For a variety of reasons, I’ve been off the satellites since last year. With Field Day back on, one of my jobs is to make a Satellite contact for the Newport County Radio Club, NE1RI. That means dusting off the equipment, calibrating uplinks, and generally making sure everything is good to go.
Sadly, several of the birds I can usually depend on are no longer operating (or have issues). But a new cross band repeater is active aboard the ISS.
I was able to make two FM contacts today with Ray KN2K in VA and John WV8DOH in WV today. These were the first contacts I’ve made thru the ISS repeater, and it was amazing how strong the downlink was. I can’t imagine how difficult it will be during Field Day, as it was busy enough today.
ISS Repeater: 437.800 Down, and 145.990 Up with a 67.0 Hz Tone
Being my first QSO, I am assuming that the correct Satellite Name is ARISS (since the Cross Band Repeater is part of the ARISS operation), and Paul N8HM was nice enough to confirm.
After the ISS pass, I worked a station on RS-44 (CW) and two stations on SO-50. I also recalibrated the uplink for AO-73, XW-2B, and XW-2F. I still need to calibrate for CAS-4A, CAS-4B, and XW-2A.
Ed 6/23: I did catch CAS-4A, CAS-4B, and XW-2A passes and have made QSOs on all three. So everything has been recently calibrated. Should be spot on for Field Day.
Hoping to work you on one of the birds real soon.
73 de N2NWK
Hi Archie!
Hope we can bump into each other on POTA or Satellite. I suspect my POTA will wait until the fall as there is lots to do outside. My home satellite situation has a lot to be desired as I am surrounded on all sides by 150 foot tall oak trees. I only get a view of the sky if the bird is 30 degrees or higher. Still manage to make a few contacts.
73, Bob, WB4SON