695
Carrier only
Daylight only
NOSS
5680
1971-110C
137.08
Carrier only
Note 9.
ECS 4
18351
1987-78B
137.139
PCM/FSK/PM
Note 15
ECS 5
19331
1988-63B
137.142
PCM/FSK/PM Note 15
OXP-1
22491
1993-09C
137.05
PCM/PSK
Note 19
ORBCOMM
various
various
137.2000
137.2250
137.2500
137.2875
137.3150
137.4400
137.4600
137.5600
137.6625
137.6875
137.7125
137.7375
137.8000
SDPSK
SDPSK
SDPSK
SDPSK
SDPSK
SDPSK
SDPSK
OQPSK
SDPSK
SDPSK
SDPSK
SDPSK
SDPSK
FM-06 intermittant operation

FM-107, FM-109
FM-110, FM-114, FM-118
FM-107, FM-109 intermittant operation

FM-108, FM-117 4800 bps PCM Subscriber Communicator downlink. Note 12
Spacecraft to GES downlink. 57.6 kbps, 16 slot TDMA,  Note 12a
FM-112, FM-113, FM-116
FM-04 intermittant operation
FM-18 and FM-23 intermittant operation, FM-108, FM-117
FM-32 intermittant operation, FM-110, FM-114, FM-118
FM-112, FM-113, FM-116
NOAA 15
25338
1998-30A
137.35
137.62
PCM/PM
AM/FM
DSB Note 10
APT Note 11
NOAA 18
28654
2005-18A
137.35
137.9125
PCM/PM
AM/FM
DSB
APT 
NOAA 19
33591
2009-05A
137.77
137.10
PCM/PM
AM/FM
DSB
APT
SpaceBEE-167 and 168 to 179
numerous
numerous
137.050
137.250
137.845
137.975
SS-FM LoRa
SpaceBEE Telemetry updated paper Note 20

SB-167,168, 169,170,171,173, 174,175,176,178
SB-172,177,179
Starlink
numerous numerous
137.055
SS-FM LoRa Starlink Gen2 VHF beacon updated paper. Note 21
Meteor-M N2-3 57166 2023-91A 137.9 OQPSK LRPT 72 ksps. Note 22
Platform-5 OWL
58339
2023-174CM
137.10
LoRa
CR: 5, SF: 10, BW: 125 kHz. Note 24
Meteor-M N2-4
59051
2024-39A
137.9
OQPSK
LRPT 72 ksps. Note 23  Check Status here
SVOM
60089
2024-116B
137.77
4CPFSK
VHF Gamma-ray Detection Alert Broadcast. Note 25
WREN-1 OWL
60478
2024-149L
137.925
LoRa
CR: 5, SF: 10, BW: 125 kHz. Note 26
VLD2
-
-
136.975
D8PSK
Non satellite emitter in area. ICAO VHF Data Link Mode 2

Two Line Elements (TLE) from Space-Track (USAF site) and Celestrak - Dr T. S. Kelso's NORAD format TLE site.
Name, Catalog number and COSPAR ID in bold have different names and numbers in catalog.
Errors and Omissions are mine. Email corrections or suggestions.

Notes:

1
Launched on 13 Dec 1964 as the second operational TRANSIT spacecraft,  it should be more correctly called OSCAR -2, O-2 or NSS 30020. Unfortunately, the navigation system failed within 2 weeks of launch. The telemetry beacon can be CW or modulated depending on solar lighting conditions. The PAM data is 35 steps with a repeat cycle of about 12.5 seconds. Each step has a duty cycle of about 75% data value and 25% return to centre frequency value. These steps vary a 5400 Hz centre frequency sub carrier oscillator, IRIG 10, that then frequency modulates the RF carrier. Another SCO at 10.5 kHz, IRIG 12,  is sometimes present. It has a pattern of five pulses with gaps, followed by a longer gap at about a 1.5 Hz rate. A SSB receiver will resolve, separately, the carrier as a single tone and each of the sidebands as "musical" tones.
Transit decoded paper
2
The telemetry is a multiplex of six IRIG-106 7.5% bandwidth sub carrier oscillators, linearly added and amplitude modulate the RF carrier. IRIG 3 (730 Hz centre frequency) and IRIG 4 (960 Hz cf) vary in step over 3.6 second with 8 periods of 450 millisecond each. IRIG 5 (1300 Hz cf), IRIG 6 (1700 Hz cf) and IRIG 7 (2300 Hz cf) are all fixed at their lower deviation limit of 1202 Hz, 1572 Hz and 2127 Hz respectively. IRIG 8 (3000 Hz) drifts from the the lower limit, 2775 Hz, to the upper limit, 3225 Hz, over time.
4
Called SECOR 7 by Space-Track. The telemetry is random levels of about 8 seconds duration each, on a 1300 Hz centre frequency SCO that amplitude modulates the RF carrier. The RF exhibits short term frequency instability.
4a
Called ERS-15 by Space-Track. Geodetic SECOR Satellite, RH Nichols, June 1974. ADA002625
5
ERS-20 aka  OV5-3, sounds like a "moan". OV5 series.
Unstable carrier (± 100 Hz), amplitude modulated with 910 Hz tone with approx. 4.6 second period.
It can be heard about an hour earlier every 2 days for up to 12 hours over a 3 to 4 week period with a repeat cycle of about 7 weeks.
An updated TLE was derived by Greg Roberts and Mike McCants in September 2007 
6
Called OPS 7613 P/L 1 by Space-Track. Telemetry is PAM/FM/AM. 4 SCOs (Ch 4 960 Hz,Ch 6 1700 Hz, Ch 7 2300 Hz and  Ch 8 3000 Hz centre frequencies). PAM is 30 levels plus a min and max calibration/sync pulses over 4 secs. Ch 4 floating, Ch 6 & 7 are repeating patterns, Ch 8 is a 4 Hz clock.
8
POPPY program declassified 12 Sept 2005 by NRO. Preliminarily called POPPY-6B, also known as OPS 7613 P/L 4 or NRL PL162.
Historically but incorrectly called S69-4. See NRL Secret Satellites
9
POPPY program declassified 12 sept 2005 by NRO. Preliminarily called POPPY-7B. also known as OPS 7898 P/L 2, previously thought to be US Navy Ocean Surveillance System (NOSS), Sub-Satellite  Unit C (SSU-C). See NRL Secret Satellites
10
DSB - Direct Sounder Broadcast - 8320 bps TIROS Information Processor (TIP) data, Bi-phase-level encoded (Manchester), ±67° PM modulation, 1W, RHCP.
104, 8-bit words/minor frame. 20 bit sync code (EDE20 hex) + 4 bit S/C ID.
11
APT - Automatic Picture Transmission - 120 line/min Visible and Infrared video (1600 Hz BW) amplitude modulates a 2400 Hz carrier that then frequency modulates the 5W RF carrier, deviation is ±17 kHz. RHCP, ˝ turn, ˝ wavelength resonant quadrifilar antenna (boom deployed VRA on TIROS-N series spacecraft)
12
ORBCOMM spacecraft are frequency agile and may, can and do vary their downlink frequency on a orbit by orbit basis. (TLEs)
59 spacecraft  have been launched. These are
Flight Model 1 to 28, 30 to 36 (now called OG1 models) of which only FM 4, 6 and 32 are still active intermittantly.
FM 29 was Concept Demonstration Satellite 3 and FM 37 to FM 41 were Quick Launch 1 to 5. All have failed.
FM 101  OG2 model, launched 8 Oct 2012, decayed 10 Oct 2012
FM 103, 104, 106, 107, 109 & 111 OG2 model launched 14 July 2014 
FM 105, FM 108, FM 110, FM 112, FM 113, FM 114, FM 115, FM 116, FM 117, FM 118 & FM 119 OG2 model launched 22 December 2015.
FM 103, 104, 105  106, 111, 115 and 119 are not active.
12a
A Gateway Earth Station (NCC ID 120 (78 hex)) opened early 2007 at Rutherglen, Australia, about 250 km North of my location.
Multiple 125 msec bursts, 1 sec apart,  on 137.56 MHz. Photo  GoogleEarth Placemark
15
ECS-4 (EUTELSAT 1F4) re-orbited above geostationary orbit December 2002 and drifting westward at approximately 5° per day.
ECS-4 Telemetry is 160 bps NRZ TDM PCM data, Bi-Phase-Level coded, BPSK on 2560 Hz subcarrier, PM on 137.14 MHz at 8 Watts.
ECS-5 (EUTELSAT 1F5) re-orbited above geostationary orbit May 2000 and drifting westward at approximately 7.5° per day,
ECS-5 Telemetry is 160 bps NRZ TDM PCM data, Bi-Phase-Level coded, BPSK on 2560 Hz subcarrier, PM on 137.14 MHz at 8 Watts.
16
136.770 MHz is an erratic carrier.
137.505 MHz not heard since December 2014.
18
Alouette-2 on 136.59 MHz re-discovered by Raydel of Cuba in early August 2013.
Subsequently found to be  transmitting on 136.08 and 136.98 MHz as well.
136.08 MHz was a Wideband FM system for Sounder data with two sub-carriers, 22 and 30 kHz, FM/FM, 4W, 100 kHz bandwidth,
136.59 MHz was a Narrowband PM system for Experiment Data on 4 sub-carriers,3.9, 5.4. 14.5 & 22 kHz, PAM/FM/PM, 2 W, 50 kHz bandwidth and
136.98 MHz was a 100 mW CW tracking beacon
Currently only 136.98 MHz CW is on
19
An unknown emitter on 137.05 MHz, initially reported by Raydel, has been identified by experts on the Hearsat list as OXP-1 that was launched in 1993. The search found that the closest match was for the Pegasus R/B but a comparison of RCS suggests the “correct assignments are 22491 for OXP-1 and 22489 for the Pegasus R/B stage. OXP-1 carried an experimental payload to determine global VHF frequency utilization prior to the launch of the ORBCOMM constellation satellites and measured user density, power levels and interference world-wide in the 148.00 MHz-150.05 MHz band.
1200 bps HDLC-like format. 9 sec bursts, 33 sec apart. Not active on every sunlit pass nor when in eclipse.
20
Long Range (LoRa) spread-spectrum frequency modulation. Semtech proprietary phyical layer protocol. 
Speading Factor = 7 or 8, Bandwidth = 41.7 kHz.
Implict Header used to indicate variable PacketLength (15 to 255 bytes), Code Rate (4/8) and CRC present.
21
SpaceX (Starlink spacecraft) acquired Swarm Technologies (SpacceBEE spacecraft) in 2021 and has now added VHF LoRa protocol beacons to their Starlink spacecraft to provide specialized telemetry, tracking and command functions during launch and early operations phase, orbit raising and emergency operations.
22
Meteor-M N2-3 launched 1134 UTC 27 June 2023.
Rate ˝, k = 7 Convolution coded, I = G1, Q = G2, Power I:Q = 1:1, 144 kilosymbols per second.
CCSDS Format. SCID 00, VCID 05 with 3 out of APIDs 64 to 69,  (MSU-MR channels 1 to 6)  or VCID 63, Fill
1 March 2024, LRPT on 137.90 MHz, 72 kbps OQPSK, 2 vis + IR channels, APIDs 64, 65 & 67
23
Meteor-M N2-4 launched 0521 UTC 29 February 2024
Rate ˝, k = 7 Convolution coded, I = G1, Q = G2, Power I:Q = 1:1, 144 kilosymbols per second.
CCSDS Format. SCID 00, VCID 05 with 3 out of APIDs 64 to 69,  (MSU-MR channels 1 to 6)  or VCID 63, Fill
1 Mar 2024 - LTPT on 137.10 MHz, 72 ksps, OQPSK, 3 vis IR channels, APIDs 64, 65 & 66
24
Platform-5 OWL paper
25
SVOM paper
26
WREN-1 OWL paper

Spacecraft no longer heard  but still monitored occasionally
Frequency
Last Heard
PROSPERO (1971 Paper, 1973 Paper ,1975 Paper)
137.56
Nov 2003
MEGSAT-1  2000-57B/26546  1200 bps  PCM/PM   telemetry  
137.905
Dec 2011
TIROS-N 11060 1978-98A 137.77 Dec 2015
TIROS-10 1430 1965-51A  1280 Hz.
136.232  Aug 2017
HAMSAT        28650 2005-17B
Hamsat not heard since December 2014, heard again from 19 September 2017 to Jan 2018, heard again 27 Jan 2020, 2 Feb 2020.
256 bps on ± 25.6 kHz subcarrier sidebands & ±51.2 kHz unmodulated sidebands
137.20 23 Feb 2020
EGRS 13 3891 1969-37B 136.80 Carrier only Note 3 Previously had IRIG 3 SCO, 730 Hz c.f., 16 segment, 0.67s per segment, PAM/FM/PM telemetry or just 680 Hz or CW EGRS (Electronic & Geodetic Ranging Satellite or Experimental Geodetic Research Satellite) with a SECOR (Sequential Collation of Range) transponder. 137.80
Jan 2019
Meteor-M2
Rate ˝, k = 7 Convolution coded, I = G1, Q = G2, Power I:Q = 1:1, 144 kilosymbols per second.
CCSDS Format. SCID 00, VCID 05 with 3 out of APIDs 64 to 69,  (MSU-MR channels 1 to 6)  or VCID 63, Fill
 29 September 2020, LRPT on 137.10 MHz, 72 kbps QPSK, 2 vis + 1 IR channels, APIDs 64, 65 & 68
137.90
8 Feb 2023
Meteor-M N2-2  44387  2019-38A  137.90  OQPSK  LRPT 72 kbps    Note 17a
Meteor-M2-2
Rate ˝, k = 7 Convolution coded, I = G1, Q = G2, Power I:Q = 1:1, 144 kilosymbols per second.
72 kbps mode or 80 kbps Metop LRPT mode with Unique Word (UW) Insertion
CCSDS Format. SCID 00, VCID 05 with 3 out of APIDs 64 to 69,  (MSU-MR channels 1 to 6)  or VCID 63, Fill
22  January 2020 - Limited service restored but LRPT off permanetly
137.90 18 Dec 2019
EGRS 7 2412 1966-77C 136.80 Carrier only Note 4a

NOAA 9 15427 1984-123A 136.77 Carrier only Note 16.


Introduction

In 1986, there was an article by Greg Roberts in JESAUG entitled "Satellite Transmitting Status" that listed over 40 satellites that were reportedly transmitting in the VHF band of 136 to 138 MHz.  I had for some time being receiving APT from NOAA and METEOR weather satellites and had noticed various other signals (emitters) showing up at other times. Armed with this list of satellites and by manually  logging times and frequencies, I was able to put names to some of those emitters. I then had to obtained TLEs from the NASA GSFC RAID EBB via 300 bps modem and international dial-up (not cheap !).

I have limited my observations to the 136-138 MHz band. This is due to the requirement to have a bandpass cavity filter inserted between the crossed dipole antenna and the pre-amplifier to reduce RFI and cross modulation products. My location is between a freeway and 220 kV power transmission lines, in a suburb of the second largest city in Australia. It is NOT the most ideal site to monitor 50 mW of RF from LEO !!!

Telemetry is received via a vertically mounted, 2 element crossed dipole antenna, a  triple cavity filter, a pre-amp, an AR8600 Mk2 communications receiver and a SDR-14 digital radio.
The audio is analysed with SpectraVue and Spectrogram software.

Early References:

"Radio Transmissions from Outer Space", Greg Roberts, ZS1B1, AMSAT-US Journal, March, 1980.
"Some Radio Transmission Observed in the 136-138 MHz Band between 1978 and 1984", G. Roberts, Chapter 11, Table 11.5, The Satellite Experimenter's Handbook, ARRL, 1985.
"Satellite Transmitting Status", Gregory Roberts, Journal of Environmental Satellite Amateur Users Group (JESAUG), pp.10-13, Vol 4 No 3, 86-3, 1986.
"Satellite Radio Transmissions: 136-138 MHz", Chapter 14, Table 14-10, The Satellite Experimenter's Handbook, 2nd Edition, ARRL, 1990.
"Space Frequency Listing, 136-137 MHz Downlink" and "Space Frequency Listing, 137-138 MHz Downlink" , Sven Grahn.