Tired of the same old DX ??

Many of us find that there are just some days that there seems to be nothing new to work on the bands. Why not try working something out of this world. By that I mean working the International Space Station. (ISS). Over the years I have always been involved with satellites. Hearing the first Oscar sending its “HI" in Morse code, working through the RS series of satellites, talking with the MIR cosmonauts and now working the crew of the ISS.

The ISS is equipped with 2 meter FM and Packet equipment. The crew, during free time, likes to hear from amateurs all over the world. I recently talked with Valery, RK3FZ the present Commander of the ISS on a pass over Connecticut. Signals are very strong but contacts have to be kept to a minimum in length due to the short time the ISS is in radio range. (about 8 to 10 minutes on a good pass)

The next crew due to arrive at the ISS in mid November will be another all “ham" crew. They are, of Kenneth Bowersox, KD5JBP, Nikolai Budarin, RV3FB, and Donald Petit, KD5MDT.

You will need a satellite-tracking program such as STSPLUS to know when to listen for the ISS in your area and a 2 meter FM rig with 50 to 100 watts output depending on your antenna system. You might want to look at the ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) web site for information about how to work them and the frequencies used. Another good web site for information is the ISS Fan Club site.
(Web site addresses for these sites are at the bottom of this article and on the Associations Web site under “Links to popular sites".

Even if you don’t work the ISS listening to contacts is fun. The crew of the ISS uses the amateur radio system on board to contact schools and fellow amateurs.

Enjoy work and listening to DX that is really out of this world!

73 Bill, K1WY

An article from the DX Communicator