I put up a new antenna for ISS work today. It's a home-built 2m turnstile with reflectors. Numbers wise (SWR, etc., as read on a MFJ analyzer) the antenna is working. I used the antenna a bit on APRS and was able to hear stations and be heard by stations.
I listened to the ISS for 3 passes earlier today. On the first 2 passes I heard a number of stations, but was unable to digi via the ISS. On the third pass (about 40 degrees elevation at max and to the south), I was able to digi via the ISS (sorry if I have the terminology wrong here, I'm somewhat new at this).
My question is, how often should I be able to digi via the ISS? Is it unusual to not be able to on a given pass (all 3 passes were higher elevation passes)? I know there are collisions and QRM involved and someone wins out. I don't have the best station (IC-706MKIIG and a turnstile antenna), I'm sure this plays a part.
Curious what others have experienced.
Thanks,
I, too, have similar questions. I'm interested in making QSOs and I must admit I'm having a very tricky time actually decoding ISS passes and working stations. I've read lots of material online (Thanks KK5DO and others) and still not quite cutting it. Plenty loud on several passes, but no decoding. Sean Kutzko Amateur Radio KX9X From: Kelley [email protected] To: AMSAT -BB [email protected] Sent: Thursday, January 1, 2015 10:07 PM Subject: [amsat-bb] Expectations...
I put up a new antenna for ISS work today. It's a home-built 2m turnstile with reflectors. Numbers wise (SWR, etc., as read on a MFJ analyzer) the antenna is working. I used the antenna a bit on APRS and was able to hear stations and be heard by stations.
I listened to the ISS for 3 passes earlier today. On the first 2 passes I heard a number of stations, but was unable to digi via the ISS. On the third pass (about 40 degrees elevation at max and to the south), I was able to digi via the ISS (sorry if I have the terminology wrong here, I'm somewhat new at this).
My question is, how often should I be able to digi via the ISS? Is it unusual to not be able to on a given pass (all 3 passes were higher elevation passes)? I know there are collisions and QRM involved and someone wins out. I don't have the best station (IC-706MKIIG and a turnstile antenna), I'm sure this plays a part.
Curious what others have experienced.
Thanks,
Hi Kelley,
On the third pass (about 40 degrees elevation at max and to the south), I was able to digi via the ISS ...
I "saw" you on that pass along with myself a couple of others at about that time:
K9JKM]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,KA3HSW-5:=4211.29N/08827.08W-Greetings :-) WU9D]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,KA3HSW-5:CQ de WU9D via ARISS W9QO]STPX1V,RS0ISS*,SGATE,WIDE2-2,qAR,KA3HSW-5:'oIPl -/] W0RK]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,KA3HSW-5:Hello from Rice, MN
I use a Yaesu FT-857D and a 3 element 2 meter yagi at 20° fixed elevation on a TV rotor. Getting through the ISS digi is sometimes spotty if you have a modest antenna and power. The lower power of Ericsson HT and current antenna on the ISS result in shadowing of the spacecraft structure. Some passes work better than others depending on the ISS relative position in the sky at your QTH.
The higher power Kenwood rig and different antenna in the Russian segment was used for the SSTV transmissions last week. My small yagi received those signals fine business if I was within 45° azimuth.
-- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM [email protected] AMSAT VP User Services
The #1 thing I've noticed is how much more important it is to tune for Doppler shift than when the ISS was using the Kenwood radio.
I've done several tests decoding packets using my Kenwood TM-D700 which has 5 kHz tuning steps common on most 2m FM radios and then compared results to my Yaesu FT-857D which has much finer incremental tuning.
In the past, I could decode most of a pass simply staying on 145.825 MHz. Nowadays, I start decoding around 145.828 and usually by LOS I'm decoding near 145.822.
With the smaller tuning steps of the FT-857D I am able to decode about 30% more packets than my TM-D700.
Simply put, in the past a fixed station could stay on 145.825 MHz with great results. Today, not so much.
73 Clayton W5PFG On Jan 1, 2015 9:10 PM, "Kelley" [email protected] wrote:
I put up a new antenna for ISS work today. It's a home-built 2m turnstile with reflectors. Numbers wise (SWR, etc., as read on a MFJ analyzer) the antenna is working. I used the antenna a bit on APRS and was able to hear stations and be heard by stations.
I listened to the ISS for 3 passes earlier today. On the first 2 passes I heard a number of stations, but was unable to digi via the ISS. On the third pass (about 40 degrees elevation at max and to the south), I was able to digi via the ISS (sorry if I have the terminology wrong here, I'm somewhat new at this).
My question is, how often should I be able to digi via the ISS? Is it unusual to not be able to on a given pass (all 3 passes were higher elevation passes)? I know there are collisions and QRM involved and someone wins out. I don't have the best station (IC-706MKIIG and a turnstile antenna), I'm sure this plays a part.
Curious what others have experienced.
Thanks,
Kelley - WØRK
Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Thanks for the info Clayton. I hope to play around with the Doppler on the next pass in a little over an hour. Sometime ago I bought Satpc32 but have never been successful in setting it up for my single IC-760MKIIG. Although I have other CAT programs that work fine with the radio, I can never seem to get that one to work. Seems like it would be a good one to do the Doppler shift with. Any thoughts on how to set this up? Or is one better off doing it manually?
Thanks,
Kelley - WØRK
On 1/2/2015 12:10 AM, Clayton Coleman wrote:
The #1 thing I've noticed is how much more important it is to tune for Doppler shift than when the ISS was using the Kenwood radio.
I've done several tests decoding packets using my Kenwood TM-D700 which has 5 kHz tuning steps common on most 2m FM radios and then compared results to my Yaesu FT-857D which has much finer incremental tuning.
In the past, I could decode most of a pass simply staying on 145.825 MHz. Nowadays, I start decoding around 145.828 and usually by LOS I'm decoding near 145.822.
With the smaller tuning steps of the FT-857D I am able to decode about 30% more packets than my TM-D700.
Simply put, in the past a fixed station could stay on 145.825 MHz with great results. Today, not so much.
73 Clayton W5PFG
On Jan 1, 2015 9:10 PM, "Kelley" <[email protected] mailto:[email protected]> wrote:
I put up a new antenna for ISS work today. It's a home-built 2m turnstile with reflectors. Numbers wise (SWR, etc., as read on a MFJ analyzer) the antenna is working. I used the antenna a bit on APRS and was able to hear stations and be heard by stations. I listened to the ISS for 3 passes earlier today. On the first 2 passes I heard a number of stations, but was unable to digi via the ISS. On the third pass (about 40 degrees elevation at max and to the south), I was able to digi via the ISS (sorry if I have the terminology wrong here, I'm somewhat new at this). My question is, how often should I be able to digi via the ISS? Is it unusual to not be able to on a given pass (all 3 passes were higher elevation passes)? I know there are collisions and QRM involved and someone wins out. I don't have the best station (IC-706MKIIG and a turnstile antenna), I'm sure this plays a part. Curious what others have experienced. Thanks, -- Kelley - WØRK _______________________________________________ Sent via [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Thanks JoAnne. I may have to revisit my antenna setup again at some point, but we're heading into a very cold spell here (double digits below zero), so it won't be soon.
To achieve an "offical" contact, what does one do? Do I just send "Hi JoAnne" and you send "Hi Kelley" back and that's it?
Where is the antenna located on the ISS? Does the shadowing always effect certain passes, say passes to the north or to the south? So far, I seem to have better luck with passes to the south.
Thanks,
Kelley - WØRK
On 1/1/2015 9:51 PM, JoAnne Maenpaa wrote:
Hi Kelley,
On the third pass (about 40 degrees elevation at max and to the south), I was able to digi via the ISS ...
I "saw" you on that pass along with myself a couple of others at about that time:
K9JKM]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,KA3HSW-5:=4211.29N/08827.08W-Greetings :-) WU9D]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,KA3HSW-5:CQ de WU9D via ARISS W9QO]STPX1V,RS0ISS*,SGATE,WIDE2-2,qAR,KA3HSW-5:'oIPl -/] W0RK]CQ,RS0ISS*,qAR,KA3HSW-5:Hello from Rice, MN
I use a Yaesu FT-857D and a 3 element 2 meter yagi at 20° fixed elevation on a TV rotor. Getting through the ISS digi is sometimes spotty if you have a modest antenna and power. The lower power of Ericsson HT and current antenna on the ISS result in shadowing of the spacecraft structure. Some passes work better than others depending on the ISS relative position in the sky at your QTH.
The higher power Kenwood rig and different antenna in the Russian segment was used for the SSTV transmissions last week. My small yagi received those signals fine business if I was within 45° azimuth.
-- 73 de JoAnne K9JKM [email protected] AMSAT VP User Services
Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Kelley,
I've been manually moving my VFO for the best packet decodes but I've noticed it's about spot-on with what SatPC32 is telling me. I could just turn on the CAT control but seeing as I was experimenting, I wanted to fine tune it.
Good luck. I hope we can make an exchange.
73 Clayton W5PFG
On Fri, Jan 2, 2015 at 11:47 AM, Kelley [email protected] wrote:
Thanks for the info Clayton. I hope to play around with the Doppler on the next pass in a little over an hour. Sometime ago I bought Satpc32 but have never been successful in setting it up for my single IC-760MKIIG. Although I have other CAT programs that work fine with the radio, I can never seem to get that one to work. Seems like it would be a good one to do the Doppler shift with. Any thoughts on how to set this up? Or is one better off doing it manually?
Thanks,
Kelley - WØRK
On 1/2/2015 12:10 AM, Clayton Coleman wrote:
The #1 thing I've noticed is how much more important it is to tune for Doppler shift than when the ISS was using the Kenwood radio.
I've done several tests decoding packets using my Kenwood TM-D700 which has 5 kHz tuning steps common on most 2m FM radios and then compared results to my Yaesu FT-857D which has much finer incremental tuning.
In the past, I could decode most of a pass simply staying on 145.825 MHz. Nowadays, I start decoding around 145.828 and usually by LOS I'm decoding near 145.822.
With the smaller tuning steps of the FT-857D I am able to decode about 30% more packets than my TM-D700.
Simply put, in the past a fixed station could stay on 145.825 MHz with great results. Today, not so much.
73 Clayton W5PFG
On Jan 1, 2015 9:10 PM, "Kelley" [email protected] wrote:
I put up a new antenna for ISS work today. It's a home-built 2m turnstile with reflectors. Numbers wise (SWR, etc., as read on a MFJ analyzer) the antenna is working. I used the antenna a bit on APRS and was able to hear stations and be heard by stations.
I listened to the ISS for 3 passes earlier today. On the first 2 passes I heard a number of stations, but was unable to digi via the ISS. On the third pass (about 40 degrees elevation at max and to the south), I was able to digi via the ISS (sorry if I have the terminology wrong here, I'm somewhat new at this).
My question is, how often should I be able to digi via the ISS? Is it unusual to not be able to on a given pass (all 3 passes were higher elevation passes)? I know there are collisions and QRM involved and someone wins out. I don't have the best station (IC-706MKIIG and a turnstile antenna), I'm sure this plays a part.
Curious what others have experienced.
Thanks,
Kelley - WØRK
Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
Kelley, WØRK, asked the million-dollar question for us ISS newbies: "To achieve an "official" contact, what does one do? Do I just send "Hi JoAnne" and you send "Hi Kelley" back and that's it?"
Is there an official protocol or approach? The meteor-scatter and EME community have had an official format for a "good" QSO for years, which has been made even more official with the introduction of the WSJT software, which has a pre-programmed message sequence that is followed to completion. It's not considered a good QSO until both parties have confirmed reception of the other's info.
Even on the voice sats, you generally exchange grids and get a "Roger" or "QSL, 73" knowing that you have made a good QSO. I haven't seen such a standard on QSOs made through the ISS digi.
Sean Kutzko Amateur Radio KX9X
I loosely go by the same standard as a voice contact on the satellites as you described it, Sean.
If someone sends a packet with CQ I respond. I send a "Hello" greeting with some information, typically my grid square, directed at their callsign.
If they respond to my callsign acknowledging and providing additional information, I usually consider it a contact. I gave him something. He gave me something.
I received 18 different callsigns via the ISS yesterday on a single pass. I tried to respond to several of them, but never saw a response. Only N5LUL (long time ISS digipeater user) was live at the keyboard and receiving/decoding.
73 Clayton W5PFG
On Sat, Jan 3, 2015 at 9:48 AM, Sean K. [email protected] wrote:
Kelley, WØRK, asked the million-dollar question for us ISS newbies: "To achieve an "official" contact, what does one do? Do I just send "Hi JoAnne" and you send "Hi Kelley" back and that's it?"
Is there an official protocol or approach? The meteor-scatter and EME community have had an official format for a "good" QSO for years, which has been made even more official with the introduction of the WSJT software, which has a pre-programmed message sequence that is followed to completion. It's not considered a good QSO until both parties have confirmed reception of the other's info.
Even on the voice sats, you generally exchange grids and get a "Roger" or "QSL, 73" knowing that you have made a good QSO. I haven't seen such a standard on QSOs made through the ISS digi.
Sean Kutzko Amateur Radio KX9X
Sent via [email protected]. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official views of AMSAT-NA. Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program! Subscription settings: http://amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
participants (4)
-
Clayton Coleman -
JoAnne Maenpaa -
Kelley -
Sean K.