Back in the days MIR cosmonauts used to read PMS messages and eventually reply using a simple 1200bd tnc with the PMS built in. Packet radio was a very useful asset up there that Cosmonauts used also for their private needs. Sometimes it was even used off band for non-amateur operations.
Nowdays, after more than a decade, times have changed but the ISS is still using the very same setup that is overwhelmed by the increasing number of ground stations. The result is that gradually the astronauts have lost their interest in the system, which is essentially dying.
ARISS seems to have no ideas for any upgrade and has no plans to prevent the decline that Packet Radio on ISS is facing.

Hello ISS Fans,
I have just received a message from Valentin (TSNIIMASH, Russia) about a scheduled SSTV activity from ISS during next days.
So who is interested on SSTV reception there is a good opportunity.

73 Claudio IK1SLD

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Dear friends!
I thank you for support of the project of space experiment "Shadow" at the International space station. Now proceeding of this project is temporarily braked because of the insufficient electric power allocated for the scientific equipment on Russian segment of ISS. However we are going further to continue its "cold" phase (legend "Shadow-beacon") as its results should represent independent interest more even for amateur radio, than for plasmadynamics. I shall inform on terms and conditions of carrying out of new sessions of the experiment beforehand.

Hello to All.

I was amazed! :-)) Today I have received the QSL from the QSO between NA1SS OP:Richard W5KWQ and me ON4LEA.

Look at http://www.rbo.be/ISS.htm to see the QSL.

Vy 73 to all!

Hello,

can anybody ask Garriott to take a shot for the Iss Fan Club with some greetings and send it via SSTV?

Thank you all

Alain

Miles WF1F of MAREX-MG has requested help in the fine tuning of the Amateur Radio Slow Scan TV (SSTV) system now operating on the International Space Station (ISS).

In an email on the AMSAT Bulletin Board (AMSAT-BB) he writes:

We need your help in fine tuning the SSTV system on ISS.
Here is how you can help.

VOX Delay:

There is an intermittent problem with the VOX box that controls the transmitter switch on the radio. When the VOX hears sound coming from the Laptop, it will turns on the D700 Transmitter. When the sound stops, the transmitter should shutdown in 2-3 seconds.

We need you to listen to the end of the SSTV signal and time the delay.

Looks like Richard Garriot is wasting no time up there.
Just hours after the docking he made his first contact over North America reporting that he will be on SSTV since "next pass".

Antennas up!

This weekend AO-51 will operate in a special mode in anticipation of Richard Garriott's visit to the ISS. Richard's launch is currently scheduled for October 12th, with docking at the ISS on the 14th. Richard plans on being very active from the ISS ham station, including extensive operation with Slow Scan Television (SSTV).

In preparation for this event, AO-51 will be configured with dual repeaters for the weekend of October 11th and 12th. The primary repeater on AO-51 will be configured with an uplink on 1268.700 FM and downlink of 435.300 FM, and will be designated for this period as an SSTV repeater. Users are encouraged to exchange SSTV images in ROBOT 36 mode, as an opportunity for others to practice receiving SSTV images from space before the ISS activity. Please keep the images transmitted to space-related themes, and to the ROBOT 36 mode. Polite and courteous operation among those sharing the uplink is crucial to the success of this mode.

We recorded videos of an AO-51 pass and of all the AMSAT Forum presentations at Dayton 2008. You can find out the latest on the current satellite projects, AO-51, AO-16, AMSAT Operations, ARISS and the ACP satellite and ground station progress. Barry, WD4ASW moderated the Forum.

Thanks to Steve Belter, N9IP for doing the recordings and Mike Young, WB8CXO for the video equipment and converting the tapes to this format. Thanks to Gunther and Rob Meisse for hosting the videos at the WMFD site.

The following videos are clickable if you have Windows Media Player (or equivalent) installed on your computer. The URLs can also be pasted into other compatible viewers.

The Marex team is constantly working to keep access to ISS Affordable and Fun. Attached are list of project proposals that we are currently developing. Your support is always welcome.

http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/futureprojects.html

A report from 9W2QC from Malaysia indicates the crossband repeater on ISS is currently active. It should stay operational until the unit must be shut down for the undocking operations of the Progress 27 on Feb 4. Frequencies are 437.800 MHz uplink and 145.800 MHz downlink. Keep in mind the extreme Doppler on the uplink and it is highly recommended that you operate full duplex to see if you are making it through or interfering with another station unknowingly.

Enjoy and good luck.

Kenneth - N5VHO

Source: http://www.amsat.org/amsat/archive/sarex/10day/msg01495.html