Anyone can explain me what is exacly the ISS packet activity?

[Luis_C]

Hello, yesterday I had the joy to see and hear the ISS. I picked up activity in 145.80 Mhz, it was packages, and I was really excited because I was in a roof, simply with the stock rubber dock antenna of my Pro-95! Just wondering if someone knows what kind of information is sent. Curiosity.

Thanks

 

[ka3jjz]

Luis, basically the Kenwood radio the Station has is sending out packets that say that the mailbox is up and is looking for folks to connect to it. Hams can connect to the mailbox - which stores messages - and at times, leave short message for the astronauts. It's something of a challenge to connect to the station and once done, you can get a QSL for it.

It's unlikely the astronauts will respond to the messages, however, it's been known to happen that on another pass, if they recognize a ham's callsign from one they saw in the mailbox, that they'll mention it during the voice contact with the ham.

73s Mike

 

[Luis_C]

Thank you.