Copy SSTV from the Space Station over the next few days

[jwt873]

If you have slow scan capablilty this should be of interest:

From: https://amsat-uk.org/2016/04/09/iss-sstv-april/

--------------------
ARISS reports that International Space Station (ISS) Slow Scan TV (SSTV) transmissions on 145.800 MHz FM may take place between April 11-15, 2016.

The schedule for the ARISS commemorative event is currently:
• Setup and activation on April 11 about 18:25 UT.
• Paused April 12 from 12:15 until 14:15 UT to allow for a school contact with Romania.
• Paused April 13 from 12:45 until 14:30 UT to allow for a school contact with Argentina.
• Deactivation on April 14 at 11:35 UT.

This opportunity should cover most of the world during the operational period.The image transmissions should be on 145.800 MHz and the mode is planned to be PD180.
------------------

There are apps for Android and iOS that let you decode the transmissions by simply holding the device's microphone near your radio speaker. (I've used the iOS version on an iPad and it works well).

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sstv/id387910013

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wolphi.sstv

 

[ka3jjz]

We have numerous SSTV apps listed in the SSTV section of

Digital Amateur Radio - The RadioReference Wiki

for Windows, Linux and Macs; MM-SSTV is very popular, but there are others that can do PD180. Check the links for more

Mike

 

[dragon48]

I have an SSTV app on my iPhone and have decoded YouTube SSTV images with mixed success, by placing the iPhone in front of the PCs speaker while playing the video.

Some of the images come in recognizable, but are crappy looking pictures. Others come in as pure colored gibberish.

For tonight's transmission that will be hitting my area, will I get better pictures with a direct connection from my radio to the PCs microphone jack? Also, do the quality of the pictures have anything to do with the quality of the reception? If I get the reception clearly, will this get me a better picture than a reception with static, or is the picture quality 100% dependent on the decoding software?

 

[ka3jjz]

When you're processing images, the quality of the signal has a very significant effect on the quality of the image, although having compatible software is just as important.

Any noise on the signal will degrade the decoded pic - usually as a blurry bar, a straight color bar with frazzles, or even a fuzzy part of the image, depending on how badly the noise impacts the decode.

The mic input really is the least desirable option for that very reason. Much better to use the soundcard to do the work

Mike

 

[dragon48]

When you're processing images, the quality of the signal has a very significant effect on the quality of the image, although having compatible software is just as important.

Any noise on the signal will degrade the decoded pic - usually as a blurry bar, a straight color bar with frazzles, or even a fuzzy part of the image, depending on how badly the noise impacts the decode.

The mic input really is the least desirable option for that very reason. Much better to use the soundcard to do the work

Mike

Ah - Pls confirm - I assume I should plug the radio directly into Mic input of the sound card.

Ty

 

[ka3jjz]

You're going to need to do a little digging - if you have a 'line in' on your PC, that's better because it's generally attenuated. A 'mic in' sometimes has a 20db boost that would overdrive the decode - it's not needed in most cases. This is particularly true about laptops. Check your System Tray for a speaker icon, right click it and select the correct device (that's Win7's setup - yours can and very well may be different). I've seen a number of laptops where this input is muted (either input can be muted), and you will need to unmute it to make this work. It's totally dependent on the firmware loaded with the soundcard at the time of assembly, and it's next to impossible to be specific, as there are numerous variations.

Double clicking on the speaker icon should bring up the mixer menu, and that will show you which mixer settings are available.

There are some general things you can do - the pix on this article are a tad old (they don't take into account the differences in Win 8.x or Win 10.x), but should serve well enough to get you started...

Connecting Radios to Soundcards - The RadioReference Wiki

Mike

 

[ka3jjz]

Additional - an easy way to test whether your connection is working is to try to play a National Weather Service broadcast through your PC. If it sounds normal, without any hum or distortion, you're 3/4 of the way there...Mike

 

[dragon48]

Additional - an easy way to test whether your connection is working is to try to play a National Weather Service broadcast through your PC. If it sounds normal, without any hum or distortion, you're 3/4 of the way there...Mike

Getting closer - I found the line in jack and the audacity record button records audio from the radio.

A few follow-ups:

1 - My radio's output jack is mono - is it OK to not plug in my mono to stereo adapter that I use when streaming to headphones, or should I use it?


2 - When the signal comes on, should I blast the volume, keep it low, or in the middle, or does it not matter?

Now, I've gotta look for a PC SSTV decoder, but I've got a little over an hour before the signal will be in my area.

Thanks

 

[ka3jjz]

I would use the mono-stereo adapter - most times that I've fooled with it, the 'mic in' is a stereo connection, but like I said earlier, it's almost impossible to be specific.

Putting too much audio in the jack will overload the soundcard, which will likely distort or 'smear' the signal. Keep it at a comfortable level...listen to the signal as it comes in. I don't know if any of the packages includes any level meters, but if they do, use them

Mike

 

[dragon48]

I would use the mono-stereo adapter - most times that I've fooled with it, the 'mic in' is a stereo connection, but like I said earlier, it's almost impossible to be specific.

Putting too much audio in the jack will overload the soundcard, which will likely distort or 'smear' the signal. Keep it at a comfortable level...listen to the signal as it comes in. I don't know if any of the packages includes any level meters, but if they do, use them

Mike

Ty - but indoors, I didn't pick up anything for the 8:09 - 8:12 Pass. I'm headed outdoors for the 1 minute 9:46 Pass. The good news is that I found Mixw Version 2.19 (The latest version had a problem installing) It works as I sent SSTV transmissions form my iPhone to the line in jack of my soundcard and it picked them up and saved photos.

If I pick up anything outdoors, it will be the iPhone app recording and decoding technique.

 

[ka3jjz]

You want a good high pass that lasts awhile - SSTV is a very slow mode, and 3 minutes likely won't cut it. Also keep in mind that the astronauts are on a very different sleep and wake cycle than we are (they literally go around the earth several times a day). So don't get discouraged if you don't hear them at first

There are many websites out there now to predict when the ISS will be over your area, for how long, and how high they will be. GL....Mike

 

[KB3KBR]

I don't know if any of the packages includes any level meters, but if they do, use them

Mike

MMSSTV has a level meter rises with the audio, it stays gray till it starts to decode, then turns green for decode and turns red if overloaded.

 

[dragon48]

I know exactly where the ISS is, from:

Current position of the ISS

I can find when it will be overhead from here:

https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/sightings/

The sites sync up.

Unfortunately, I was unable to pick up any signal outside as well, just static. I thought I may have heard a faint SSTV signal at 1:47 UTC, but it may have been wishful thinking. Either the broadcast didn't go out, or some NYC interference prevented me form picking it up.

I have 3 more opportunities to pick this up.

Forum members - Please use this thread to post whether you were able to pick up the transmission and where you are located.

Even If I don't get the signal during the passes, this was educational:

I learned about SSTV
I learned how to connect my radio to my sound card.
I picked up a good decoder program.

 

[wtp]

i have used this one for years

AMSAT - Satellite Tracking
easy to see if i can hear them about 1.5 and 3 hours out.
they can be hundreds of ground miles away and still be heard.

 

[ka3jjz]

If you look at the ARISS blog, you'll find that they're having some equipment issues, so there were evidently no transmissions yesterday

Mike

 

[KC5AKB]

Good info

 

[n4yek]

You want a good high pass that lasts awhile - SSTV is a very slow mode, and 3 minutes likely won't cut it.

I was thinking the same thing, any SSTV I have ever received was a long process and an ISS pass would likely not give enough time for a pic to be transmitted.

 

[popnokick]

ISS is absolutely BLASTING SSTV signal on 145.80 right now into my HP2, using only OCFD antenna in my attic. They are transmitting on this pass, and big as a house. Can hear it with a handheld as well.

 

[KB3KBR]

they ARE transmitting, barely copied part of a pic on the last pass 2 mins ago. too many hill where i am. gonna have to wait for a higher pass!

 

[robertmac]

Don't have any way of decoding SSTV but the last pass there were SSTV signals that I heard on 145.80 at 2340 hours local in Calgary AB [2016 April 12]. This pass was nowhere near the strength of the previous pass 90 minutes before. So hopefully those in Canada and the USA at least were able to get some pictures.