International Space Station contact

darkskybondi · #1 25-01-2009, 05:39 AM

Australia's oldest amateur radio society, Waverley ARS, is hosting a 90th anniversary special event this year. One component of this is a VHF contact with the International Space Station, of whose 5 astronauts I am told that 4 are amateur radio operators.

I was there for the first attempt today at 0427 EDT (yes, 4.27am here in Sydney). The attempt wasn't successful, likely because the astronauts were busy.

A backup sched is set for 0327 EDT tomorrow. I may be slightly wrong about the time, but it is definitely between 3am and 4am tomorrow, Australia Day. My understanding is that it is set for 145.8 MHz, if anyone has VHF and would like to listen in during the approximately 10 minute window that they'll have. Check out http://www.vk2bv.org/ or click reply for further details.

Cheers
DSB

MrB (Simon) · #2 26-01-2009, 04:26 PM

So this is 0327EDT tonight?
Might try to pick this up on my scanner, though I doubt I'll hear anything.
Is it AM, NBFM or SSB? I'm guessing the latter, in which case I'll be listening to static

darkskybondi · #3 31-01-2009, 05:35 AM

If you listened, apparently they made contact briefly that night. Turned out there was an equipment stuff-up on the terrestrial end of things. Low quality antenna was being used. I was down in Bargo observing and didn't make it.

They rescheduled for a proper contact around 8.30am Friday (yesterday). Sorry I didn't warn you; I forgot to put this thread in my watch list. I have yet to hear whether they were successful. I'll let you know!

Cheers!
DSB