Tag Archives: Amateur Radio

Jun 2 2025

ISS Contact with Dublin Students

2025-06-04 ISS Contact with Dublin StudentsStudents at Technological University of Dublin will talk via ham radio with astronaut Takaya Onishi KF5LKS on the International Space Station.

The contact is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, at 12:10 UTC (1:10 PM BST) via EI1ISS.

The contact on 145.800 MHz FM +/- 3.5 kHz Doppler should be receivable outdoors in the British Isles and Western Europe using just handheld radio and 1/4 wave whip.

Many amateur FM radios can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters, usually marked FM-N (narrow) and FM. For best results you should select the filter for wider 5 kHz deviation FM. Handhelds generally have a single wide filter fitted as standard.

Don’t have a radio for 145.8 MHz?  Use your phone to tune in online using the Goonhilly WebSDR radio https://vhf-goonhilly.batc.org.uk/

A live video feed of the event is planned, check the ARISS YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/@ARISSlive

For the latest information follow ARISS on X: https://x.com/ARISS_Intl

Follow Takaya Onishi on X: https://x.com/Astro_Onishi

The demonstration of amateur radio communication from space invites schools and universities to make use of these educational technical resources. We invite radio amateurs and space enthusiasts to tune in to this exciting moment.

Students First Names & Questions:

1. Wojtek : What is the most challenging part of your day as an astronaut?
2. Lucy : Do your eyes get dry in space?
3. Alfie : Is it lonely to be so far away from home?
4. Laila : What is it like to sneeze in space?
5. Leon : What inspired you to be an astronaut?
6. Seoirse : What has been your greatest scientific discovery on ISS?
7. Logan : How do you get your oxygen in the ISS?
8. Lilly-Mae : Are you able to have tea in space?
9. Joshua : How do you know if you are upside down?
10. Isobel : Do you have any advice for kids who want to be an astronaut when they grow up?
11. Harrison : Is the ISS automatic or do you actually have to pilot it?
12. Reggie : What does space smell like?
13. Wojtek : Are there germs in space?
14. Lucy : Does it get cold in the ISS or do you have heating?
15. Alfie : How do you know when to go to sleep?
16. Laila : What is it like being outside the spaceship?
17. Leon : How do you entertain yourself when you are not working?
18. Seoirse : Is there anything that is really hard to do in space that is easy on Earth?
19. Logan : How do you keep fit and healthy in space?
20. Lilly-Mae : What is the coolest thing you have seen in space?
21. Joshua : How do you celebrate your birthday?
22. Isobel : What is your favourite food?

Check the ARISS website for more updates.
https://www.ariss.org/contact-the-iss.html

May 22 2025

Video: A guide to using satellites in amateur radio

The online talk ‘Guide to using satellites in amateur radio’ given by Tim GW4VXE, on May 21, 2025, is now available to watch in the Pennine Ham channel on YouTube

May 5 2025

ISS Slow Scan TV May 5-12

International Space Station - Image Credit NASA

International Space Station – Image Credit NASA

Slow Scan TV (SSTV) transmissions from the International Space Station are planned to take place from 1200 GMT on Monday, May 5, until 1800 GMT on Monday, May 12.

The ARISS Series 27 images will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War 2 in Europe.

Frequency: 145.800 MHz FM (+/-3.5 kHz Doppler Shift)
SSTV Mode: PD120 (Transmission cycle 2 minutes on, 2 minutes off)

You are invited to upload decoded images in the ARISS gallery, at: https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/

Once you’ve submitted, by just clicking on the dedicated button you can apply for the official ARISS SSTV award.

Also, you can request the ARISS QSL by contacting the European QSL bureau: https://www.ariss-eu.org/index.php/ariss-station/european-qsl-bureau

To support everyone interested in such events, the European Space Agency released tutorials about how to receive pictures transmitted over amateur radio by the International Space Station: you can find them on https://issfanclub.eu/2024/11/08/esa-tips-how-to-get-pictures-from-the-international-space-station-via-amateur-radio-2/

It’s always possible to receive the ISS SSTV signal by using the WebSDR at the Goonhilly Earth Station, the audio can then be fed into your PC or Smartphone SSTV App  https://vhf-goonhilly.batc.org.uk/

Follow @ARISS_intl on X for official updates, since changes can occur.

Reminder, the images are sent on a (roughly) 2 minutes on, 2 minutes off schedule. So if you don’t hear anything, give it 2 minutes!

Many FM rigs can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters. For best results you should select the filter for wider deviation FM. Handhelds generally have a single wide filter fitted as standard.

You can get predictions for the ISS pass times at https://www.amsat.org/track/

Useful information on receiving the pictures and links for Apps to display the pictures can be found here:
https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/

You may be able to get publicity for the amateur radio hobby if you contact your local newspaper and tell them you’ve received a picture (doesn’t have to be perfect) from the International Space Station, see
https://amsat-uk.org/2015/02/04/iss-sstv-in-uk-press/

Apr 13 2025

Results of Fram2Ham Competition Announced

Rabea Rogge LB9NJ KD3AID operating ICOM IC-705 from Fram2 spacecraft

Rabea Rogge LB9NJ KD3AID operating ICOM IC-705 from Fram2 spacecraft

Rabea Rogge LB9NJ / KD3AID has announced the three teams that scored the highest in the Fram2Ham SSTV competition for students.

In a post on Discord she says:

Dear @everyone,
first of all: Thank you to everyone participating! It was such fun seeing the engagement and having this direct connection to you all on the ground – literally. These were the best moments on the mission: sending down the pictures, looking down at Earth and knowing that there is someone right there looking up at the same moment. We have seen great submissions to the SSTV gallery and quiz submissions. Without further ado, the three teams that scored the highest are the following:

1st Place – Grand Prize: Team ARISStocats! Active countries: Lithuania, Italy, US (Pennsylvania), Switzerland, US (California)

2nd Place: Team W1HLO-LA1K! Active countries: US (Conneticut), Norway, US (Pennsylvania), Germany

3rd Place: Team GuufyFram! Active countries: Greece, US (Pennsylvania), France, US (Kentucky), US (New York)

The winning teams will be contacted by email in the next days.

Well done everyone – we loved to see that all the teams were very international. My hope is that some friendships have formed, the passion for technology has been kindled and that most of all everyone had fun.

For everyone who is not listed above – don’t forget to claim your digital SSTV certificate! We are looking forward to seeing all the pictures of your setups and hearing the stories.

Further information on the Fram2Ham mission at https://amsat-uk.org/2025/04/01/fram2-mission-launched/

Apr 10 2025

ISS SSTV April 11-16 – Humans in Space

April 12 is the International Day of Human Spaceflight so, what better theme for the April 11-16 Slow Scan TV transmissions.

Start: Friday, April 11 1700 GMT (6pm BST)
End: Wed, April 16 1430 GMT (3:30pm BST)

Frequency: 145.800 MHz FM (+/-3.5 kHz Doppler Shift)
SSTV Mode: PD120 (Transmission cycle 2 minutes on, 2 minutes off)

You are invited to upload decoded images in the ARISS gallery, area “Series 26 – Humans in space” at: https://ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/

Once you’ve submitted, just clicking on the dedicated button you can apply for the official ARISS SSTV award.

Also, you can request the ARISS QSL by contacting the European QSL bureau: https://www.ariss-eu.org/index.php/ariss-station/european-qsl-bureau

To support everyone interested in such events, the European Space Agency released tutorials about how to receive pictures transmitted over amateur radio by the International Space Station: you can find them on https://issfanclub.eu/2024/11/08/esa-tips-how-to-get-pictures-from-the-international-space-station-via-amateur-radio-2/

It’s always possible to receive the ISS SSTV signal by using the WebSDR at the Goonhilly Earth Station, the audio can then be fed into your PC or Smartphone SSTV App  https://vhf-goonhilly.batc.org.uk/

Follow @ARISS_intl on X for official updates, since changes can occur.

Reminder, the images are sent on a (roughly) 2 minutes on, 2 minutes off schedule. So if you don’t hear anything, give it 2 minutes!

Many FM rigs can be switched been wide and narrow deviation FM filters. For best results you should select the filter for wider deviation FM. Handhelds generally have a single wide filter fitted as standard.

You can get predictions for the ISS pass times at https://www.amsat.org/track/

Useful information on receiving the pictures and links for Apps to display the pictures can be found here:
https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/

You may be able to get publicity for the amateur radio hobby if you contact your local newspaper and tell them you’ve received a picture (doesn’t have to be perfect) from the International Space Station, see
https://amsat-uk.org/2015/02/04/iss-sstv-in-uk-press/

Apr 1 2025

Fram2 Mission Launched

Rabea Rogge LB9NJ / KD3AID - Photo credit DLR

Rabea Rogge LB9NJ / KD3AID – Photo credit DLR

A SpaceX rocket carrying radio amateur Rabea Rogge LB9NJ / KD3AID and three other astronauts launched from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center on April 1 at 0146 GMT on the Fram2 mission. It is the first polar-orbit human spaceflight mission to explore Earth.

During the mission Rabea will be transmitting amateur radio Robot 36 Slow Scan TV (SSTV) images on 437.550 MHz (+/- 10 kHz Doppler shift) starting April 2. Operation will be 36 seconds on and 36 seconds off.

The images are transmitted as part of a competition for students. Please do not post your SSTV images on Social Media or share with others until 72 hours after the completion of the Fram2 mission.

ARISS will provide special commemorative certificates for those who upload their Fram2 SSTV images to the ARISS SSTV Gallery. Certificates will be delivered after the completion of the Fram2 mission.

If possible record all your passes. You can always generate an image later with the recording. Particularly if you have an issue with your audio into your SSTV software.

There are several challenges in receiving the images,  the low transmit power, variations of antenna orientation, and a short, 3-day mission duration, with only a limited time assigned for the SSTV operation. Are you up for the challenge? 📡

Watch a recording made by Robbie Ei2iP of the amateur radio downlink during the contact on April 1 at 0728 GMT between Fram2 astronaut Rabea Rogge LB9NJ / KD3AID and students at the Technical University Berlin (note unexpected frequency change).

Watch the Technical University Berlin video of the contact

Operations Frequency: 437.550 MHz FM (+/- 10 kHz Doppler shift).

SSTV Mode: Robot 36

ARISS are livestreaming orbital predictions for the Fram2 mission at http://live.ariss.org/

Orbital predictions, select Fram2Ham https://www.amsat.org/track/

Fram2 TLEs (also known as Keplerian, or Orbital Elements) https://www.ariss.org/keps.html

See the pictures received in the ARISS SSTV Gallery at https/ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/

Fram2Ham https://fram2ham.com/

First human Spaceflight to Earth’s polar regions https://f2.com/

Fram2Ham on Discord https://discord.com/invite/GYQzmSh5sp

Student competition details https://fram2ham.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/amapay_user_manual-ver-2-7-2025.pdf

Follow Rabea on X https://x.com/rprogge

Follow Chun Wang on X https://x.com/satofishi

Follow ARISS on X https://x.com/ARISS_Intl

Follow AMSAT-UK on X https://x.com/amsatuk