Design and ground-based validation of a dual-band communication subsystem for the Istanbul 1P PocketQube satellite

Official URL: https://dx.doi.org/10.1109/BalkanCom71095.2026.11605041

PocketQube satellites offer a cost-effective platform for Internet of Things (IoT) applications, yet their extreme miniaturization poses significant antenna design challenges. This paper presents the design, simulation, and ground-based validation of a dual-band communication subsystem for the Istanbul 1P PocketQube satellite. The proposed architecture integrates a monopole antenna at 401 MHz and a dipole antenna at 868 MHz within a 5×5×5 cm3 volume. Electromagnetic simulation results of the antenna design are validated through Vector Network Analyzer measurements with the fabricated antennas, confirming excellent impedance matching. The link budget is analyzed across 38 weekly orbital passes for both bands, revealing robust telemetry communication for a 7-minute contact window at 401 MHz and up to a 4-minute effective IoT communication window at 868 MHz. The design and pre-flight validation presented herein demonstrate the feasibility of multi-band communication systems on PocketQube-class satellites for Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) IoT applications and provide a replicable methodology for future PocketQube missions.