June 15, 2011 Something I haven't found time nor energy to explore much is working stations through satellites. Indeed, it was at least 15 years ago that I made my first few contacts through a satellite. At that time, the Russian satellites RS-13 and RS-15 were all the rage. One of them used a 2 meter/10 meter mode, and I was able to have a few short ragchews on it. Today, partly because of a challenge, I made my first contact through AO-27 using a 2 meter uplink and a 70 cm downlink. How times have changed. No ragchewing now... just the exchanging of grid squares. A few years ago I purchased a used Arrow II Satellite Antenna on ebay. It is a great little antenna for 2-meters and 70 cm and can be used on local repeaters as well as with satellites. This is not the break-down model for backpacking, but it can easily be made into that model by following the simple directions on the Arrow website. I haven't decided yet whether to make that modification, but I doubt it will be necessary. When Jane decided to build her Tape Measure Yagi for Radio Direction Finding, it gave us the opportunity to use it for satellite reception as well. It has worked well for hearing APRS and Packet signals from the International Space Station. We estimated we were hearing the ISS until it dropped to about 10 degrees above the horizon. Using a piece of PVC pipe about 3' long as a handle, and bringing it straight out of the antenna, the handle can be propped on a leg to take the weight. This made it easier to use than the Arrow II for reception only. As light as the Arrow II is (10 ounces, plus a small duplexer and cables), it gets uncomfortable to hold when it is held for any length of time. That's because all the weight is out in front and fighting with you all the time. Attaching the antenna to a camera tripod helps immensely. The challenge I mentioned earlier came when a fellow club member, NE0DA, gave me a mobile mount intended to be used on a vehicle's transmission hump. He told me he had had it for about 15 years, and since it had not sold for 25 cents at the club's yard sale he gave it to me either to use or to store for the next 15 years. Although interesting in design and having the capability of tilting the radio upward, the unit seemed too small for the task, and I already had a mobile mount for a Yaesu 7800 bolted to the dash of my Ford F-250 Supercab truck. Then an idea struck. I first removed the worn hook and loop strips from the bottom of the mount and replaced them with Industrial Strength Velcro. I applied the mount to the side of a sealed 18-Ah battery and laid the battery on its side. An old Yaesu FT-5100 duo-band transceiver was then mounted. Anderson PowerPole connectors were used to run power to the rig. Running 5 watts and hand holding the Arrow II beam, my first contact was with Nick, KB1RVT, in Burlington, VT. Ron, N8RO, in Texas also called me when Nick and I finished our brief contact.

ARISS Contact On APRS May 3, 2011               I received a QSL card for having my APRS signal digipeated through RS0ISS-4 on the International Space Station on May 3, 2011.

This map from FindU.com shows stations heard during the ISS pass.