With a clear sky tonight and wanting to do some antenna experimentation, I found myself sitting outside with the laptop as the ISS flew almost directly over.
I have to confess that it felt very strange to work the packet digipeater on the ISS at the same time that I was looking up and actually SEEING the thing fly over. If I had been holding the Arrow antenna in my hand instead of having it on a tripod, the visual target sure would have made it easier to point at! Too bad all of the cubesats aren't visible for antenna pointing like that.
Anyway, whether you're working the packet digipeater, monitoring an ARISS school QSO, or receiving special event SSTV images from the ISS, if you get a chance to make the radio connection at the same time that you can look up and see it fly over, I highly recommend it!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA
I saw it here in DC too. Didn't take the TH-D7A(G) out to try the digipeater though.
My dream for portable satellite tracking is a Google Glass satellite tracking app that provides a heads up display!
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Fri, Dec 4, 2015 at 7:01 PM, Scott scott23192@gmail.com wrote:
With a clear sky tonight and wanting to do some antenna experimentation, I found myself sitting outside with the laptop as the ISS flew almost directly over.
I have to confess that it felt very strange to work the packet digipeater on the ISS at the same time that I was looking up and actually SEEING the thing fly over. If I had been holding the Arrow antenna in my hand instead of having it on a tripod, the visual target sure would have made it easier to point at! Too bad all of the cubesats aren't visible for antenna pointing like that.
Anyway, whether you're working the packet digipeater, monitoring an ARISS school QSO, or receiving special event SSTV images from the ISS, if you get a chance to make the radio connection at the same time that you can look up and see it fly over, I highly recommend it!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA _______________________________________________ Sent via AMSAT-BB@amsat.org. 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://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb
I remember in, I think 1998, I was working Valery on the MIR on a regular basis. On this particular night it was my son's birthday and as I was into an almost daily chat with him he wanted to wish my son a happy birthday. We went outside to watch the pass, my son and I chatted with Val as we watched him fly over, he wished my son a happy birthday and also encouraged him to become an astronaut. My son mentioned this in show and tell at school afterwards. I got a call from his teacher, she said she was concerned that Jeff was talking to people in space and she didn't think this was healthy, as he said it wasn't a story, but was true. I told her that yes he actually did talk to a cosmonaut. It took me awhile to convince her of that. I also remember my son working the ISS on kids day. I don't recall who was active on the ISS but he heard the kid's day call and then had a nice pass eating chat with my son! I have many more contacts with the space station I could talk about, but you get the idea. I wish the ISS occupants had the time like they used to to do more voice contacts, so everyone can experience this.
73 Jeff kb2m
-----Original Message----- From: Paul Stoetzer Sent: Friday, December 04, 2015 7:04 PM To: Scott Cc: amsat-bb@amsat.org Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] ISS - watch it as you work it!
I saw it here in DC too. Didn't take the TH-D7A(G) out to try the digipeater though.
My dream for portable satellite tracking is a Google Glass satellite tracking app that provides a heads up display!
73,
Paul, N8HM
On Fri, Dec 4, 2015 at 7:01 PM, Scott scott23192@gmail.com wrote:
With a clear sky tonight and wanting to do some antenna experimentation, I found myself sitting outside with the laptop as the ISS flew almost directly over.
I have to confess that it felt very strange to work the packet digipeater on the ISS at the same time that I was looking up and actually SEEING the thing fly over. If I had been holding the Arrow antenna in my hand instead of having it on a tripod, the visual target sure would have made it easier to point at! Too bad all of the cubesats aren't visible for antenna pointing like that.
Anyway, whether you're working the packet digipeater, monitoring an ARISS school QSO, or receiving special event SSTV images from the ISS, if you get a chance to make the radio connection at the same time that you can look up and see it fly over, I highly recommend it!
-Scott, K4KDR Montpelier, VA USA
Here is a fascinating story about a Lottie doll, spawned by the mind of a young girl, getting an ISS ride-along..
http://www.upworthy.com/see-the-toy-designed-by-a-6-year-old-that-was-launch...
73 de Dennis KD7CAC Scottsdale, AZ
On Dec 4, 2015, at 6:19 PM, Jeff jeff_griffin@comcast.net wrote:
I remember in, I think 1998, I was working Valery on the MIR on a regular basis. On this particular night it was my son's birthday and as I was into an almost daily chat with him he wanted to wish my son a happy birthday. We went outside to watch the pass, my son and I chatted with Val as we watched him fly over, he wished my son a happy birthday and also encouraged him to become an astronaut. My son mentioned this in show and tell at school afterwards. I got a call from his teacher, she said she was concerned that Jeff was talking to people in space and she didn't think this was healthy, as he said it wasn't a story, but was true. I told her that yes he actually did talk to a cosmonaut. It took me awhile to convince her of that. I also remember my son working the ISS on kids day. I don't recall who was active on the ISS but he heard the kid's day call and then had a nice pass eating chat with my son! I have many more contacts with the space station I could talk about, but you get the idea. I wish the ISS occupants had the time like they used to to do more voice contacts, so everyone can experience this.
73 Jeff kb2m
participants (4)
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Dennis Griffin -
Jeff -
Paul Stoetzer -
Scott