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Hi Bob,

Great questions......

I will give you short and concise answers here but will follow up with more information soon.

1 Will a 5W HT work for this?

Yes, but you will need to be proficient with channel hopping, band selection, programming, etc. because you will be switching frequencies depending on your mode of operation. You will be programming in multiple frequencies to account for Doppler Effect. Some HTs are better suited than others but with practice (and dexterity), a $25 Baofeng UV-5R will work just fine. There are lots of videos on this subject on YouTube.

Additionally, you will need to use a directional antenna - usually handheld - to point and follow the satellite/ISS during its pass overhead. Arrow and Elk tend to be the most popular.

And you need some sort of satellite tracking app on your smart device to assist you in anticipating and tracking the target satellite/ISS.

2 Do the repeaters you listed below have PL Tones?

Sometimes - To open up (turn on) the transponder of a satellite, you do have to transmit a PL tone to engage/access the on-board repeater (aka transponder).

I don't believe this is the case with the ISS transponder. There is no PL listed as needed.

This is the official site for ISS contact info:?

3 In your opinion is any one of the frequencies better (more reliable, more responsive, etc) than any of the others?

The frequencies have different missions - APRS (packet repeater) Messaging, Transponder use, Crew member QSO, etc.

QSOs with a crew member is very rare these days. They do schedule talks with schools though.

4 What is the significance of the terms Uplink and DownLink associated with the frequencies listed below?

Uplink refers to the frequency and band that you will be using to transmit and downlink refers to the frequency and band you will be receiving. More on this later.

In the meantime, please review the attached article. It is full of great info and tips and addresses most of your questions.

Regards,

Joe, N2OQJ

Joe Sammartino

24/7: ?480.270.4563

Mobile: ?480.381.2993

jsammartino@...

On Wed, Jul 15, 2020 at 8:43 PM Backus Bob <bob.backus1@...> wrote:

Joe,

Thank you for sending the information regarding the international space station.

I have several questions about listening to or working the frequencies associated with the international space station:

1 Will a 5W HT work for this?

2 Do the repeaters you listed below have PL Tones?

3 In your opinion is any one of the frequencies better (more reliable, more responsive, etc) than any of the others?

4 What is the significance of the terms Uplink and DownLink associated with the frequencies listed below?

Thanks,

Bob Backus

KE7UGJ?

On Jul 14, 2020, at 8:00 PM, Joe Sammartino <jsammartino@...> wrote:

?

International Space?Station?Visible Tonight - 8:30 PM

Folks - Good news!

Another great opportunity to?spot?the?International Space?Station?this evening as it passes over our area in Arizona.

It should be a good pass and hopefully?the?clouds will be minimal.

Treat your family and friends to a viewing of?the?International Space?Station?tonight. I find that even?the?most non technical family member or friend get a kick out of seeing?the?station?as it moves across?the?sky at 17,150 MPH - that's 4.76 miles per second - and about 250 miles above us.

If you are an amateur radio operator, take?the?opportunity to relate how us hams can communicate directly with?the?ISS or through one of its transponders.

The?ISS will be visible for 6 minutes and should be a good viewing and becomes visible directly from?the?West Northwest and disappears toward South Southeast.

Time: Tue Jul 14 8:31 PM

Visible: 6 min

Max Height: 44°

Appears: 10° above SSW (from 203°)

Disappears: 11° above ENE (toward 68°)

I've also attached an illustration that will help you determine how to use this information. You can watch and track?the?station?in advance at this link:

And, something new! I've attached a chart of?the?actual pass.

Remember, these times are based on a viewing site from?the?Mesa area (and within 50 miles). If you would like to generate times from your specific city or town, visit?thelink and follow?the?instructions.

If your specific city or town isn’t listed, pick?the?closest one.?The?space?station?is visible for at least a 50 mile (80 km) radius around each of?the?listed locations.

If you are an amateur radio operator, listen in (or work) on these frequencies:

Voice and SSTV Downlink: 145.80 (Worldwide)

Voice Uplink: 144.49 for ITU Regions 2 and 3

VHF Packet Uplink and Downlink: 145.825 (Worldwide) - easiest to hear

UHF Packet Uplink and Downlink: 437.550

UHF/VHF Repeater Uplink: 437.800

UHF/VHF Repeater Downlink: 145.800

Regards, Joe N2QOJ

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