Using a RTL SDR Dongle to receive pictures from the ISS

Did you know the International Space Station (ISS) periodically sends SSTV (slow scan television) images over the air? You can decode them too using an RTL SDR software defined radio dongle which is around $30-$50. A simple antenna is all that is needed.

 

The V3 is way cool.

 

Excellent watch, thank you

 

Many thanks, i’ll try with my new ic-705, fantastic receiver.
73s

 

Been decoding SSTV since the 80's with a Robot 400 & then modified for 36 sec. B & W. Also used some surplus Fax drum machines HF Fax using the old thermal paper. How times have changed !!!

 

I also have an Airspy that I acquired after this video was made. It's pretty good too, but more expensive

 

Awesome, SSTV is sent fairly regularly on the ISS now, so the next time they schedule it to be sent, give it a go!

 

Thats another good way to decode the SSTV signal of the ISS. The most problem is the frequency shift, to get the pictures completly. So there is to change the frequency within the transmission from -10 kHz (AOS) to the Center Frequency (TCA) and up to +10 kHz (LOS). Or in another words the time when the ISS is approaching, is in the center above of the receiver and leaves then the area of the receiver. The typical things which are important for every satellite operations. To the used antenna, I think it was good enough. In my experience the best timeframe for receiving is about 6 minutes long. I used a small vertical too.

 

I used the radio in the car and Robot 36 app on my phone and it worked great..... They are doing SSTV again Aug 6 - 7 if you want to try it.

 

As part of the Front Range 6m groups zoom meetings N0AN has made a very nice video on how to optimize your Airspy R2 for VHF.



I certainly learnt a lot about what settings work best with the R2 and SDR Console V3 for 6m.

Paul N2EME

 

Excellent! Thanks for posting.

 

I did one of these a few years ago but showed how to do it on your smartphone with an HT or similar receiver. https://k9xn.org/2018/05/01/simple-reception-of-iss-sstv-images/
Great video! The RTL-SDR is certainly a useful bit of radio kit for how cheap they are!

 

Yes doppler shift can be a pain, but in this case I think the results were rather good considering I didn't compensate for it as you rightly said.

 

Oh great! I better share out the dates so some can have a go. The mobile app is a great way to do it too.