ISS Amateur Radio Status: August 7, 2006
Slow Scan TV on ISS update
By Miles Mann WF1F,
MAREX-MG News www.marexmg.org
Manned Amateur Radio Experiment
Hi everyone.
On July 30 ISS Expedition 13 Commander Pavel Vinogradov activated the SSTV project for few orbits from the International Space Station. Pavel sent several manual test images from ISS to Earth. The testing proved that he had the entire basic configuration set up correctly.
Our thanks to the many stations who received and decode the test images. SSTV Images from ISS were received in many countries, including Russia, United Kingdom, Brazil and many more. Below is a link to one of the best images we received.
Ted--G6HMS United Kingdom receiver--Yaesu FT-480R Antenna--10XY 2 Metre With Polarphaser Software--MMSSTV ver.1.11G Elevation --12.Degrees AZ=220 Degrees
www.marexmg.org Best Image
During the testing phase the ISS Slow Scan TV system may be intermittingly transmitting somewhere in the ITU approved 2-meter satellite band (144.000 146.000 MHz FM). After testing is completed the system will eventually be moved to a permanent frequency in the 2-meter ITU Satellite band. One of the quirks we discovered during testing was that the desired public frequency pair for SSTV was not accessible from the SSTV mode. A new procedure will need to be developed to program in a new frequency pair into the Kenwood D700 transceiver for the SSTV mode.
The SSTV system was then shut down until he can spend more time to finalize the cables connections and configure the system for Slide Show mode. Due to crew work loads and a recent space walk we are not sure when Pavel will have time for additional testing.
Over the next few weeks we maybe receiving images from the International Space station via Slow Scan TV (SSTV). The Marex team will be collecting these images from the amateur Radio and SWL community and we will post the best.
We would like to collect all images received. However in order to properly catalog the images we request you use the following image naming format.
After you receive you images, please rename the images using the following format, All Lower case letters.
Year 2006, Month 07, Day31, z, (UTC time), Call sign, Short text description, .JPG
Example
20060731z1905wf1fwindowshot.jpg
If we break this down Year =2006 Month = 07 Day = 31 Z = spacer to help find time Time = 1905 UTC Call sign = wf1f Description = Windows shot Image format = jpg
Image Quality Please do not put a lot of text over lays on the images, Example, do not put web page or advertisements in the image. Your own call sign and date are acceptable.
Send all images directly to Marex at [email protected]
We would also like to know the following information in your email.
Name or Call sign Country / State Receiver Software decoding tool Elevation or range of ISS when you decoded the image.
Slide Show Mode: The Marex SpaceCam1 software contains a feature called Slide Show mode. It allows the crew to preload a directory full of images that will be automatically transmitted to Earth. The crew will not need to keep pushing a button to send images. In theory the system can run for weeks at a time without crew involvement.
The next phase of testing may use the frequency 145.800 MHz FM for the SSTV down link. You should also check 144.490 just in chase. The Slide Show mode will only be testing the Down link. The uplink frequency will not be published.
SpaceCam1: The SpaceCam project will be able to transmit over 400 SSTV images per day (Robot 36 format).
How to Decode SSTV from Space: http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/howtouseiss.html All SSTV transmissions will be in FM mode and will most likely be on the 2-meter band. This means that the Doppler frequency drift will not be much of a problem and you will be able to use your existing 2-meter station or a police scanner to hear and decode the signals from ISS.
If you have already have been successful in working the Packet station or talked to the ISS crew on 2-meter voice, than you already have most of what you need. Whats left is to connect your computer to the speaker of your radio and some SSTV decoding software, such as ChromaPix or similar software. http://www.barberdsp.com/
There are many choices in SSTV software, some Free, others with more features cost a few bucks. http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/sstvlinkpage.html
So have fun, find your best setup and start practicing how to decode SSTV on 2-meters.
Marexmg Web page http://www.marexmg.org
73 Miles WF1F MAREX-MG
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