Category Archives: ISS
2nd Attempt at an APRS Blog Post via ISS
Well, after a successful short APRS Blog Post sent via the ISS using my D700 a few days ago I wanted to make a 2nd attempt today during this afternoon’s 1:11 PM pass. Today I had my D7 but duplicated the same steps I did before, only real difference (other than radio) is that it was going to be 4 messages sent to the ISS instead of three as with the D700. Today’s pass was about 10 degrees higher than the previous one where I was able to make the successful post, so I figured my odds of success had to be better. (but then I haven’t won the lottery yet either lol)
Unfortunately, I was not as successful as before, BUT after the pass I did discover that part of my message had actually gotten through and also realized that I cannot start a message with “A” as I see that is the Alias command to WLNK. So my message was not seen as a message but as a command to set an alias. So I wonder had the first (SP) command been received would the next line of the message still been seen at a command to set an alias? Either way this 2nd attempt was not successful but there will be plenty more opportunities to try as well as experiment….just wish there was more available TDM slots in the day.
Until next time….73s!
ISS APRS Passes 11-2-11 to 11-6-11
It has been a crazy past week as well as weekend, actually didn’t have a weekend as I worked all day both Saturday and Sunday and before I knew it, it was Monday again. So needless to say there was little time left for playing APRS via the ISS (or even seeing if I can still catch/receive any signal from ARISSAT-1). The few ISS passes that I was able to break away and set up to work were silent passes. Guess I need to check the ISS Fan Club site a little more often to know if there is any activity prior to the upcoming pass. Any way here are the next good passes for the next 5 days that I hope to try and work.
Pass beginning
Date/time: 11/2 20:00:20
Azimuth: 309.31° (NW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.17°
Magnitude: 1.3
Distance to satellite: 2269.8 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 11/2 20:05:35
Azimuth: 209.59° (SSW)
Elevation (altitude): 78.72°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 405.6 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Pass ending
Date/time: 11/2 20:10:40
Azimuth: 134.59° (SE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.62°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2218.1 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Good visible pass
———————————-
Pass beginning
Date/time: 11/3 12:35:0
Azimuth: 231.63° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.13°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2212.6 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 11/3 12:40:5
Azimuth: 325.05° (NW)
Elevation (altitude): 75.04°
Magnitude: -2.5
Distance to satellite: 392.4 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Pass ending
Date/time: 11/3 12:45:5
Azimuth: 48.19° (NE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.58°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2180.2 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Invisible pass
———————————
Pass beginning
Date/time: 11/6 10:19:40
Azimuth: 229.33° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.29°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2193.8 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 11/6 10:24:40
Azimuth: 305.64° (NW)
Elevation (altitude): 84.57°
Magnitude: -2.6
Distance to satellite: 380.2 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Pass ending
Date/time: 11/6 10:29:45
Azimuth: 49.14° (NE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.35°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2198.1 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Invisible pass
——————————–
There is an 88 degree pass shown on 11/5/11 starting at 18:45 but unable to pull it up and copy the pass details on the n2yo site.
Below are several good ARISSAT-1 passes that I will also see if I can get a good copy on one of the passes. There was one last night but had just gotten to work and was not able to catch it.
Pass beginning
Date/time: 11/2 12:28:0
Azimuth: 220.91° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.04°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2140.9 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 11/2 12:32:50
Azimuth: 140.16° (SE)
Elevation (altitude): 59.61°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 403.8 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Pass ending
Date/time: 11/2 12:37:40
Azimuth: 52.78° (NE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.38°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2103.8 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Invisible pass
——————————-
Pass beginning
Date/time: 11/3 19:19:0
Azimuth: 310.70° (NW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.02°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2159.1 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 11/3 19:23:55
Azimuth: 23.73° (NNE)
Elevation (altitude): 86.33°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 353.4 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Pass ending
Date/time: 11/3 19:28:45
Azimuth: 131.08° (SE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.37°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2096.9 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Good visible pass
———————————-
Pass beginning
Date/time: 11/4 11:44:50
Azimuth: 223.56° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.25°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2114.8 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 11/4 11:49:40
Azimuth: 133.40° (SE)
Elevation (altitude): 69.88°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 371.4 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Pass ending
Date/time: 11/4 11:54:25
Azimuth: 51.60° (NE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.53°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2082.7 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Invisible pass
————————————
Pass beginning
Date/time: 11/6 10:00:40
Azimuth: 225.75° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.22°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2114.8 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 11/6 10:05:30
Azimuth: 132.96° (SE)
Elevation (altitude): 79.18°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 354.8 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Pass ending
Date/time: 11/6 10:10:15
Azimuth: 50.63° (NE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.55°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2076.5 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Invisible pass
————————————
Must be something with the data for November 5th on the site as there is a 83 degree pass that starts at 18:35 also listed but no details are shown on the site for the pass either.
Got two passes today, one for ARISSAT-1 and one for the ISS so hoping I can catch one of them.
Until next time….73s!
ISS APRS Passes 10-24-11 to 10-28-11
Looks like there will not be any very good high passes this week, the best one is going to be a 65 degree pass on 10/27. So with that said here are this weeks passes that I will be trying to work.
Pass beginning
Date/time: 10/24 23:46:25
Azimuth: 306.43° (NW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.03°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2292.8 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 10/24 23:51:40
Azimuth: 221.90° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 53.82°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 487.0 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Pass ending
Date/time: 10/24 23:56:45
Azimuth: 141.69° (SE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.48°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2229.2 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Invisible pass
——————————–
Pass beginning
Date/time: 10/25 16:20:40
Azimuth: 238.33° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.29°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2203.5 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 10/25 16:25:40
Azimuth: 320.66° (NW)
Elevation (altitude): 52.72°
Magnitude: -2.1
Distance to satellite: 474.6 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Pass ending
Date/time: 10/25 16:30:45
Azimuth: 45.77° (NE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.41°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2210.7 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Invisible pass
———————————–
Pass beginning
Date/time: 10/25 22:48:40
Azimuth: 313.43° (NW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.29°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2260.1 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 10/25 22:53:50
Azimuth: 37.60° (NE)
Elevation (altitude): 59.24°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 458.8 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Pass ending
Date/time: 10/25 22:59:0
Azimuth: 123.75° (SE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.40°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2238.2 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Invisible pass
———————————-
Pass beginning
Date/time: 10/26 15:22:50
Azimuth: 220.22° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.25°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2201.0 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 10/26 15:27:50
Azimuth: 137.41° (SE)
Elevation (altitude): 58.90°
Magnitude: -2.3
Distance to satellite: 440.7 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Pass ending
Date/time: 10/26 15:32:50
Azimuth: 52.97° (NE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.62°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2180.4 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Invisible pass
———————————-
Pass beginning
Date/time: 10/27 22:28:55
Azimuth: 307.83° (NW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.27°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2258.4 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 10/27 22:34:5
Azimuth: 223.14° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 65.10°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 435.0 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Pass ending
Date/time: 10/27 22:39:10
Azimuth: 138.21° (SE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.63°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2208.5 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Invisible pass
———————————
Pass beginning
Date/time: 10/28 15:02:55
Azimuth: 234.83° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.05°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2223.3 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 10/28 15:08:0
Azimuth: 321.31° (NW)
Elevation (altitude): 63.12°
Magnitude: -2.4
Distance to satellite: 424.2 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Pass ending
Date/time: 10/28 15:13:5
Azimuth: 47.03° (NE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.32°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2211.1 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Invisible pass
———————————-
Pass beginning
Date/time: 10/28 21:30:55
Azimuth: 314.57° (NW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.11°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2270.7 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 10/28 21:36:5
Azimuth: 36.65° (NE)
Elevation (altitude): 49.59°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 509.1 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Pass ending
Date/time: 10/28 21:41:10
Azimuth: 120.22° (SE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.58°
Magnitude: –
Distance to satellite: 2213.4 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): YES
Invisible pass
Hopefully I will be able to work several of these passes this coming week. I am seeing that I am needing to invest (again) in batteries for my D7 HT so have not been able to try to operate via HT only on some of these ISS Passes when I have been out and about due to work demands. I know that last time I needed to get batteries for my D& HT I had to do a lot of searching to find a company that still made batteries. So I may go with a battery holder this time around.
Until next time…..73s!
ISS APRS Passes 10-20-11 to 10-23-11
Real world work has been keeping me busy from working the ISS Passes, the few that I have attempted to work on the fly best I was able to do was get a beacon in but not able to get messages/traffic passed. And just occurred to me while eating a quick lunch that I had not yet checked the site for passes for this week. So here are the latest passes that I will attempt to work.
Pass beginning
Date/time: 10/20 17:55:35
Azimuth: 226.07° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.25°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2202.4 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 10/20 18:00:35
Azimuth: 155.29° (SSE)
Elevation (altitude): 80.94°
Magnitude: -2.6
Distance to satellite: 386.5 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Pass ending
Date/time: 10/20 18:05:40
Azimuth: 50.45° (NE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.55°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2189.0 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Invisible pass
————————————-
Pass beginning
Date/time: 10/23 16:35:35
Azimuth: 221.25° (SW)
Elevation (altitude): 0.26°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2196.0 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Maximum altitude
Date/time: 10/23 16:40:35
Azimuth: 137.13° (SE)
Elevation (altitude): 62.33°
Magnitude: -2.4
Distance to satellite: 424.9 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Pass ending
Date/time: 10/23 16:45:35
Azimuth: 52.51° (NE)
Elevation (altitude): 0.56°
Magnitude: 1.2
Distance to satellite: 2179.8 km
In Earth’s shadow (eclipsed): NO
Invisible pass
———————————
Looks like this is a slim week as there are only two good passes (during normal waking hours lol) so hoping to be on one or both passes. And hope to have more to post here and my other Amateur Radio blog once I can free up some more TDM slots.
Until next time….73s!
Worked ISS from (repaired) D700
Well, finally took my dead D700 into the Kenwood Repair Depot (which I am fortunate is local here in Va. Beach) to get repaired. I held off fearing it was a cracked board (or worse) since the unit had been dropped. So I did the usual visual inspections for hair line cracks or fractured solder joints but none were found or at least visually evident. The was the extent of my troubleshooting, I intended to do more but the current work load between both the full time and part time jobs made that a bit challenging. But fortunately it was only a defective 9.6 volt regulator that was damaged and only cost $88 to repair. Yes, I say only as I was expecting much worse. So now I am back online via my D700. Didn’t realize how long that I had been without it as it took me a little while to remember how to reprogram it and get it all set back up for APRS.
I was planning on working the ISS pass last night but ended up working later than originally planned and missed that one but there was another very good (high) pass this afternoon and worked the ISS using the D700. Worked very well and got two messages from other operators. (AB1OD & W8KRF). Just was not able to type back a reply message fast enough via the microphone keypad. I have worked the ISS via my HT and a laptop running APRS+SA before and it was much easier to type replies/messages. Now that I have my D700 back I am brainstorming on some ideas. (more on this later) I still need to come up with a good way to keep a log of stations I receive messages from as well as successfully sent messages to other operators. I am wanting something (a log) that I can update while mobile as well as a way of verifying that my messages was actually received and digi’ed by the ISS. Hopefully on the next good pass I will attempt to send messages back to the above operators, thus why I am wanting some sort of log of rx’ed and ACK’ed messages.
That is all I have for now, so until next time….73s!