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
Sounds pretty cool. Don't know if we have any hams locally, but I think I'll put a bug in someone's ear.
Quote from: RADIOMAN015 on September 06, 2010, 06:15:06 PM
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
Just send them an email...
Quote from: Eclipse on September 06, 2010, 08:03:40 PM
Just send them an email...
Seems to defeat the "neato" factor, don't you think?
Quote from: jimmydeanno on September 06, 2010, 08:39:40 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on September 06, 2010, 08:03:40 PM
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...
Quote from: jimmydeanno on September 06, 2010, 08:39:40 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on September 06, 2010, 08:03:40 PM
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...
Quote from: JeffDG on September 06, 2010, 07:37:39 PM
Quote from: RADIOMAN015 on September 06, 2010, 06:15:06 PM
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
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.
Quote from: Keydet2010 on September 07, 2010, 04:12:52 AM
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
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
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
. . 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
It's been a while on this topic. Has anyone talked to ISS with CAP cadets?
Quote from: JC004 on November 10, 2014, 01:30:31 AM
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.
Quote from: BHartman007 on December 16, 2014, 03:09:25 PM
Quote from: JC004 on November 10, 2014, 01:30:31 AM
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.
Quote from: JC004 on December 16, 2014, 05:13:39 PM
Quote from: BHartman007 on December 16, 2014, 03:09:25 PM
Quote from: JC004 on November 10, 2014, 01:30:31 AM
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"!
Broke.
Quote from: JC004 on December 17, 2014, 05:36:45 AM
Broke.
Good News: The Ruble to Dollar rate is at an all time low.
Quote from: MSG Mac on December 17, 2014, 08:09:04 AM
Quote from: JC004 on December 17, 2014, 05:36:45 AM
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.
Makes Bitcoin look like a viable alternative.
Quote from: Eclipse on December 17, 2014, 04:02:20 PM
Makes Bitcoin look like a viable alternative.
Somewhat.
But think of the "double the fun" vacation to Crimea we can all take!
Quote from: JC004 on December 16, 2014, 05:13:39 PM
Quote from: BHartman007 on December 16, 2014, 03:09:25 PM
Quote from: JC004 on November 10, 2014, 01:30:31 AM
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.