Thanx Scott (WA6LIE) and TSUP (Mission Control Center) for information.


Ham radio activity aboard the Mir space station came to a close on August 28, 1999 as the crew returned to Earth, leaving the station unmanned. Mir is in a stable orbit with only essential systems running. All Amateur Radio activities have ceased.

Current Amateur Radio equipment aboard Mir includes:

MIR SAFEX II 70-cm Repeater
Uplink		435.750 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 141.3 Hz
Downlink  	437.950 MHz FM
Not operational. No operation in 1999 or 2000 has been observed.

MIR SAFEX II 70-cm QSO Mode
Uplink    	435.725 MHz FM w/subaudible tone 151.4 Hz
Downlink  	437.925 MHz FM
Not operational. No operation in 1999 or 2000 has been observed.

MIR PERSONAL MESSAGE SYSTEM (PMS)
Uplink/Downlink 145.985 MHz FM 1200 baud AFSK
Not operational.

HOW TO WORK R0MIR-1

The MIR Space Station is currently orbiting the Earth about every 95 minutes while traveling at roughly 17,000 MPH. Due to the fact that MIR is a moving object, and radio frequencies being involved here, Doppler corrections may be needed. On the 2 meter band , the Doppler is a maximim of 3.5 khz on a pass directly overhead (90 degrees). On a pass say 10 degrees above the horizion, the Doppler is small about 1 khz. This can be a very important factor in working the packet Personal Bulletin Board. This is because packets may become distorted. Here are some items to look at in your station for sucessful attempts.

1. LOCATION

If you are in a bad location where it might be difficult to get a signal out, you might be limited to the number of passes that you can work. You might want to look into a simple 1/4 wave 2 meter groundplane. This antenna has a good lobe looking up. If you are in the clear to your horizions, you have it made. However, Doppler and antenna type will be your disadvantage.
For the average HAM station running say a 50 watt radio, and a J pole antenna has a great advantage on MIR passes that are up to about 20 degrees above the horizion! Doppler isn't a real consideration and your antenna pattern is ideal for something up to 20 degrees above the horizion, or a bit more! Most radios will work, and no frequency corrections are needed. Doppler up on UHF is around 10 KHZ and Doppler compensation is needed! A MUST for SAFEX or any UHF satellite operations.
Note: SAFEX not operational at this writing.

2. TRACKING

You will need some satellite tracking software to know when and where MIR will be in your area. There is alot of tracking software available on the internet. I use STSPLUS, and have for over 12 years. Keplerian information on MIR and other satellites is updated twice weekly, and probably can be found on your local BBS.

3. FREQUENCY

The frequency is 145.985 SIMLPEX World Wide. (1200 baud packet and Voice). This frequency will change in the very near future to a split operation for voice and packet on different uplink frequencies. Stay tuned for updates.

4. PACKET WISE

If you are not familar with packet connections or mailboxes, do some expermentations on the ground first before trying to operate MIR. The TNC on MIR is a Kantronics KPC-9612+ V 8.1 and is operating at 1200 baud ONLY. Here is the HELP that you would get on R0MIR-1 when using the Help (H) command:


B(ye)	      PBBS WILL DISCONNECT
E(dit) n [BPTYNFH] [>tocall] [ call   LIST MESSAGES FROM OR TO CALL
LB	      LIST BULLETINS
LC [cat]      LIST CATEGORIES
LL n	      LIST LAST n MESSAGES
LM(ine)       LIST UNREAD MESSAGES ADDRESSED TO YOU
LO [+.|-]     LISTING ORDER
LT	      LIST TRAFFIC
LTn	      DISPLAY LOCATION TEXT n=1-4
K(ill) n      DELETE MESSAGE NUMBER n
KM(ine)       DELETE ALL READ MESSAGES ADDRESSED TO YOU
R(ead) n      DISPLAY MESSAGE NUMBER n
RH n	      DISPLAY MESSAGE n WITH HEADERS
RM(ine)       READ ALL MESSAGES ADDRESSED TO YOU
S(end) call   SEND MESSAGE TO callsign
S[B.|P.|T] call SEND BULLETIN, PRIVATE, or TRAFFIC

Please don't use the Help command on MIR! This is STANDARD to MOST TNC's and doing so just limits the use of MIR by other stations. There can only be ONE user connected to R0MIR-1 at a time.

5. BE PREPARED

If you wish to send a message to the crew, have a file of message READY to go! What I usually do is make a message to R0MIR BEFORE I even send it. On my KPC-9612, I get in my mailbox, and SP R0MIR@MIR. Then enter the subject and then the message. When MIR is in range, and the mailbox is not being used, I forward the message. My TNC talks to MIR's TNC and goes through the forwarding process. This is A LOT quicker! I send 3.7K of info in one minute! This includes the connect to disconnect time. Consult YOUR TNC users manual for forwarding mail to a station.
Don't try to send a message to your buddy down the street to MIR's PERSONAL Mailbox. It will NOT allow 3rd party messages. If you try, you will get a response - MESSAGES MUST BE ADDRESSED TO THIS STATION.

6. BE COURTOUS

Please don't try connecting to R0MIR-1 when someone else is already connected. You will get a R0MIR-1 **BUSY. When you get this, don't keep trying while others are connected. This just messes up the other station, and it is interference and will just take that much LONGER for the user to finish before he/she disconnects. Would you like others interfering with your connects to MIR? Look for the D frame from R0MIR-1 to the connected station. Using MCOM ON will allow you to see all these packets. Here is what MY KPC-9612 would show.

R0MIR-1>WA6LIE/1 [05/13/98 22:18:04]: <>:

After you see this, hopefully, the ground station has sent his/her disconnect to R0MIR-1, and it will be ready for the next connect.



R0MIR
This is the callsign of MIR. This port has no value to working MIR
except credit towards a QSL card. There is nobody at the keyboard.
-----------------

QSL REQUESTS USA and WW except Europe:

Dr. Dave Larsen - N6CO/K6MIR
POB 1501
Pine Grove, California
95665
USA

  Please  include  a  SASE  (Business Size Envelope) and one IRC > for
international. If you are sending an IRC, Please make sure it is dated
1998,  as  the	post  office won't accept IRC's dated over 1 year old.
"Green Stamps" are encouraged for covering additional costs.
------------------------------------

If you have any questions, drop me a note!

73, Scott

E-Mail: [email protected]
Packet: wa6lie@wa6lie.#wcca.ca.usa.noam

M I R E X - U P D A T E

R0MIR-1 MAILBOX INFO

There have been a lot of requests of information on HOW TO WORK MIR? I have sent out MANY bulletins on this, and Miles Mann WF1F has done the same. We don't know if it is because it isn't posted enough, or if all the MIR users just climbed out from under a rock. We have NO IDEA!

    DO's
    ---------------
  1. DO be courteous of "other" HAMS on frequency wanting to work MIR.
  2. DO be patient, as others will wait for "you" to finish your connection.
  3. DO WAIT for others to "finish" with their connection to MIR.
  4. DO youself a favor. BE PREPARED!
  5. DO use MIR's "PERSONAL" mailbox to send "informational NEWS" to the crew.
  6. DO one to "others" as you would expect to done to "you".
  7. DO "listen" to packet or VOICE on MIR's frequency. (with a speaker)
  8. DO "wait" for a D frame to the connected user. eg. R0MIR-1>WA6LIE <'D'>
  9. DO use the MCOM ON paramater in your TNC to see <'D'> frames etc!
  10. DO your operations (if possible) when users in your area are alseep.
  11. DO be "familar" with "your" packet station and ALL of it's operations!
  12. DO use satellite tracking software to know when and where MIR is!
  13. DO use a pre-amp and a satellite type antenna if possible.
  14. DO send this information to ALL interested in the R0MIR-1 PERSONAL mailbox.
  15. DO "REQUEST" additional information if this isn't enough!!
    DO NOT's
    ---------------
  1. DON'T Connect to R0MIR-1 "just to do it".
  2. DON'T use MIR as a digipeater to connect to another station(s).
  3. DON'T "beacon" on MIR's frequency. (having MIR in your digi unproto path)
  4. DON'T continue to send packets on frequency when the crew is on VOICE!
  5. DON'T make "blind" calls to the crew on VOICE.
  6. DON'T send "personal" messages to your friends on MIR "just to do it".

    If you attempt so, you will get a message like this: MESSAGES MUST BE ADDRESSED TO THIS STATION
    Note: All 3rd party messages are NOT ALLOWED! This because the crew is NOT familar with TNC/PACKET operations, and can NOT maintain the mailbox.
    This requires a lot of TIME! Who ever does it! The "old" pacomm TNC had less than 32k memory, and it would fill up in 1 day! Therefore, the MIREX SYSOP has to do this. On 2 meters, and on "your" time to maintain the mailbox. This was a TOTAL MESS and was ABUSED!
    It is typical for the SYSOP to take 2 passes just to maintain the mailbox! This means there are 2 passes LESS that users might get to use! Anyway you look at it, only ONE USER AT A TIME can be connected to R0MIR-1.

  7. DON'T ** SEND MAIL TO THE CREW FOR QSL REQUESTS!! ** (see QSL info above)
  8. DON'T continue to send connect requests to R0MIR-1 when a user is connected.
  9. DON'T "expect" to be sucessful if you aren't PREPARED.
  10. DON'T "expect" return Mail from the crew! (out of XX msgs sent, 0 returns)
  11. DON'T Send Bulletins to R0MIR! eg. SB R0MIR Please don't do this!
  12. DON'T be afraid to "ask" myself or any other MIREX board member for info! 


================================
Here is the Help information given out by R0MIR-1 (Command: H)
*** PLEASE DON'T download this information from R0MIR-1. It is "HERE"!
================================

B(ye)	      PBBS WILL DISCONNECT
E(dit) n [BPTYNFH] [>tocall] [ call    LIST MESSAGES FROM OR TO CALL
LB	      LIST BULLETINS
LC [cat]      LIST CATEGORIES
LL n	      LIST LAST n MESSAGES
LM(ine)       LIST UNREAD MESSAGES ADDRESSED TO YOU
LO [+|-]      LISTING ORDER
LT	      LIST TRAFFIC
LTn	      DISPLAY LOCATION TEXT n=1-4
K(ill) n      DELETE MESSAGE NUMBER n
KM(ine)       DELETE ALL READ MESSAGES ADDRESSED TO YOU
R(ead) n      DISPLAY MESSAGE NUMBER n
RH n	      DISPLAY MESSAGE n WITH HEADERS
RM(ine)       READ ALL MESSAGES ADDRESSED TO YOU
S(end) call   SEND MESSAGE TO callsign
S[B|P|T] call SEND BULLETIN, PRIVATE, or TRAFFIC
---------------

SUMMARY


The MIR Space Station is orbiting the Earth at about 240 miles above us, and traveling about 17,000 MPH! This covers a lot of ground pretty fast! An average pass for a "non satellite"- average VHF 50 watt HAM station will only be able to use 4-5 minutes out of a 10 minute pass! Therefore, it is important that you are prepared. Those that choose to keep trying to connect to R0MIR-1 while a (one) user is connected already, you are just causing "INTERFERENCE" to other radio amateurs, and ethically is wrong.
So, please be aware of what you are doing, and it will make it easier on ALL others that cooperate and show some respect for their fellow amateur. If you are NOT decoding packets from MIR, don't try to make a connection! ONLY ONE (1) USER AT A TIME CAN BE CONNECTED TO R0MIR-1.

R0MIR-1 is "intended" for use by the "crew". It is a PERSONAL Mailbox. It is "just like" your own mailbox on your TNC at home! A PERSONAL mailbox!
Think about it......
HAM STATION INFORMATION

  Callsign:  R0MIR (keyboard- nobody there. You will get disconnected!
OK for QSL) Mailbox Callsign: R0MIR-1 (Personal Mailbox) Frequency:
145.985 World Wide (FM only) Mode: AFSK 1200 baud AX25 packet
(KPC-9612 1200 baud only!) Mode: FM Voice (Any MIR crewmember at any
given time! HINT: Listen first!)
---------------

QSL REQUESTS USA and WW except Europe:

Dr. Dave Larsen
POB 1501
Pine Grove, California
95665
USA

  Please  Include  a  SASE  (Business Size Envelope) and one IRC > for
International. If you are sending an IRC, Please make sure it is dated
1998,  beacause the post office will NOT accept an IRC dated over 1 yr
old! For USA HAMS, "green stamps" are apreciated!- N6CO/K6MIR
---------------

  We  are sorry if this offends anyone, but it apears that one must be
BLUNT  and  to	the POINT! I hope you can understand, so you can teach
others!  That  is  what  HAM radio is about! Learning/Teaching correct
Amateur techniques!


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