[amsat-bb] Making ISS voice contacts, best practice

Hi AMSAT-BB:

Is it bad form to call the NA1SS during a pass in a vain attempt to make a contact? I am not trying to stalk them (well actually...) but this has always been a dream of mine since I got my Amateur Radio golden ticket.

But I am trying to wake up early in the morning when presumably the ISS crew is active and call CQ.

Do folks call CQ NA1SS? Its this bad form?

I also don't know how to tell if the FM repeater is on (I have read several links on how to make contacts but they are vague, its more or less monitor 145.800Mhz and go from there).

73

-aps (KC2ZSX)