How to Log Satellite Contacts on QRZ

Logging satellite QSOs can feel confusing when you’re dealing with different uplink and downlink frequencies, especially on linear birds. The good news is that QRZ makes the process much simpler than most operators realise. The key is understanding which frequency actually matters when you enter a satellite contact.
QRZ assigns every QSO to a band based on your uplink — the frequency you transmit on. It does not use the downlink or receive frequency to categorise the contact. That means as long as your uplink is correct, QRZ will place the QSO in the right band automatically, even if you leave the downlink field blank.
For example, if you’re working RS‑44 and transmitting on 2 metres while receiving on 70 centimetres, QRZ will log the contact as a 2m QSO. The downlink doesn’t influence the band assignment at all. This is especially helpful for portable operators or anyone logging manually, because you don’t need to enter both sides of the frequency pair.
There’s one important detail that makes your logbook cleaner and more consistent: When logging a satellite QSO, you should enter the centre frequency of the transponder or satellite. This keeps your logs tidy and avoids confusion caused by Doppler shift or tuning across the passband. For example:
• RS‑44 centre frequency: 145.965 MHz
• ISS crossband repeater centre frequency: 145.990 MHz
By logging the centre frequency of the uplink, you give QRZ exactly what it needs. It doesn’t matter where in the passband you actually transmitted — QRZ only cares about the band, and the centre frequency is the cleanest, most standardised way to represent that. This approach also keeps your statistics accurate. You won’t end up with satellite QSOs scattered across odd frequencies or mis‑categorised because of downlink entries. Everything stays consistent, and your satellite contacts appear exactly where they should. Below is the video where I walk through this process step‑by‑step and show exactly how QRZ handles satellite logs. If you’re new to satellite operating or just want to make sure your logbook is accurate, it’s well worth a watch.

How to log satellite contacts on QRZ


Logging satellite contacts doesn’t need to be complicated. Enter the uplink centre frequency, ignore the downlink, and QRZ will take care of the rest.

Installing the Decodium3 Update for FT2 — Avoiding the Shortcut Trap

The arrival of the Decodium3 update has sparked real excitement across the digital‑mode community, and with good reason. This release introduces FT2, the fastest amateur radio digital mode available today, offering dramatically quicker contacts for operators who rely on weak‑signal communication. But as with any major update, the installation process has a few quirks that can catch people out. The video in this article walks through the correct procedure step‑by‑step, and it’s worth laying out the essentials here for anyone upgrading to FT2 for the first time.

The Decodium3 package is distributed as a compressed archive rather than a traditional installer. That means the first and most important step is to fully extract the contents of the download. Nothing should be run directly from inside the ZIP file. Instead, the entire folder must be unpacked into your existing WSJT‑X installation directory. Decodium isn’t a standalone application; it’s a modified build of WSJT‑X, and it relies on being placed inside the correct folder structure so it can access the expected libraries and configuration files.

Once extracted, the updated executable sits inside the WSJT‑X folder alongside the standard program files. Launching this executable is what activates the new FT2 mode. When opened correctly, operators will immediately see FT2 listed among the available modes, and the waterfall will behave as expected for the higher‑speed signalling. However, a surprising number of operators are running into the same issue: they’re still launching WSJT‑X from their old desktop or Start‑menu shortcuts. Those shortcuts point to the original WSJT‑X executable — not the Decodium‑enhanced version. As a result, they open the outdated build, find no FT2 option, and assume the installation has failed.

The solution is simple but essential. Delete or update any existing shortcuts and create a new one that points directly to the Decodium3‑enhanced executable inside the WSJT‑X folder or launch the application from the WSTJ-X folder. Only by launching from the extracted Decodium files will the updated build — and FT2 — actually load.

Click to see how to extract and run the Decodium3 / FT2 Update


FT2 represents a major leap forward for digital‑mode enthusiasts, but unlocking it depends on following the installation steps precisely. Extract the files into the correct directory, launch the correct executable, and you’ll be ready to take advantage of the fastest digital mode amateur radio has seen yet.