PDA

View Full Version : ISS Cross-Band FM Voice Repeater Switched On


M5AKA
07-20-2005, 09:08 PM
The International Space Station cross-band or U/V FM repeater has been switched on.

The downlink is 145.800 FM +/- 3 kHz doppler shift

The uplink is 437.800 FM +/- 10 kHz doppler shift

Please keep in mind that the crew members John and Sergei may be listening and pick up the mic to talk to you.

The ISS repeater can be worked with very simple equipment. To receive it on 145.800 an FM handheld with a 1/4 wave whip is all that's required. On 70cm you need to be able to transmit at least 2 or 3 watts FM into a 1/4 wave whip.

To find out when the Space Station is within range go to the Online Satellite Predictor at

http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/tools/predict/

Select Show Predictions for ISS and enter your approximate Lat and Long co-ordinates or IARU QTH Locator.

The Amsat-UK International Space Colloquium takes place at the University of Surrey, Guildford, England from July 29th - 31st. On Saturday 30th July there will be special beginners sessions to teach people how to communicate through the many Amateur Satellites that are available.

There will be guided tours of the Surrey Space Centre at the University with the satellite mission control centre and the satellite assembly facility. These tours are always popular and they provide a unique opportunity to see satellites in various stages of construction.

The event is open to all Amateurs and SWL's. Either day passes or full packages comprising overnight accomodation and meals at the University are available. For further details contact Sophie Haigh
Tel: +44 (0)1483 689888
Email: s.haigh@sstl.co.uk
Web: http://www.uk.amsat.org/Colloquium/ (see Travel for maps)

Visitors can just to turn up on the day although AMSAT-UK would appreciate notification if possible.

73 Trevor M5AKA
AMSAT-UK: http://www.uk.amsat.org/

M5AKA
07-21-2005, 07:23 AM
Lots of reports coming in of Amateurs having QSO's on the International Space Station cross-band FM voice Repeater. It's a great signal. A couple of examples from the AMSAT bulletin Board below.
----
From: n4qwf at ntelos.net
Looks like it is working great. That thing is stronger than anything else I have heard from up there. I worked one station and then just listened to the activity. Boy was it busy. The uplink doppler started at -10kc and worked up from there. I never tuned the downlink [left on 145.800] and I #copied it till LOS.
Hope this continues as it is a great asset.
73's << John
----

I had a brief contact with N5VHO eariler this afternoon (around 19:00) #through the ISS repeater. #Was actually surprised that I was able to get #through as my 440 antenna is just a quick and dirty 1/2" copper pipe J-pole I built this weekend to work a new Echolink node in town. #Can #barely hit the new node about 5 miles away but I got into the ISS even #with the antenna still sitting inside!

I didn't even tune uplink doppler (and have never found a benefit to #tuning the downlink doppler on the ISS with my radio.) but I probably #needed to as I wasn't able to fully finish my QSO. #But with a marginal #antenna I was surprised I got in at all.

Jason Hitesman
N8INJ
jason at Hitesman.com
---- #

73 Trevor M5AKA
---------------
Daily Amateur Radio RSS News Service: http://www.southgatearc.org/
Add News Service to your Website: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/index.htm
Add News Service to your PC: http://www.southgatearc.org/rss/newsreader.htm
Upload Your News Items: http://www.southgatearc.org/news/your_news.htm
----------------

WA5KRP
07-21-2005, 07:49 PM
Thanks for the info - will attemp contact this evening at 01:55Z. That's shortly after sunset here in south Texas.


73

WA5KRP