RF and microwave

Y9884A Starlink Uplink Detection

The YOTASYS® Y9884A is a man-portable, turnkey system for the passive detection and direction-finding of Starlink® user-terminal uplink transmissions in the Ku-band. Starlink terminals transmit high-power, dynamically allocated uplink carriers that are otherwise invisible to conventional network monitoring, making the RF uplink signature the only externally observable indicator of an active terminal.

  • Passive detection of Starlink Ku-band uplink emissions
  • Turnkey field kit – RF front end, antenna, and analysis laptop in one case
  • Anritsu MS2090A measurement core, 9 kHz to 20 GHz continuous coverage
  • Amplified Ku-band antenna, > 25 dBi gain
  • Integrated 3-axis compass and pan/tilt sensor for live bearing readout
  • IQ waveform capture, up to 100 MHz analysis bandwidth
  • GNSS-referenced position and time-stamping of detections
  • LAN or USB link between analyzer and laptop
  • Detection software pre-installed on Apple MacBook Pro
  • Single-button start/stop operation, no on-site programming
  • Man-portable, single-case deployment
  • Subject to Swiss export control (SECO)

Overview

The Y9884A packages a certified Anritsu measurement core, a dedicated Ku-band antenna with integrated orientation sensing, and ready-to-run detection software on a single laptop into one deployable case – with no integration or programming required on site.

The system is built around a field-proven Anritsu Field Master Pro™ MS2090A handheld spectrum analyzer, paired with the YOTASYS Y1184A directional Ku-band antenna. The antenna’s integrated compass and pan/tilt sensor let the Y9884A software report a live bearing to a detected terminal in addition to signal power, giving an operator an immediate line of bearing without any on-site RF engineering.

Y9884A is a complete set of receiver, antenna and laptop plus cabling and accessories.

A simple user interface

The Starlink uplink detection system is controlled through a simple graphical user interface that opens in a dedicated software for Apple MacBook PRO devices.

Screenshot of Y9884A on Apple MacBook PRO device

The display shows a map with the GPS position of the Y9884A and the beam direction of the detected Starlink user terminal, the spectrum of the signal, and a CNN classification of the signal. Operation starts and stops at the press of a button, and every Starlink detection is listed in a table for historical direction reporting.

Export control notice: the Y9884A is configured with the export-controlled IQ waveform capture option and is subject to Swiss export control legislation, administered by SECO (State Secretariat for Economic Affairs). Export, re-export, or transfer to a third country requires a valid export licence from YOTASYS. 

What makes it different

The Y9884A is supplied as a complete, matched set of receiver, antenna, laptop Apple MacBook PRO as well as component options and accessories are fixed as configured below; contact YOTASYS for alternative antenna, analyzer frequency, or computing-platform configurations.

  • Antenna system

    Special antenna for active Ku-band reception

  • Receiver MS2090A

    Anritsu Fieldmaster MS2090A with options

  • Laptop Apple MacBook PRO 16"

  • Accessoires

Specifications

Technical Specifications

Parameter Value
Receiver MS2090A
Frequency Range 9kHz to 20GHz
Antenna System Y1184A
Operation frequency 14.0 to 14.5GHz

Where it works for you

Here are some representative mission profiles in which customers have identified a requirement for independent, passive detection of unauthorized Starlink terminal activity. Each use case reflects a publicly documented or operationally assessed pattern of LEO broadband adoption by non-cooperative actors, presented here to illustrate the detection requirement rather than any specific incident.

  • Drug Trafficking Organizations
  • Human Smuggling Networks (“Coyotes”, Migrant-Smuggling Rings)
  • Weapons and Dual-Use Goods Smugglers
  • Sanctioned State and Para-State Actors
  • Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Fleets
  • Illegal Mining and Logging Operations
  • Piracy and Maritime Hijacking Groups
  • Sanctions-Evasion Shipping (“Shadow Fleet” Tankers)
  • Extremist and Insurgent Groups
  • Terrorism Planning and Attack-Reconnaissance Cells

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