The 2.4 GHz band is the future of ham radio satellites.  AO40 was the first satellite that showed the effectiveness of this frequency.   You can use small antennas and enjoy the advantages of microwave bands.   Almost all new serious project will consider S-band
one of the most important way of communication. 
Here is an overview of present and future 2.4 GHz satellites...

    OSCAR  ECHO  AO-51                                                       

In orbit   Oscar 51, commonly known as Echo is a Low Earth Orbit satellite launched by Amsat NA on June 29, 2004. It is working fine and a lot of people already made QSOs.  Various modes are possible: V/U, V/S, L/S and more...
It carries digital and analog voice FM transponders. 
[ more... ]

    SSETI  EXPRESS

Launched on October 27, 2005 SSETI Express is a Low Earth Orbit satellite designed and engineered by students from twelve European countries with ESA support.  Amsat UK contribuited to the development of communication equipments.     This satellite will carry a single channel FM U/S transponder.   [ more... ]

    PHASE-3E

Planned for 2006 Phase-3Express is an  Amsat DL project. It is considered the successor of AO-40 and will carry a lot of transponders.   A, U, L and C band uplinks will be implemented.   Downlinks will be on V, S, K and R bands. An experimental transponder will operate on S/X mode. P3E will be an HEO satellite. [ more... ]

    EAGLE

Planned for 2007  This is an Amsat NA project. Eagle will be launched in High Earth Orbit and will carry multiband linear transponder. Uplinks will be on U and L band, while downlinks will be on V and S band. Then U/V, L/V, U/S and L/S will be possible.  A digital C band transponder will probably be implemented.   [ more... ] 

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