ISS MIR Space Station SSTV Over HAWAII- WB6FZH - How to do it!


MIR SSTV OVER HAWAII (1993-2000)

Page Last Updated: 10-24-08 - NEW LINKS Most of page Written: 12-02-03

CLICK HERE-TO See and Hear Richard Garriott's ISS Visit in October 2008- SEVERAL LINKS ABOUT SSTV on LINK LIST

NOTE: This page has been adjusted as some of the links disappear, but contains content of interest relating to the MIR Space Station (SK) and Ham Radiol

Soon more updated links and text, with additional information on sound board interfaces for SSTV (that are used for RTTY, PSK31 and other digital modes) that just "plug-in" to your PC sound card will be added to this page..

Look for SSTV on ISS in late 2008, it will be ROBOT 36 format, and modern soundcard software will work with it!.

IT IS EASIER THAN EVER TO CONTACT ISS on VOICE or DIGIPEAT with an inexpensive TNC using your regular 2meter antenna (or simple space friendly antennas can be easily constructed or purchased.- 73- Greg WB6FZH- 1/1/2009

Kaneohe Bay, Oahu- WB6FZH/KH6 QTH, BL-11 WB6FZH QTH VIEW, N.CA, CN-80


KH6/WB6FZH SSTV RECEPTION

Fron Edge of Kaneohe Bay, Oahu, Hawaii & N.Calfornia

SSTV Reception from MIR Space Station

WB6FZH IS NOW LIVING IN CALIFORNIA

View out the Window of MIR- Prioida Module

SLOW SCAN TELEVISION SIGNAL FROM MIR SPACE STATION

  • SSTV FORMAT- ROBOT 36
  • RADIO FREQUENCY/MODE- 145.985 Mhz Narrow Band FM
  • RECEPTION DATE/TIME(UTC)- 01-FEB-1999 at 00:55 (14:55 HST)
  • LOCATION OF MIR RELATED TO KANEOHE, HI- 1021 miles North (AZ=356 deg) 358 miles above, and 18 degrees above the horizon at 158 degrees West Longitude, and 29 degrees North Latitude.
  • MIR CREW AT THE TIME OF THIS SSTV IMAGE- Thanks to Russian Cosmonauts Sergei Avdeyev and Gennady Padalko!

MIR AMATEUR RADIO EQUIPMENT (145.985mhz)

  • VHF-FM RADIO TRANSCEIVER- Kenwood TM-733 (PMS)
  • TV CAMERA/SSTV UNIT-Kenwood TM-V7A (SSTV- Robot 36)
  • PACKET TNC AX25-Kantronics 9612
  • POWER SUPPLY- DC/DC Inverter- AMSAT-Germany
  • ANTENNA SYSTEM- External/Vertical- Dual-band Larsen Mfg USA

WB6FZH/KH6 AMATEUR RADIO EQUIPMENT & ANTENNA (145.985mhz)

  • VHF-FM RADIO TRANSCEIVER- Kenwood TM-251a
  • PACKET TNC AX25- MFJ-1270/m (1200/9600)Used for Packet Messages to/from MIR Only
  • POWER SUPPLY- 12VDC- Deep Cycle Battery/AC PS/Solar-AC Charger
  • ANTENNA SYSTEM- Eggbeater Type- Two Circular vertical full-wave loops perpendicular and fed 90 degrees out of phase at the bottom. (Commercial Version: EB-144 M-Squared Fresno, CA) Mounted 20 feet above sea level.

WB6FZH/KH6 COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, DOS PROGRAM & RECEIVE SERIAL INTERFACE

  • IBM PC COMPUTER- PC 486/33 AST 16M ram DOS 6.20 (WIN 3.11 NOT USED...ezsstv.exe is a DOS Program), a useable serial input (COM1,etc) to plug the serial interface or adapter/cable to your computer.
  • SSTV PROGRAM- EZSSTV SSTV DOS program by John Langner.
  • SATELLITE TRACKING PROGRAM- STS-ORBITS PLUS, By- David Ransom,FREE PROGRAM (dos). Other programs availiable through AMSAT. This program is Y2K compliant. A satellite tracking program tells you when to listen.
  • RADIO to COMPUTER SERIAL INTERFACE- Homebuilt 12/30/99 from article in defunct magazineMonitoring Times, May 1997- By Bill Cheek. NOTE: Reverse polarity of C-2 on diagram) This device has two connections; 1) a connection to the speaker output of your 2 mtr radio, 2) a computer cable or adapter to agree with your 9 pin or 25pin COM port.
  • SERIAL INTERFACE NOTE: You do not have to use this exact interface, there are many other circuits on the web that work fine! This device has about 13 parts and is easily constructed from this article with schematic, pictorial and text information. The July 98, MT has almost the same project shown in different configuration. The expense is $25 or less to build a serial adapter with parts from the Radio Shack Store. It can be used with other software programs to decode RTTY, CW, Pactor, Packet and other digital communications with the appropriate software programs.

    You connect your receiver audio output to the input of the soundcard, and can even connect it's output to your transmitter(if you are licensed and have one) and send computer-based SSTV too! (hook-up information is availiable for this sound based\ technology that is also used for PSK31, RTTY and other digital modes.

    NOTE: This article was originally written more than 4 years ago, sound card technology and better software has been written. SSSTV signals can be found on the HF Amateur Bands too!

YOU CAN DO THIS TOO..Important message to Non-Rocket Scientist Readers

NOTE: I am not a rocket scientist or super technician. I built it and it worked first time. Just connect the adapter to your receiver speaker output and plug into your serial input (COM 1 or 2). I created a directory, then downloaded the program (EZSSTV.ZIP), placed it in the directory and used PKUNZIP.EXE to expand it. I read the text files and then started the program and read the helpful information provided. It is really that simple!

To test my set-up I put the program in the "Scottie" mode, and listened to signals on 14.230/14.233 Mhz(USB) and saw SSTV from Japan and USA. Then I switched to "ROBOT 36" tuned to 145.985 Mhz(fm) and waited until the time my satellite tracking program' STS-PLUS, predicted arrive time. I heard CW Tone ID clicked to "Receive" and the picture filled the screen of my monitor.

There are several simple serial adapter/hamcomm circuits they will all work fine with this application. If you do not wish to try and build one. There are a few on the market for $50-125. I have heard good things about MFJ Model 1213 Adapter (Receive only $49.95) and Tigertronics/Baypack Model BP-2-M (Transmit and Receive $69.95).

With the advent of Computer Sound Card Adapters that you can build or buy, and new software that works with it, even more adventure and fun is happening SSTV and Ham Radio.

I recommend an inexpensive and easy to operate BUXCOM - RASCAL Sound Card Unit, with cable and CD. The cost is often less than $60.00. Check their website. Other equipment is also available that does same thing, try using SEARCH ENGINE with keywords .

DISCLAIMER: I am reporting a positive experience with some simple technology, I have tried to assemble enough information for people with different computers, radios and levels of ability to receive their own SSTV pictures. I do not own stock in software or interface companies, I just wanted to make it easy for those interested. Good Luck! I hope your experience is as good as mine. WB6FZH- Greg Greenwood

WB6FZH returned to Northern California in 2000 and resides in grid square, CN-80, in the Shasta Trinity National Forest. Located in a valley at 2400' with 5-6,000' snowcapped mountains above. He is using the same serial adapter technology for SSTV pictures on VHF and HF, and has constructed a SOUND CARD ADAPTER and will be trying to receive new SSTV images late in 2004 from the ISS (International Space Station) as the signals pass through the mountains. He did copy the LAST SSTV IMAGES on orbits prior to the de-orbiting of MIR into the South Pacific Ocean. SSTV is found on the HF Ham Bands too!

A sound card interface that will work with SSTV, PSK31 and many other digital modes can be constructed or purchased, information can be found on links from this page in the technical section. Good luck and have fun.

Visit the LINKS provided, and follow their links and you will find lots of information that will allow you to easily and inexpensively bring video images from space to your location. This is as close to space as most of us will ever get, enjoy it while you can.

LISTEN ON 145.8 mhz FM for the ISS voice downlink!

International Space Station HAM RADIO INFO

MIR IMAGE 3/99 WB6FZH/KH6 Greg on roof of Castle Medical Center, Kailua, Oahu, HI AO-27 QSO to CA

NEW UPDATED LINKS:- October 24, 2008