Over Christmas break, Amateur Radio HAM enthusiasts are experimenting with the International Space Station (ISS), sending “fuzzy” images to HAMs throughout the world as the ISS zip’s around the earth every 90 minutes. You can tune in using only a web browser!
Retirement offers more time to explore time consuming hobbies. In my teens I considered HAM radio, but was put off by the need to learn “morse code” which is not required any more. The HAM hobby (they prefer Amateur Radio now – but HAM is more widely understood), has evolved to the point you don’t need any fancy radio equipment or even a license to be able to LISTEN in on this secret world. Although my technology / electronics interests were the prime motivation for me to learn how to use HAM radios, I also volunteer with an Emergency Measures organization (EMO) where this “old school” analog technology can be helpful in a crisis when our digital infrastructure is not available (no internet, no cell phones) – yes, it does happen!
Some HAM’s are also working with schools to help promote joint interest in Space Travel and HAM radios in conjunction with their ARISS association.
SDR
You can listen to any HAM radio signals (voice or data) for free using a website that is linked to “Software Defined Radio (SDR)”. Amazingly these sites share the various antenna’s of private HAM radio operators all around the world, where you can tune in virtually any HAM Radio frequency using their tools. For example, the one shown below is in Cape Town South Africa, tuned into a digital signal at 438.425Mhz. The yellow/orange vertical bar is an indication in this general radio spectrum displayed as a “waterfall of recent signals. You can find these sites using google!
Christmas ISS experiment
Here’s a “fuzzy” sample from Dec 26th. The ISS experiment goes until Jan 5th. Its sort of like the old rabbit ears days, when you fiddle with the antenna to get a better picture. The green grainy stuff is lost signal for that part of the image. It’s called “slow scan TV” which is sort of like FAX machine technology, which transmits data one line at a time for the 525 lines of a TV image. The challenge is that the station goes around the earth every 90 minutes.
Links
I have left the links out of this post because some sites that we share our articles on, don’t like links to other places. If you drop me a note you can see related links, or just do a Google Search.
- You can find where the ISS is at any moment in time using this link
- Facebook Group “International Space Station – A.R.I.S.S. Amateur radio experiments”
- Current Status of ISS Stations – ARISS
Our other article on my vintage electronics hobby may interest you.
Conclusion
HAM Amateur Radio is a gratifying hobby experience for many people who have a technical interest, and an interest in communication around the world in many forms. The current state of HAM is much simpler that it used to me by using current computer software.
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