The ARISS Phase 2 station will be configured in crossband repeater mode--437.800 MHz up/145.800 MHz down, but it's being requested that ONLY low-power (QRP) Earth stations access the system. The definition of a QRP station for this activation will be the same criteria that AMSAT is using for its QRP operations on ECHO (AO-51) for Field Day.

AO-51 ECHO/ISS LOW POWER STATION (QRP) REQUIREMENTS:
To attempt to keep this simple a low power station will be defined as a station which can deliver no more than 10 watts to a vertical or handheld antenna. Some examples of Low Power Stations:

Marcos Cesar Pontes PY0AEB invites amateur radio operators and SWL listeners to send their QSL card to confirm all the contact made while onboard ISS.

Since all the QSL will be sent directly, please don't forget to indicate your own address.

Send your QSL card to:
MARCOS CESAR PONTES PY0AEB
RUA: MANDÇUNUNGA 195
CEP: 05619-010
SÃO PAULO SP
BRAZIL

Few weeks after Marcos Pontes returned from his ISS mission he attended a public speech in the city he was born: Bauru (São Paulo).
Thousands of people welcomed the Astronaut as he arrived piloting a small airplane.

Fabiano PY5RX was able to contact Pontes during his short mission, so he got invited to join the speech and receive from Marcos hands a special gift that commemorates the contact.

Pontes spent some nice words about Amateur Radio explaining how important it is for the crew to contact people on the ground.

As various sources reported, ISS Expetion #13 commander Pavel V. Vinogradov is being active in Russian almost everyday over Siberia, sometimes over European Russia as well.
After these contacts take place, the radio is often left on the Region 1 uplink by mistake even when packet radio is active.
Few days before easter, American Astronaut Jeff Williams exchanged greetings over the Houston area.

Hello All,

Astronaut Bill McArthur was much active on hamradio during his 6 months -
mission aboard the ISS.
McArthur enjoyed amateur radio and gave many amateurs the chance to
talk with an astronaut in a Space Station!
I go to make a CDROM (with nice cover) for McArthur with many mp3 audio files from the -
amateur radio contacts which he made in his mission (also pictures of operators will be included).
In case you have audio files for this CDROM please send to: wegaman@gmail.com
In case you know some websites where I can find McArthur (NA1SS) audio recordings let me know!
Also I like to have ISS school contact audio files!!!

Now completing his third week aboard the International Space Station, Expedition 13 ISS Flight Engineer Jeff Williams, KD5TVQ, already has been making contacts from NA1SS. Over the Easter weekend, Williams made "a handful of random contacts," according to ISS Ham Radio Project Engineer Kenneth Ransom, N5VHO. The ISS Fan Club Web site reports that Williams exchanged Easter greetings April 15 with WB9IIV, and that N5VHO and WA4HT both heard NA1SS on FM voice while the ISS was passing over the US. Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) school contacts are set resume in early May. Contacts are scheduled with Bob Jones High School in Madison, Alabama, on May 1, and with the Jaanimmarik School, in Kuujjuaq, Quebec, Canada, on May 4. NASA reports the Expedition 13 crew, headed by cosmonaut Pavel Vinogradov, RV3BS, has now settled in for its six-month stay in space and is looking forward to receiving a Progress rocket shipment of food, fuel and supplies on April 26.

QSL cards from all 50 of the United States of America have now arrived at the ARRL QSL bureau in Newington, CT and the process to file for a special "WAS from Space" for Bill McArthur can begin.

My friend Fabiano (PY5RX) planned his holiday to
coincide with Pontes' ISS mission to try and make an amateur
radio contact with Marcos.
On 3 April he finally made his QSO with the Brasilian
astronaut on the Space Station.

Fabiano Congratulations!

You download the audio on: http://www.pd0rkc.com

73's Cor PD0RKC

The ARRL QSL bureau that handles the ISS cards reports that Bill now has 49 out of 50 states confimed. The last card needed is WY. The card is in transit but has not arrived at the ARRL as of March 30. Once this card arrives, ARRL can certify that Bill worked all 50 states and will begin the paper work to award an honorary WAS certificate.

The Octopus Elementary school in Holland is very active in amateur radio.
During March 25th a special ham radio event involved the following activities:

International Space Station (ISS).
Amateur Television
Foxhunting
Making small electronic circuits
DARES emergency radio
Morse Code

During the activities we where lucky that Bill McArthur had some time to come on the radio so we could show the children that with our beautiful wireless hobby, we also can talk with astronauts in Space.
In the first (good) ISS pass the school director Dick (PA0DFN) made a QSO with astronaut McArthur (NA1SS).