Jan 13 2016

Amateur radio village at EMF 2016

GB2EMF Amateur Radio Village EMF 2016An amateur radio village is planned for  the Electromagnetic Field EMF 2016 event which takes place August 5-7, 2016 near Guildford in Surrey.

London Hackspace Amateur Radio Club are planning to erect at least one of their Clark masts in the village. During EMF 2016 they will be showcasing Amateur Radio on bands from 3.5 MHz (80m) to 430 MHz (70cm) and maybe higher using the call sign GB4EMF.

The event is aimed at makers, scientists, engineers, radio enthusiasts and more.

EMF Amateur Radio Village https://wiki.emfcamp.org/wiki/Village:Amateur_Radio

Call for Participation https://www.emfcamp.org/cfp

EMF Camp on Twitter https://twitter.com/emfcamp
London Hackspace ARC https://twitter.com/m0hsl

Previous EMF events have generated BBC News coverage
https://amsat-uk.org/2014/09/02/bbc-reports-emf-2014/

Jan 13 2016

Local newspaper reports reception of Tim Peake on ISS

ISS amateur radio article in Southend Echo Jan 13, 2016

ISS amateur radio article in Southend Echo newspaper published January 13, 2016

ISS school contacts provide an opportunity for radio amateurs across the country to get publicity for the hobby in their local newspaper.

Simply hearing Tim Peake using amateur radio from the ISS is in itself a newsworthy event which can be used to promote your local amateur radio club and the hobby in general.

When Essex radio amateur Pete Sipple M0PSX received a signal from ISS astronaut Tim Peake talking to Sandringham School students in Hertfordshire he contacted his local newspaper, the Southend Echo, and told them about it. The newspaper was very interested to hear that someone in their local area had actually received the ISS and published the story, see above.

Pete M0PSX has kindly made available the press release he sent to the local newspaper so that others can use it as a template, download press release here.

Dates of future Tim Peake amateur radio school contacts are at
https://amsat-uk.org/2015/12/15/tim-peake-iss-school-contacts-announced/

Essex Ham – What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Jan 11 2016

ISS SSTV activity January

ISS SSTV image 1 received by Murray Hely ZL3MH January 31, 2015

ISS SSTV image 1 received by Murray Hely ZL3MH January 31, 2015

The ARISS Russia Team is planning to support a couple of Slow Scan Television (SSTV) events in the next few months on 145.800 MHz FM.

The upcoming spacewalk (EVA) will result in the amateur radio equipment on the ISS being powered down on Friday, January 15 at about 07:40 UT. Power-up is expected to take place on January 16 at 15:15 UT.

An SSTV session had been targeted for Saturday, January 16 to celebrate 15 years of ARISS school contacts with the ISS crew. The new date will be announced at http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.co.uk/

The SSTV transmissions, in mode PD120, will be made from the amateur radio station located in the Russian Service Module of the ISS using the callsign RS0ISS. The equipment used for SSTV is a Kenwood D710 transceiver running about 25 watts output which provides a very strong signal enabling reception on simple equipment.

A 2m handheld with a 1/4 wave antenna will be enough to receive the transmissions. In the UK we use narrow 2.5 kHz deviation FM but the ISS transmits on 145.800 MHz with the wider 5 kHz deviation used in much of the world. Most rigs can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters so select the wider filter. Hand-held rigs all seem to have a single wide filter fitted as standard.

Check the ARISS SSTV blog for updates and additional information as it becomes available
http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.co.uk/

ISS Slow Scan TV hints, links for PC and iPhone SSTV Apps and a sample PD120 signal are at
https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/

ISS SSTV video and “ISS SSTV Reception Hints” by John Brier KG4AKV
https://spacecomms.wordpress.com/iss-sstv-reception-hints/

Dmitry Pashkov R4UAB reports SSTV activity postponed to Saturday, January 16
http://tinyurl.com/R4UAB-ISS-SSTV-201501

Jan 10 2016

Listening to the ISS on a handheld radio

In this video Dan Trudgian M0TGN shows how to listen to the ISS using nothing more than a handheld radio, a Yaesu VX8, from Hackpen Hill in Wiltshire.

In the UK we use narrow 2.5 kHz deviation FM but the ISS transmits on 145.800 MHz with the wider 5 kHz deviation used in much of the world. Most base station and mobile radios can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters and for best results you should select the wider filter. Handheld radios all seem to have a single wide filter fitted as standard.

As a result of Doppler shift the 145.800 MHz ISS signal may vary by +/- 3.5 kHz during a pass going from 145.835 to 145.7965 MHz. Many FM radios can only tune in steps of 5 kHz, with such equipment you may get best results by selecting 145.805 at start of pass, then 145.800 and finally 145.795 MHz.

Watch GB1SS – Tim Peake QSO with Sandringham School

Read Dan’s blog http://www.m0tgn.com/

Follow Dan on Twitter @M0TGN

Dates of future Tim Peake amateur radio school contacts are at
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/02/03/all-uk-ariss-shortlisted-schools-are-now-scheduled/

ARISS Principia site https://principia.ariss.org/

How to hear the ISS https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/how-to-hear-the-iss/

Get press publicity by receiving ISS school contacts
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/03/10/press-publicity-receiving-iss/

The ISS should be transmitting Slow Scan TV (SSTV) later this year on 145.800 MHz FM
http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.co.uk/
https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/

Jan 9 2016

Video of Tim Peake ham radio contact with Sandringham School

Sandringham School students at ITV News in London - Image Credit @SandringhamSch1

Sandringham School students at ITV News in London – Image Credit @SandringhamSch1

A 92 minute video containing the Sandringham School GB1SAN and Tim Peake GB1SS amateur radio contact is now available in the ARISS UK Team channel on YouTube.

The amateur radio contact with the International Space Station took place on Friday, January 8, 2016 and was led by Jessica Leigh M6LPJ. The video includes the presentations given to the students by ARISS UK’s Ciaran Morgan M0XTD, Head Teacher Alan Gray G4DJX, and the Chair of the RSGB Youth Committee Mike Jones 2E0MLJ.

Watch ARISS Schools contact between Sandringham School, GB1SAN, and Tim Peake GB1SS Friday, January 8, 2016

TV News: Sandringham school amateur radio ISS contact
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/01/08/bbc-tv-sandringham-school-amateur-radio-iss-contact/

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Find an amateur radio training course near you https://thersgb.org/services/coursefinder/

A free booklet is available aimed at introducing newcomers to the hobby that can also be used as a handy reference while getting started, see
http://rsgb.org/main/get-started-in-amateur-radio/alex-discovers-amateur-radio-2/

Jan 8 2016

TV News: Sandringham school amateur radio ISS contact

Sandringham students talk to Tim Peake GB1SS using amateur radio - BBC TV screenshot

Sandringham students talk to Tim Peake GB1SS using amateur radio – BBC TV screenshot

The BBC report Sandringham School in St Albans has made history by making the first amateur radio call from the UK to a British astronaut on the space station.

Year 10 pupil Jessica Leigh M6LPJ, who has recently passed her amateur radio exam, led the contact which took place on Friday, January 8, 2016.

Headteacher Alan Gray G4DJX with Jessica Leigh M6LPJ - Image Credit Sandringham School

Headteacher Alan Gray G4DJX with Jessica Leigh M6LPJ – Image Credit Sandringham School

The BBC story says: It took a few minutes for the crackle and hiss to die down and allow the students to put some questions to the astronaut, before the ISS then went over the horizon and out of range.

Jessica called it an “amazing experience” to be talking to someone 400 km above them, but said the significance of the day’s event had yet to sink in: “When I get home, I’ll be completely in shock.”

Her head teacher, Alan Gray G4DJX, said it had been an extraordinary opportunity for the school.

“It’s a way of inspiring young people into science and technology – seeing the opportunities that may be available to them,” he told BBC School Report.

“What you’re seeing is that space has an awful lot to offer. It’s not just about talking to Tim Peake on the space station. There are many other things that are useful for young people and will help with their learning.”

Watch the BBC TV news report ‘Astronaut talks to pupils from space’ at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35261160

Watch the interview with Year 10 pupil Jessica Leigh M6LPJ about the Tim Peake GB1SS contact https://twitter.com/BBCScienceNews/status/685396737842753536

Watch the BBC TV report on the preparations for the contact
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport/35251991

Watch the BBC TV report on student’s reactions after the historic call to Tim Peake
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-35253917

Watch CBBC Newsround: School kids speak to Tim Peake in space

BBC Pupils celebrate Tim Peake link-up http://www.bbc.co.uk/schoolreport/35280210

Watch SkyNews report with a shot of the Kenwood TS-2000X transceiver
http://news.sky.com/video/1619375/ringing-the-iss-from-school

Ofcom reports the Hertfordshire community radio station Radio Verulam 92.6 FM relayed the school ISS contact http://consumers.ofcom.org.uk/news/space-broadcast/

Herts Advertiser newspaper report
http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/st_albans_school_talks_to_astronaut_tim_peake_on_the_international_space_station_1_4372999

Sandringham students speak to Tim Peake GB1SS
https://amsat-uk.org/2016/01/08/sandringham-students-speak-to-tim-peake-gb1ss/

The Chair of the RSGB Youth Committee Mike Jones 2E0MLJ and RSGB President John Gould G3WKL attended the contact and the RSGB video  ‘Amateur Radio: A Hobby for the 21st Century’ was shown to the students.

What is Amateur Radio? http://www.essexham.co.uk/what-is-amateur-radio

Find an amateur radio training course near you https://thersgb.org/services/coursefinder/

Sky News interview Year 10 pupil Jessica Leigh M6LPJ

Sky News interview Year 10 pupil Jessica Leigh M6LPJ