Page "2-meter band" Paragraph 14

The 2-meter band is also utilized in conjunction with the 70-centimeter band, or the 10 meter band and various microwave bands via orbiting amateur radio satellites.

This is known as cross band repeating.

On board software defines what mode or band is in use at any particular time and this is determined by amateurs at so-called earth stations who control or instruct the satellite behavior.

Amateurs know what mode is in use via published internet schedules.

For instance, a favorite mode is ( Mode B or V / U ).

Mode " B " or " V / U " simply indicates the uplink and downlink frequencies or bands the satellite is currently using.

In this example, V / U means VHF / UHF or VHF uplink with UHF downlink.

On some amateur radio satellites, amateurs using these modes can expect reception distances of up to around.

Most amateur satellites are Low Earth Orbit satellites, or LEO's as they are affectionately known, and generally are about 450 miles high.

However, there are a few amateur satellites that have very high elliptical orbits.

These satellites can reach altitudes of 30, 000 miles above the earth where an entire hemisphere is visible providing outstanding communications capabilities far beyond the reach of the LEO's from any two points on the earth that have line of sight of the satellite at the same time.

Or what is commonly referred to in satellite techno speak, the satellite " Footprint ".

Satellites are basically orbiting repeaters.