Thanks to everyone for the encouragement. Tonight for the 7PM pass of ARISSat I went up on a hill where I had a good view of the horizon, taking my F6a and a slightly-better-than-stock ducky. I actually heard the bird! Not strongly, and (surprisingly) not until it was way down on the horizon toward the end of the pass. I thought I heard a carrier on and off but slightly before LOS, I hear a tone, followed by a woman speaking telemetry values. I could actually understand it mostly even though it was pretty much down in the noise. Interestingly, holding the antenna VERTICALLY gave the best results.
Since I heard a woman, I guess that means it is reading the SD card again...or is that just for the messages?
I'm wondering whether the direct-overhead time that I heard nothing the bird's antenna was actually pointing away. Has anyone had any estimates of how fast it is tumbling now?
Anyway, I know now that my radio can do it. Next I have to mange to get a better signal to it.
Thanks again!
Burns, W2BFJ