Updated at: 22-July-2010 (17:07UTC) .


John Robbins NO5X silent key.

AUDIO recording of John NO5X in QSO with astronaut Bill McArthur in 2006 (0.4Mb).

At 17 July I received the sad message from John his son Jay Robbins that his father John Robbins was passed away.
I never have met John personal but we had in the past often contact (via internet) and we talked
about communications with ISS, amateur satellites and balloon radio projects.
John was verry proud of his crossyagi's for amateur satellite operation.
In 2006 John Robbins NO5X made an contact with Bill McArthur NA1SS which was aboard in the International Space Station.
John was verry proud with his first contact with ISS and during his QSO John
have asked American astronaut Bill McArthur what the temperature in ISS is.
And John also thanked Bill McArthur for the nice Christmas video he had made wich was seen via NASA TV.
Bill McArthur NA1SS said :"Your verry kind thanks for the interest!".
John Robbins NO5X rest in peace!


ISS crewmember Wheelock voice active!

Photo: NASA
US astronaut Doug Wheelock made several random contacts (in voice) via
the ISS kenwood TM-D700.

ISS voice downlink frequency: 145.800Mhz
ISS voice uplink : 144.490Mhz (Region 2&3: North and South America-Caribbean-Greenland-Australia-South Asia).
ISS voice uplink : 145.200Mhz (Region 1: Europe-Middle East-Africa-North Asia).
In the past Doug listened only at Region 2&3 uplink frequency!
You should trie both uplink frequenties!


15 & 16 July SSTV images was a success.

At 15 and 16 July the Russian ISS crew have sended SSTV images.
Several amateur radio operators in several countries have received
the ISS SSTV images.
Some of them have sended their received images to:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/SSTV/

ISS Kenwood TM-D700 on the photo!
Click on the photo for large size photo!

On the photo you see Russian cosmonaut Oleg Kotov and
on the right side you see the ISS Kenwood TM-D700 which he
use for amateur radio (also for SSTV).


The MAI-75 Experiment was an success!

Above the last images received in the 17UTC orbit .
Several images where received by amateurs arround the world.
Some have sended their received ISS SSTV images to the ARISS SSTV Gallery page.
The event has been succesful ended and we all look forward for an next MAI-75 SSTV experiment.
Thanks to Sergey Samburov and the Russian cosmonauts in ISS.


Update news 14 May 16:47UTC again SSTV images received!

Also I received several wonderfull ISS SSTV images (from the Space Station) in the 15UTC pass.

Update news 14 May 14:55UTC two SSTV images received!

I received 4 images in the 14UTC pass.
The ISS SSTV harware systems works fine and several images
where received by other hams arround the world.

You can see them on the ARISS SSTV Gallery page (click here!).

Update news 14 May 13:07 UTC SSTV ACTIVE!!!!!


In the beginning of the 10UTC pass I heard a few carriers and
at the last 30 seconds of LOS finnaly the SSTV tones where audible.
On my received image 2 ISS crew members in an ISS module.



SSTV image from 29 Januari (10:08UTC).

SSTV images from ISS in the PD160 high resolution mode.




Crew voice communications via Ku-Band satellites!

In case you do not see the real player above than click here!
It is possible that the crew will talk about the MAI-75 SSTV experiment.
There is not always voice communications because crew have to do so work tasks.

ISS CREW OPERATING ON AMATEUR RADIO!

Click on the photo for large size!

On the first, and second photo you see Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev (photo: NASA).
Click on the photo's for large size!


28 and 29 Januari ISS SSTV images expected in the PD160 mode!

At 28 and 29 Januari is the MAI-75 SSTV experiment sceduled from 9:00UTC till 13:00UTC.
It is expected that ISS crew will send SSTV images in the PD160 high resolution mode.
The downlink frequency is 145.800Mhz (FM mode).
Not all SSTV software support this PD160 mode.
Be sure you have the new MMSSTV 1.11G version!
If you move with your mouse on the SSTV mode buttons and click on your right
mouse button you will see a window with 43 different SSTV modes (PD160 should be there too!).
See: http://iss.ontwikkel.nl/sstvpd160.jpg
If the PD160 is not between it means you have an older MMSSTV version.
If you can not be in your shack at the sceduled times than you can always keep your
radio (and computer) on and software like MMSSTV saves the received images automatic to
your computer harddisc.
The Space Station was recently reboosted so do not forget to update keppler elements!

More SSTV images at the 27 Januari 10UTC pass!

Another 2 SSTV images received from the Space Station.

2 SSTV images received at 27 Januari!


At 27 Januari I received 2 SSTV images at 9:16 and 9:20UTC (in the robot 36 mode).
The crew have installed the Kenwood VC-H1 SSTV camera unit on a window in
the ISS Service module (making real time snap shots from earth).
Several ISS SSTV images where received which are shown on the ARISS SSTV gallery
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/ SSTV /
If you have received images please send them via the ARISS SSTV submission page:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/ SSTV /submit.php
We may not be able to display every image because of quality or duplication .
But we keep them in the archieve for futher investigation.

73's Cor PD0RKC


Russian MAI-75 SSTV experiment planned at 27 , 28 and 29 Januari!


On several pages is reported that the Russians will do another
MAI-75 SSTV expiriment at 27, 28 and 29 Januari (arround 9:00UTC - 13:00UTC).
The signals from the Space Station will be transmitted via downlink
frequency is 145.800Mhz (FM).
In the past different SSTV modes has been tried out and it is recommanded
to use MMSSTV.

More information about the experiment you can read (in Russian) here!
Russian page translated to English! (via yahoo babelfish online translator).

Update 11 Dec. several ISS SSTV images received!

ISS SSTV image Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev medical check.

Update: See here the ISS crew work tasks scedule for 11 Dec. (times are in UTC!).
-----> MAI-75 is the SSTV activity!

SSTV images received at 10 December


ISS SSTV images received at 10 December in the SSTV mode PD160.
On the ISS SSTV image Russian cosmonaut Maxim Suraev, Expedition 22 flight engineer.

Several amateur radio operators have sended their received images to the
ARISS SSTV Gallery page.
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/SSTV/

If you have received images please send them
via the ARISS SSTV submission page:
http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/SSTV/submit.php


ISS crew will send SSTV images at 07:00 - 11:00 UTC for the MAI-75 experiment.
The downlink is 145.800Mhz (FM).
You can receive the signals from ISS often with a strong 5/9 signal on a simple -
GP groundplane antenna (ISS is about 350km above earth).
With MMSSTV soundcard software (freeware) you can decode the images.
Download MMSSTV software here!
In case you can not be at the radio at the sceduled times, than you can always
keep your radio and computer on.
MMSSTV software will save the ISS SSTV images automatic to your harddisc and
you can see them later when you come back home.

Most activity will be in range of Moscow but some transmissions
could occur beyond that region (also EU and middle east countries).

WATCH ISS SSTV received image video!


This image was received at 2008 from an amateur in USA!
On the photo you see ISS Expedition 17 crew Commander, Sergei Volkov.

Watch http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/ for updates.
N5VHO thanks for this information!


Click on the photo for large size!


An astronaut of Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-129 made this photo in November 2009 (photo: NASA).

Upcomming ARISS school contact above USA.

Midvalley Elementary, Midvale, Utah, direct via W7SP
Contact is a go for: Wed 2009-12-02 16:13:56 UTC 80 deg.
Keep in mind the predicted might chance because of
the boost from the ISS Space Station.

The information came from AJ9N (from the SAREX reflector).


Successful ARISS School contact with Belgium.

At 26 November was a school contact between
ISS and the high school in Sint Truiden Belgium.
Astronaut Frank De Winne answered all questions in the Dutch language.

Listen here mp3 audio from 26 Nov. 2009 ISS Frank De Winne


New ARISS ham radio antenna installed on ISS!
Click on the photo for large size!

At 21 November 2009 an ISS crew member installed a new ARISS 2 & 70cm ham radio antenna -
on the european Columbus module for an ESA experiment.
ARISS Hardware Manager Lou McFadin (W5DID) said that the new ARISS antenna
was funded by AMSAT-NA and builded by volunteers.
The ARISS team will make plans to bring amateur radio equipment inside the Columbus module.

See this video and skip to 12:20 from that moment you see the ham antenna installed

AIS (Automatic Information System) antenna, and new ham radio antenna installed -
on the Columbus module.
Click on the photo for large size!

On the photo you see a ISS crew member installing the AIS (ship tracking) antenna.
See Wikipedia page for more info how the AIS system works.


Wonderfull earth view with the ISS ham radio ground plane on the Service module visible!
Click on the photo for large size!



Astronaut Mike Fincke (KE5AIT) give you a tour trough ISS!


Follow the latest ISS ham radio activies on RF2space Twitter.
Kenneth Ransom (N5VHO) works at JSCNASA and is involved
in the most of the amateur radio projects for ISS.
Click here to see his news postings.

Listen the ISS school (radio) contacts live via an online radio in Holland!

There are some ARISS school contacts planned (with the ISS is above europe).
The ISS footprint covers about 4000km on earth, that means the
signals from the ISS can be heard in several European (and surrounded) countries -
on 145.800Mhz (FM).
In Holland is an online receiver so it is possible to listen the ARISS school contacts
via this receiver on internet (via audio stream).
You can adjust the frequency at the online receiver to the ISS ham
radio freq. 145.800Mhz (FM) downlink.
Always ask first if you may tune the frequency!!!
Keep in mind you can only hear the ISS signals when the ISS footprint circle
comes in visible range of Holland. (See here the current ISS position real time ).

The times and dates of an ARISS school contact are visible in red (below).
Click here to go to the online receiver (in Holland).


SSTV images from ISS!

ISS SSTV images crew with the ISS Kenwood TM-D700
Space Tourist Charles Simonyi has send already
several SSTV images down to earth (on 145.800Mhz).
You can receive the images with a simple vertical GP antenna.
You can see more ISS SSTV images on:

http://www.amsat.org/amsat/ariss/SSTV/


Exp. 18 with ISS Kenwood TM-D700 in Space!

Click on the image for large size!

Photo from: http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm
Commander Exp. 18 Mike Fincke holding the ISS kenwood TM-D700 display in his hands.
Cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov with the kenwood mic in his hand.

ISS Soyuz communication on 143.625Mhz (VHF1) Received by JA0CAW (23Oct2008).
Click on the photo's for large size.

At 23 October 2008 Exp. 17 where returning back to earth with the Soyuz TMA-12.
Aboard where Sergei Volkov, Oleg Kononenko, and Richard Garriott.
Tetsu (JAØCAW) heard Russian conversation from the Exp. 17 crew on 143Mhz & 121Mhz.

Listen here Exp 17 from out the Soyuz TMA-12 on VHF1 (0.4Mb).

Successful ISS school contact!
Staedtlisches Gymnasium Herzogenrath Germany

DRØG station (with the students) asking questions to Mike Fincke (NA1SS) aboard ISS.
Listen here the ARISS school contact with Mike Fincke and German school at 7 Feb 2009 (3mb).
Click here to see the photo's from the ARISS contact
Andreas Wolf DO9WA thanks (danke) for sending the audio file.
Christian Rueland DO6CR thanks (danke) for sending the photo link!


US astronaut Mike Fincke (NA1SS) operating on ham radio.
Click on the photo's for large size.

ISS Commander Mike Fincke operating with the ISS Kenwood TM-D700 (photo NASA).
If you zoom on the t-shirt you see the ARISS logo with the text:
Amateur Radio on the
International Space Station.

KE5AIT - Mike
Expedition 18 Crew photo's using the ARISS equipment aboard ISS.
Click on the photo's for large size.

Flight engineer Sandra Magnus Exp.18 using the ISS TM-D700 For a ARISS school contact (photo: NASA).

At 6 February 2009 was an ARISS school contact with Pilton Bluecoat Junior School Barnstaple UK
Listen here the ARISS school contact with Sandy Magnus and UK school (2mb).

At 20 January (18:06UTC) was an ARISS school contact with Ontario Otowa Canada.

Listen here mp3 audio from
ARISS school contact with Canada


Successful ISS school contact with Pilton Bluecoat Junior School Barnstaple UK at 6 February 2009
Listen here the ARISS school contact with Sandy Magnus and UK school (2mb).

RS0ISS Yury Lonchakov often active on voice.

Russian cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov is often active when the ISS footprint
comes in range of Russia.
Often he calls long time CQ and only reply when he hear someone speaking
Russian (keep in mind Yury does not speak English very well).
At Sunday 1 Feb. Yury called CQ on 145.825Mhz in that case trie to
work Yury simplex (it might help when you speak a few words Russian).
If Yury operates on 145.800Mhz use -600khz shift.
On other regions trie both 145.200Mhz uplink and /or 144.490Mhz uplink.

73's Cor PD0RKC


Update: 28 Jan.
ISS Packet heard at 20:00UTC on 145.825 simplex.

Upate: 26 Jan. ISS SSTV

This ISS SSTV image was captured by Junior (PY1WX) in Brasil.

Update 22 Jan.: Talk with an Astronaut in Space.

Somethimes people are confused if they hear an astronaut calling CQ and they
do not know what frequency they must call.
The ISS kenwood can do
only one mode at the time!
If the ISS TM-D700 crossband repeater is operational than it is the best to trie

the crossband repeater frequencies and call the crew by name and -
callsign NA1SS or RSØISS
, maybe they are listen near the ISS radio.
Correcting the freq. (doppler effect) on UHF is very importand!!!
If the ISS is operating in packet or SSTV mode (on 145.825Mhz) and it is
silent than also check 145.800Mhz if the ISS crew is calling CQ.
In that case it is the best to trie the frequencies for your region (click here for info!).
During the normal crew work-week often they operate at dinner, lunch or presleep time!
At the weekend crew have less work duties so a good chance that they call CQ.
Check the crew work scedule to see their lunch, dinner and presleep times.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/timelines/ (times are in UTC!).

If you have more questions than send me an e-mail (see QRZ.com).

Good luck!
73's Cor PD0RKC


28 Dec. US astronaut Mike Fincke (NA1SS) contacts with Brasil.

The contacts where made via the ISS V/U crossband repeater.


Listen here the ISS V/U crossband repeater Mike Fincke NA1SS contacts with Brasil.

ISS crossband repeater on Japan! (JAØCAW tnx!).

Listen here the ISS V/U crossband repeater on Japan.

WB9IIV received 2 ISS SSTV Images at 20 & 22 Dec. 2008

On the left an ISS SSTV image with comander Mike Fincke (KE5AIT) showing
a paper written 25 Years of Ham Operations in Space.
On the right an ISS SSTV image with the ISS Kenwood TM-D700 with an orange glowing display.
The third images shows a paper with a message: Go for EVA.
I just received a message from David, he told me that ISS ham radio will be turned off
at 17:25/17:25UTC for safty reasons of the EVA (Spacewalk).

You can see it here in the crew work scedule
(timelines).

ARISS Commemorative Event--25th Anniversary of Ham Radio inSpace

2 SSTV images received at 7 Dec. (at 18:25UTC and 18:26UTC).
The Kenwood VH-C1 SSTV camera took this images from inside the ISS Service Module (live!).

Space Tourist Richard Garriott above Sudan & Saudi Arabia!

Saudi Stations 7Z1SJ, 7Z1HL, ST2NH, HZ1FS, 7Z1AQ made contact with W5KWQ
Listen here mp3 audio from 18 Oct. 2008 Richard in ISS on Sudan & Saudi Arabia

Richard Garriott random contacts on Europe.

David Barber (G8OQW) had also luck and made a QSO with Richard!
Listen here mp3 audio from 18 Oct. 2008 Richard in ISS on EU


ISS SSTV images 15 October.


ISS crew made SSTV images with a kenwood VH-C1 SSTV unit connected on the ISS kenwood TM-D700.
The SSTV unit has a camera and take snap shots from earth (from the ISS window).
At 15 Oct. where clouds above europe also visible on the images.

73's Cor PD0RKC


Often people visit my website, it would be nice to see any comments (or just a greeting!).
Write here my guestbook for any comments about my website.
See the messages in my guestbook for any comments about my website.

ISS AMATEUR RADIO ANTENNAS.
Click on the photos for large size!

4 ISS ground plane antennas are installed (in the past) on the Russian
Service Module (Zvezda).
Thanks to ISS hardware engineer Lou McFadin (W5DID) which
sended me the (left) photo.

© copy-right 2001 Cor PD0RKC.


NEW UISS 5.2 APRS & PACKET SOFTWARE!

Download here UISS 5.2 software (2Mb).

UISS 5.2 version info UISS is PACKET/APRS software is special designed to
operate via ISS or the PCSAT's.
AGW Packet engine driver is requered!
A nice feature is the Smart Beacony feature.

UISS software is designed by Guy Roels (ON6MU).

Take a look in RSØISS ISS BBS messages!
Click here to see some ISS BBS messages updated 28Dec 13:44UTC

ARISS antennas on the new ISS Columbus module! (Click on the photo's for large size!!! ).


Photo's: ARISS Europe!
More information is on the ARISS Europe webpage: http://www.ariss-eu.org/columbus.htm


HAM RADIO VIDEO FROM ISS!!!

Special thanks to Christiane G. Corrêa and Marcos Pontes for this video!
Watch the VIDEO Marcos Pontes PYØAEB talking to PY5RX from inside ISS (3Mb).
YOUTUBE VIDEO *** VIDEO Marcos Pontes PY0AEB talking to PY5RX from inside ISS
Watch the
VIDEO Marcos Pontes PYØAEB talking to PY5RX from inside ISS (10Mb).

First Brazilian astronaut Marcos Pontes (PYØAEB) made a QSO with Fabiano (PY5RX) at 03-April-2006 (14:34utc).
At 21 April 2006 Marcos Pontes was already back on earth and had a speech (about his ISS mission) in
Bauru city (Brasil).
Fabiano was invited to come on stage to meet Marcos Pontes personaly in front of a big audiance.
Fabiano gave Pontes a DVD with video & audio recordings which was made by Fabiano and
Brasil TV station PARANA.

Recorded from the ground!
Listen here the AUDIO recording Fabiano PY5RX with Marcos Pontes PY0AEB (0,2Mb).
YOUTUBE VIDEO *** Fabiano PY5RX MEETING with Marcos Pontes PY0AEB
YOUTUBE VIDEO *** PY5RX on TV (PARANATV TV Journal) Marcos Pontes contact


ISS APRS-PACKET SYSTEM!!! NOT ACTIVE NOW!

ISS is active with packet on 145.825Mhz (FM) simplex!
With a simple GP antenne you can access the ISS APRS digipeater (or BBS!).
Click here to see the ISS position on earth!
Configure UIVIEW to send APRS beacons to ISS!
Go to the uiview menu to: Setup--->Station Setup

Download UIVIEW software: http://www.ui-view.org/
You can send your beacons with the F9 key!
If you want to connect the ISS BBS than connect RS0ISS-11
Keep in mind in the afternoon and evening times there are many
stations (in EU & USA) which send their APRS beacons to ISS.
Its better you trie the ISS BSS in the early morning or late night.

Configure UISS to send APRS beacons to ISS!

Download UIVIEW software: http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/

The ISS bbs (and aprs digipeater) is active on 145.825Mhz simplex!

ISS aprs digipeater callsign: ARISS
Please do NOT connect RS0ISS-4 because its
not a pms packet mailbox!

To connect ISS (via packet) you must use RS0ISS-11 callsign!

Read iss bbs commands on my ISS info webpage (click on the red button).

73's Cor PD0RKC


KØHAA QSL confirmed (Jim Thank you!).

At 1 September 2007 I've made a balloon trip and I've operated on 14Mhz.
During my balloon trip I've made a radio contact with Jim Rappe (KØHAA).
The distance between the balloon and Jim (in state South Dakota) is almost
7000 kilometers.
Jim owns 4 aircrafts from WO II (look at the QSL card!).







Online log & QSL information.

Updated: 3-September-2007 (14:24 UTC).

At 1 September 2007 I have joined a balloon flight and I had my Yaesu FT-897 HF radio with me.
The antenna I have used was a Fritzel FD-3 windom (20meters size wire dipole with 1:6 ballun).
The balloon launch was near the city of Leeuwarden (north Holland).
Click here to see the launch location near the city Leeuwarden with Earth Google!
Click here to see the landing location near the village of Surhuizum with Earth Google!

During the 1 hour flight I operated on 14Mhz.
A few minutes after launch I've mounted fishing lead on the end of
the longest wire on the FD-3 antenna and putted the wire (with the weight) slowly
down.
I saw that the coax twisted arround the antenna wire and I've pulled it up.
It took some time to fix it but after 10 minutes the wire antenna was
in perfect vertical position under the hot air balloon (with the coax at a little distance).
Jack PD2J cooperated with me and he had published the event several times on the DX cluster.
The balloon climbed at 1000 meters height, I expected a pile up but I was supriced cause
that did not happen.
At 1000km height I hoped for long distance contacts but at that period I did not
hear them (or maybe they didn't heard me).
I worked a few stations from Spain, Holland and Italia.
On the end of the trip the balloon went slightly down and suddenly
I heard (and worked):
KØHAA from USA state: South Dakota (Distance 6931km = 4307Miles).
VU2NKS from Maharashtra India (Distance 6781km = 4214Miles).
W8TE from USA state: Michigan (Distance 6496km = 4037 Miles).

I asume the maxium height was (that day) not good for long
distance contact.
I will contenue with the balloon flights.
Skeds for the next trip are possible, send me an e-mail (see QRZ.com for my e-mail address).

73's Cor PD0RKC


A QSO with Rick NQ4I/AM flying in a Gulfstream V airplane!

At 5 September 2007 I was tuning on 14Mhz and I've heard Rick NQ4I/AM flying
from USA (state: Philadelphia) to Dublin (Ireland). 

More info is too see on http://www.nq4i.com
Listen here the audio recording PD0RKC in QSO with
NQ4I/AIRMOBILE!


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