International Space Station Radio Communications?

[RADIOMAN015]

As part of the Cadet & Senior aerospace education initiative -- has anyone successfully communicated with the space station via amateur radio?

One of our new senior members (who is also a ham), successfully communicated with them last week from his home (50 watt amateur radio transceiver, omni directional antenna)  and let his younger family members also talk  Apparently the American Astronaut took special note of the children and talked with them as long as possible.

Just seems like a great idea for all squadrons to do.  My understanding is there's free software available that will alert you when that (any other) satellites are near your location.

RM

[Hawk200]

Sounds pretty cool. Don't know if we have any hams locally, but I think I'll put a bug in someone's ear.

[JeffDG]

My understanding is there's free software available that will alert you when that (any other) satellites are near your location.

www.heavens-above.com

[Eclipse]

Just send them an email...

[jimmydeanno]

Just send them an email...

Seems to defeat the "neato" factor, don't you think?

[Майор Хаткевич]

Just send them an email...

Seems to defeat the "neato" factor, don't you think?

What, they don't have a Skype hookup yet? Lame!

This IS the 21st Century...

[Eclipse]

Just send them an email...

Seems to defeat the "neato" factor, don't you think?

Yes, which was my both my back-handed and direct point.

50 Years ago it was relatively impressive to be able to talk 1/2-way around the world or listen to space on a HAM transceiver.  Many of those HAMs spent decades in their full time jobs making themselves obsolete, which was an admirable endeavor, even though they are disappointed now that they have basically achieved it.

For better or worse, robust communications infrastructure and cheap electronics  have robbed HAMs of much of the gee-whiz factor they enjoyed even 20 years ago.  In an era where some 8 year olds (or even younger) personally carry a device that can directly communicate with any point in the known universe for free, spending your vacation in Brazil at your HAM shack just to collect QSL cards just doesn't seem like that good of an idea.

Armageddon, Tsunami, Katrina, blah, blah, blah...doesn't change anything...

[RADIOMAN015]

My understanding is there's free software available that will alert you when that (any other) satellites are near your location.

www.heavens-above.com

Thanks, here's one that I also found that seems to be pretty good in that it also gives information on possibly visually seeing the object.
http://www.n2yo.com/?s=25544
Also automatically calculates passes based upon your location of your IP address.
RM

[Keydet2010]

Where is this AE program on the NHQ website? I can't find it but I'd love to be able to tell my cadets about it. This would really boost interest in aerospace which up to now has been nothing but a weekly report on history and meteorological data.

[RADIOMAN015]

Where is this AE program on the NHQ website? I can't find it but I'd love to be able to tell my cadets about it. This would really boost interest in aerospace which up to now has been nothing but a weekly report on history and meteorological data.

Do a google search "International Space Station"
Here's a good official web page:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/index.html
RM

[FCCSmattskinner]

This might be of some help, as I am a Ham Radio Operator and often make contacts to the ISS and AO-51.

PC Software for tracking satellites:
FREE: Orbitron http://www.stoff.pl/
FREE: HRD (Ham Radio Delux) http://www.ham-radio-deluxe.com/Programs/HRDSatelliteTracking.aspx

iPhone APP:
BUY: GoSatWatch http://www.gosoftworks.com/GoSatWatch/GoSatWatch.html

All you really need is a 5watt ham radio hand held transceiver and a portable beam antenna.

Here is what I use:
Radio: Yaesu VX-7R http://www.yaesu.com/indexVS.cfm?cmd=DisplayProducts&ProdCatID=111&encProdID=8D3254BFC69FB172D78647DC56EFB0E9&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0

Antenna:
Arrow II Antenna http://www.arrowantenna.info/arrowii/146-437.html

Let me know if I can help with any further questions.

73's  KC5NOI

[RADIOMAN015]

Just an interesting update.  This last week at the meeting we took everyone outside in the dark to watch both the shuttle & the International Space Station fly to the south/southwest sky.  I had my ham portable on 145.825 (which is the digital packet frequency) and we first saw the shuttle go by and than I started picking up the radio digital sounds so we knew the ISS was getting closer.  Finally saw it also.

Great aerospace activity for cadets as well as seniors.  Remember if you want to track satellites look at the website http://www.n2yo.com/.  Additionally even amateur radio has some low orbiting satellites you can pickup with a radio scanner on nfm band (UHF downlink for most) check out http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php

Have fun and please post your activities to this thread!!!
RM

[starshippe]

. . a most interesting and appropriate idea. hopefully squadrons will either have or be able to work with experienced hams, in order to see this in action. there are several "how to" you tube videos on line.
. . i don't see any reason why i couldn't use the mk4 and the beam to df on the satellite. gonna hafta ask some questions around here and see if any one is doing satellite work.

thanks again for the excellent idea,

73,
bill
k4tve

[JC004]

It's been a while on this topic.  Has anyone talked to ISS with CAP cadets?

[BHartman007]

It's been a while on this topic.  Has anyone talked to ISS with CAP cadets?

I saw this and thought, "this is what that guy from Pennsylvania was talking about yesterday on face... Oh. Haha.

[JC004]

It's been a while on this topic.  Has anyone talked to ISS with CAP cadets?

I saw this and thought, "this is what that guy from Pennsylvania was talking about yesterday on face... Oh. Haha.

I figured it was a decent consolation prize, if I can't get a ride to the ISS. 

[PHall]

It's been a while on this topic.  Has anyone talked to ISS with CAP cadets?

I saw this and thought, "this is what that guy from Pennsylvania was talking about yesterday on face... Oh. Haha.

I figured it was a decent consolation prize, if I can't get a ride to the ISS.

You can go to the ISS, just pay the Russians about $20 Million US and you're a "Space Tourist"!

[JC004]

Broke. 

[MSG Mac]

Broke. 

Good News: The Ruble to Dollar rate is at an all time low.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Broke. 

Good News: The Ruble to Dollar rate is at an all time low.

Indeed. I'm sure they take payment in USD however, not RUB.


52 Week range: 32.4834 - 791699.


Talk about system shock.

[Eclipse]

Makes Bitcoin look like a viable alternative.

[Майор Хаткевич]

Makes Bitcoin look like a viable alternative.

Somewhat.


But think of the "double the fun" vacation to Crimea we can all take!

[BHartman007]

It's been a while on this topic.  Has anyone talked to ISS with CAP cadets?

I saw this and thought, "this is what that guy from Pennsylvania was talking about yesterday on face... Oh. Haha.

I figured it was a decent consolation prize, if I can't get a ride to the ISS.

I tried, but he said if he could write free passes to the ISS he'd write himself one first.