MIR:

Launched: Feb. 20, 1986

Orbit: 393 Km Period: 92 Min Typical Window: 10 Min

Mir is the Russian Space station with a person from the U.S. aboard. This station is in a very low orbit, but it is easy to work. If it is in voice mode, listen before transmission. Calling with out knowing the mode is very harmful to the other signals. The same goes for packet, the mode must be known and heard before transmission. The FM repeater on the Safex II module is now functional.

FM Voice and Packet is now on a standard repeater offset. The Frequencies are:

145.200 FM Up

145.800 FM Down

Packet now uses the same scheme as above.

This is a strange scheme, but one that Europeans like as it decreases interferance with terrestrial repeaters

The Mir Controllers ask that you not use the Mir Complex as a digipeater. The Personal Mail System on board Mir is to be used to communicate with the astronauts/cosmonauts exclusively. The call for the PMS is R0MIR-1. R0MIR is the keyboard on board the complex.

Antennas:

Uplink: Any reasonable 2 meter antenna will work.

Downlink: Any reasonable 2 meter antenna will work.

Radio:

2 Meter FM transceiver. 100mW will work if there is no other stations competing.

Other:

Contacting the Mir Space Station is very rewarding. There is no greater thrill than talking to some one in space. However, there can be a large number of others competing at the same time. Then the directional antennas help.

FM Repeater:

Uplink 435.75 FM with PL of 141.3 Hz

Downlink 437.95 FM

Equipment Required: FM with offset.

Mir is undergoing some housekeeping chores. The oxygen generators degenerated and new supplies were sent up via a Progress supply ship. All non essential activities have been terminated, including Ham Radio. Stand by for more news.

The Mir Antennas:

Many antennas have been used with great success. A circularly polarized 70 cm yagi is probably the best, but others have used more modest rigs with success. N0VSE uses a homebrew eggbeater with good success. N0VLN was heard on December 14 using a 4 watt ht and a hand held yagi. There are reports of people hitting and making QSOs with nothing more than a rubber duck. KI0AG is one of those.

Radio:

70 cm Radio capable of transmitting at 435.75 with odd offsets. Tuning steps of at least 5 KC are necessary. If you can program memory channels with 2 KC, so much the better.

A Tuning Scheme

This scheme can be used whether you are limited to 5 KC or can fine tune it down from there. Mir moves fast. The Doppler just screams especially during the midpoint of the pass. The Doppler works both ways, so it is impossible to put one offset in your radio and expect it to work. The following set appeared in WorldRadio in the January 1997 issue. It was developed by John Maglicane. The pattern should be obvious, so if you are limited to 5 KC offsets, just go either side of the center frequency and tune 5 channels in your radio. Good luck and have fun!!

Downlink

Uplink

Offset

437.958

435.742

2.216

437.956

435.744

2.212

437.954

435.746

2.208

437.952

435.748

2.204

437.950

435.750

2.200

437.948

435.752

2.196

437.946

435.754

2.192

437.944

435.756

2.188

437.942

435.758

2.184

Other:

The Mir Repeater can be very difficult. The antennas are not always pointed towards the Earth. The down link is easy to pick up, but the up link quite often is not strong enough to copy the audio.

Press Here to go to Philip Chien's fabulous Unofficial Mir Amateur Radio FAQs



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