jesiandabe
Member
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2006
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- 64
What do I need to listen to the ISS? And also what frequency do they work on?
Iss
- Thread starter jesiandabe
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ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
When they're active - and from the last reports, the astronauts are going to be very busy as the Station enters a heavy construction phase, so don't hold your breath (amateur radio is a secondary mission) - if you are in the US, 145.8 is the place to listen, and the most likely time to hear them with informal contacts - apart from the various school events - is on the weekends or on holidays, when NASA sometimes schedules time off.
Unfortunately I understand that the ham equipment on the Station is in need of some attention, so that might cut down the chances of hearing them even more.
If you have a scanner with an antenna fed with the right type coax, then you have most of what you need. This is one time that a good 2 meter preamp is something some folks will use to boost the signal. With this arrangement you need to get a nice high pass - something nearly overhead would be ideal. There are many websites where you can get a plot (and in some cases a projection) of where the ISS is and will be. Our Satcom wiki has a few of these links, such as the popular Heavens Above website. A link for the ARISS (Ameteur Radio on the International Space Station) program is also there, among many others. Also check out MT's Monitoring NASA page - note that this is a PDF file which you will need Adobe Acrobat to read. To hear their other freqs they use requires gear probably beyond the reach of the common hobby equipment.
And if you get your Tech ticket, once the astronauts get the ham station fully back online, you can talk to them yourself - if you can catch them, hi
73s Mike
[edit] I just checked the most recent AMSAT ARISS page - it seems the astronauts have done some repair work to the station - the only thing still down is the crossband 2/440 repeater function on the Kenwood.
Unfortunately I understand that the ham equipment on the Station is in need of some attention, so that might cut down the chances of hearing them even more.
If you have a scanner with an antenna fed with the right type coax, then you have most of what you need. This is one time that a good 2 meter preamp is something some folks will use to boost the signal. With this arrangement you need to get a nice high pass - something nearly overhead would be ideal. There are many websites where you can get a plot (and in some cases a projection) of where the ISS is and will be. Our Satcom wiki has a few of these links, such as the popular Heavens Above website. A link for the ARISS (Ameteur Radio on the International Space Station) program is also there, among many others. Also check out MT's Monitoring NASA page - note that this is a PDF file which you will need Adobe Acrobat to read. To hear their other freqs they use requires gear probably beyond the reach of the common hobby equipment.
And if you get your Tech ticket, once the astronauts get the ham station fully back online, you can talk to them yourself - if you can catch them, hi
73s Mike
[edit] I just checked the most recent AMSAT ARISS page - it seems the astronauts have done some repair work to the station - the only thing still down is the crossband 2/440 repeater function on the Kenwood.
Last edited:
jesiandabe
Member
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2006
- Messages
- 64
145.8 is that am?
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
Huh??? No, that's FM - it's inside the 2 meter ham band 73s Mike
jesiandabe
Member
- Joined
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- 64
Ok thanks
Bill_White
Member
This should get you started:::
International Space Station Reference
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/reference/radio/
ISS Fan Club
http://www.issfanclub.com/
How to Work the Packet Robot on the Shuttle
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/articles/houston-net/shuttle.html
UISS (FREE packet software)
http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/uiss.htm
Orbitron (FREE Satellite tracking Software)
http://www.stoff.pl/
Space Station hamradio info site
http://pd0rkc.ontwikkel.nl/
Amateur Radio Stations heard via ISS
http://www.ariss.net/
Operational OSCAR Satellite Status Summary
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php
Good Luck
Bill
International Space Station Reference
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/reference/radio/
ISS Fan Club
http://www.issfanclub.com/
How to Work the Packet Robot on the Shuttle
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/articles/houston-net/shuttle.html
UISS (FREE packet software)
http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/uiss.htm
Orbitron (FREE Satellite tracking Software)
http://www.stoff.pl/
Space Station hamradio info site
http://pd0rkc.ontwikkel.nl/
Amateur Radio Stations heard via ISS
http://www.ariss.net/
Operational OSCAR Satellite Status Summary
http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php
Good Luck
Bill
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
Bill there hasn't been a station on the Shuttle in many years; and that ISS link to NASA also looks like it hasn't been updated lately - those other links look good (I think we already have the ISS fan club and Oribitron links); please add them to our Satcom Wiki Thanks es 73s Mike
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chgomonitor
Silent Key
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/realdata/sightings/cities/skywatch.cgi?country=United+States
On a decent near overhead pass when the downlink on 145.800 is running they almost pin the signal strength meter on my dual band ham HT - an old Standard 528a. I've heard them indoors with a handheld scanner and the stock rubber duck antenna, too. Usually packet but I've caught voice transmissions a half dozen times. Very easy to hear once you know when to listen. Thrilling to hear the downlink as you watch them go sailing overhead in the evening or dawn skies. Haven't heard the Russians on 143.625 network for a long time.
On a decent near overhead pass when the downlink on 145.800 is running they almost pin the signal strength meter on my dual band ham HT - an old Standard 528a. I've heard them indoors with a handheld scanner and the stock rubber duck antenna, too. Usually packet but I've caught voice transmissions a half dozen times. Very easy to hear once you know when to listen. Thrilling to hear the downlink as you watch them go sailing overhead in the evening or dawn skies. Haven't heard the Russians on 143.625 network for a long time.
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
I think that freq has long been abandoned due to terrestrial interference issues. It's been a while since I talked with Ron Parise WA4SIR, but I know he had mentioned a while back that the frequency was badly clobbered at times with Tijuana taxis running 2 meter linears, paging and other junk. 73s Mike
Bill_White
Member
Mike
I would not be offended if you wanted to add those to the Satcom Wiki
This just in via the RADIOCOMM LIST, Radio Comm Report list::
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi
<PASTE>
** An update message regarding the radio package on ISS **
Some short term reconfigurations to the Kenwood radio were attempted
today with limited success. The preset channels that are used for many
of the day to day operations are still inaccessible. The good news is
that a few of the more commonly used configurations were able to be
stored in the radio. One of the modes that was able to be partially
restored was the packet system but the operations will be on 145.825
simplex. General voice communication as well as configurations to
support school contacts were also saved.
A full restore of the radio is still required to return full
functionality of the radio system and that process will require access
to a computer system and certification of the required software. This
request is being worked but will take a significant amount of time to
get all parties involved satisfied before the actual restoration can occur.
In the mean time, enjoy the packet operations when the crew is
unavailable and keep listening just in case one of the ISS crew decide
to give out a "CQ" over your part of the world.
73,
Kenneth - N5VHO
--
73 de Dave - VA3DBJ
Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada (FN03pw)
</PASTE>
I would not be offended if you wanted to add those to the Satcom Wiki
This just in via the RADIOCOMM LIST, Radio Comm Report list::
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi
<PASTE>
** An update message regarding the radio package on ISS **
Some short term reconfigurations to the Kenwood radio were attempted
today with limited success. The preset channels that are used for many
of the day to day operations are still inaccessible. The good news is
that a few of the more commonly used configurations were able to be
stored in the radio. One of the modes that was able to be partially
restored was the packet system but the operations will be on 145.825
simplex. General voice communication as well as configurations to
support school contacts were also saved.
A full restore of the radio is still required to return full
functionality of the radio system and that process will require access
to a computer system and certification of the required software. This
request is being worked but will take a significant amount of time to
get all parties involved satisfied before the actual restoration can occur.
In the mean time, enjoy the packet operations when the crew is
unavailable and keep listening just in case one of the ISS crew decide
to give out a "CQ" over your part of the world.
73,
Kenneth - N5VHO
--
73 de Dave - VA3DBJ
Bowmanville, Ontario, Canada (FN03pw)
</PASTE>
ka3jjz
Wiki Admin Emeritus
Ken you can do this yourself. In fact, it would be far and away better to put a link on the article where this news item was found; that way when it becomes updated, no work needs to be done.
As I have mentioned on many occasions, all you need do is register (free) and download the quick editing guide that's linked on the main page (article in wiki speak) to learn a little about wiki markup language.
In fact there's a change coming down the pike for version 3.0 that will tie your registration here with the wiki. That's discussed in the admin forum.
73s Mike
As I have mentioned on many occasions, all you need do is register (free) and download the quick editing guide that's linked on the main page (article in wiki speak) to learn a little about wiki markup language.
In fact there's a change coming down the pike for version 3.0 that will tie your registration here with the wiki. That's discussed in the admin forum.
73s Mike
Bill_White
Member
Hey Mike
I'm Bill...
Ken or Dave sent the message to the mailing list, I wanted to give them credit..
See location of </PASTE>
The link I gave is the main page to the Aus-City Forums mailing lists:
http://www.aus-city.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php
When and if it is updated it will be mailed to the list, it is now in the archives:
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/RADIOCOMM_LIST/20070528040503/
I was just thinking some one else might enjoy these mailing lists:
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi
I'll wait for the Wiki update, so I don't have to register for yet "another" page, group, fourm...:wink:
Bill
KC2PCF
I'm Bill...
Ken or Dave sent the message to the mailing list, I wanted to give them credit..
See location of </PASTE>
The link I gave is the main page to the Aus-City Forums mailing lists:
http://www.aus-city.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php
When and if it is updated it will be mailed to the list, it is now in the archives:
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi/archive/RADIOCOMM_LIST/20070528040503/
I was just thinking some one else might enjoy these mailing lists:
http://www.aus-city.com/cgi-bin/dada/mail.cgi
I'll wait for the Wiki update, so I don't have to register for yet "another" page, group, fourm...:wink:
Bill
KC2PCF
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