Ditto.  I was at a pool party some years back and used a Kenwood HT to talk to 
an astronaut.  He was using the Kenwood transceiver installed in the space 
station.
During an ARISS session with a school, a completely different setup is used.  
The transceiver is a Harris unit using the onboard audio system and a separate 
dedicated antenna.  This station has a special ARISS call sign and the 
astronauts are control operators with their own call sign.
When astronauts are assigned to a mission aboard the space station, they are 
asked if they want to participate in the ARISS session.  If the answer is yes, 
they must have an amateur radio license.  If they do not have a license, I am 
called to teach them how to get their license.  This is done in a two day class 
at the Johnson Space Center.  Each day is a two hour session, so only four 
hours of instruction are given.  Electronics and math are not included since 
astronauts are already well trained in these topics.  Instead, emphasis is 
placed on rules, regulations and procedure.
73, Keith NM5G
    On Saturday, February 12, 2022, 08:20:13 PM CST, Rick Hiller via BVARC 
<[email protected]> wrote:  
 
 At the Boy Scout local Jamboree in Navasota a few years back we worked the ISS 
with a 2 meter mobile FM rig and vertical antenna.  The astronaut talked to us 
for a bit too, not just 599 TU.....pretty cool..  Of course they were directly 
over head during their pass.
RH   
On Sat, Feb 12, 2022 at 11:34 AM Ron Bosch via BVARC <[email protected]> wrote:


Something run through NASA is overengineered, IAM SHOCKED, SHOCKED I say!!  😊

 

Sent from Mail for Windows

 

From: JP Pritchard via BVARC
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 8:39 AM
To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB
Cc: JP Pritchard; Jeff Greer; Jeffery MacMillian
Subject: Re: [BVARC] ARISS Contact - Request for loaner gear

 

Over-engineered is an understatement.  

 

JP 


On 02/10/2022 8:16 AM Jeff Greer via BVARC <[email protected]> wrote: 

 

 

This is a scheduled school contact with the ISS via the ARISS program.  
ARISS.org has documentation, including ground station recommendations here:  
https://www.ariss.org/uploads/1/9/6/8/19681527/ariss_ground_station.pdf 

 

We were also assigned a technical mentor (a ham who has done this many times 
before), who must approve our plan before passing it along to ARISS for 
official approval. 

 

-j 

 

 

 



From: BVARC <[email protected]> on behalf of Jeffery MacMillian via BVARC 
<[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2022 7:53 AM
To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <[email protected]>
Cc: Jeffery MacMillian <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [BVARC] ARISS Contact - Request for loaner gear 

 

Jeff, 

 

Is there a reference or documentation?  Are you just trying to make a contact, 
or is there something else going on?  

 

Thanks, 

Jeff 

KC5TT  

 

 

On Thu, Feb 10, 2022 at 7:25 AM Jeff Greer via BVARC <[email protected]> wrote: 


We have to build primary and backup stations for contacting the ISS, in 
accordance with ARISS requirements, which are decidedly over-engineered.  😉 

 

I think they require a minimum 14-el circular polarized cross yagi on a rotator 
for the primary station, for example, along with automagic satellite 
tracking... 

 

 



From: BVARC <[email protected]> on behalf of Jeffery MacMillian via BVARC 
<[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 9, 2022 10:57 PM
To: BRAZOS VALLEY AMATEUR RADIO CLUB <[email protected]>
Cc: Jeffery MacMillian <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [BVARC] ARISS Contact - Request for loaner gear 

 

Jeff, 

 

What exactly are you trying to accomplish??  I am sure we can find some way to 
accommodate your goal without being out some $5000.00 worth of ham gear... 

 

 

Have Fun, 

Jeff 

KC5TT . . .  

 

 

 

On Wed, Feb 9, 2022 at 7:23 PM Jeff Greer via BVARC <[email protected]> wrote: 


All, 

 

We are moving to finalize our equipment plan.  We've consulted with our ARISS 
technical mentor and believe we are on the right track.  We are seeking some 
loaner gear (list below).  Charlie wanted me to make sure to let everyone know 
that we are looking to have gear on hand in the next few weeks, and won't be 
able to return loaner gear for some time - perhaps as late as December or 
January.  We understand that many will not be able to be without their gear for 
that long, so wanted to state it up front. 

 

That said, here's a short list of the stuff we know we'll need: 

 

-Icom IC-9700 

-50A power supply, linear preferred 

-peaked roof mount (tripod or base that can be secured with cinder blocks 
and/or sandbags) 

-Mirage B-5018-G preamp, 2M-PA 2M preamp, or similar (for us to play with prior 
to receiving ARRL gear) 

-Battery power system in case of power outage 

-eggbeater and/or 5/8 wave (w/ ground radials/plate) antenna 

-Cushcraft A14820 or similar cross yagi 

-Uninterruptable power supplies 

-SWR/Power Output meter 

-coax switches 

-Yaesu G5500 rotator (we have a possible loan in the works with a local ham, 
and a possible loan from ARRL for this) 

 

If you would be able to help, please let me (and Charlie, copied here) know. 

 

Thanks so much! 

 

More details about how to listen to the contact as I have them. 

 

73! 

 

Jeff W5JEF 

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-- 
Rick Hiller  e-mail:     [email protected]:        
832-474-3713Physical: 9031 Troulon Drive               Houston, TX 
77036________________________________________________
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