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Survey Question

Question

Amateur Radio in Space...ISS... STS...MIR - Have you ever worked an orbiting Ham?

Results (1192 answers)

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Survey Comments

Yes.....Susan Helms

I did work ISS. The astronauts name was Susan Helms. A recording of that contact can be heard here: http://www.qsl.net/w4bc/KO4J%20CQ%20Space%20Station.mp3
My call at the time was KO4J.

73/DX
Donnie, W4BC
Posted by W4BC on 2006-02-10

Haven't worked any orbiting hams, but, I've heard a few hams who were in outer orbit.
Posted by RobertKoernerExAE7G on 2006-01-12

Unexpected

Was mobile between somewhere and nowhere in ZS and totally bored. Called CQ on 145,550 running 25watts to a 5/8 mag mounted whip, and was answered by a ham on one of the shuttles (cannot remember the callsign). What a surprise !!!!!!!
Posted by ZS6AN on 2006-01-10

NA1SS

I have talked with Bill McArthur, (KC5ACR) 3 times while aboard the ISS. Very cool! I have the recordings on my web site along with the nice QSL for doing it. www.ad5jn.com
Ronn
AD5JN

Posted by AD5JN on 2006-01-10

MiR

I worked Andy Thomas as he orbited Oz and it was a great thrill for me.
Geoff VK3GV
Posted by VK3GV on 2006-01-08

Life is good!

I've been trying to catch NA1SS on 2-meter FM for several weeks now and I just got him this very afternoon. 20-watts and a ground plane antenna just above my roof! Thank you, Expedition 12 Commander, Bill McArthur, KC5ACR.
Posted by AA8LL on 2006-01-04

Lots of fun

I've made QSO's via packet and voice via MIR, a couple of
Shuttles and the ISS.

N3EG - I've made contacts w/ as little as a 5W ht and
home made 3 el yagi. Not too big investment there...

N3JBH & KD5PSH - I guess nocode bashing never gets old.
Forget the fact that these astronauts are brilliant people
who may even know code or have general or better ticket.
For instance on Dec 25/26 Sergey was on 7.080 MHz,
14.180 and 21.280 MHz. Hmm HF, interesting. KD5PSH
did you ever give it any thought that it might be pretty
tough to send code in zero G. Maybe they could manage
a couple WPM, by the time they called CQ they would be
out of most people window of opportunity. You really
need to get lives.
Posted by N1OFZ on 2006-01-04

Lots of fun

I've made QSO's via packet and voice via MIR, a couple of
Shuttles and the ISS.

N3EG - I've made contacts w/ as little as a 5W ht and
home made 3 el yagi. Not too big investment there...

N3JBH & KD5PSH - I guess nocode bashing never gets old.
Forget the fact that these astronauts are brilliant people
who may even know code or have general or better ticket.
For instance on Dec 25/26 Sergey was on 7.080 MHz,
14.180 and 21.280 MHz. Hmm HF, interesting. KD5PSH
did you ever give it any thought that it might be pretty
tough to send code in zero G. Maybe they could manage
a couple WPM, by the time they called CQ they would be
out of most people window of opportunity. You really
need to get lives.
Posted by N1OFZ on 2006-01-04

DX only

I like working DX - These guys are less than 500 KM away :)
Posted by VK2GWK on 2006-01-03

Yes, but...

They might only be 500km away Henk, but not even mobile DX comes close to these guys orbiting at 27648km per hour!

Cheers!
Andy
Posted by VK5LA on 2006-01-03

Frank Culbertson - KD5OPQ

The ISS (NA1SS) on 2 consecutive passes October 21, 2001 but have never been able to hook up with the ISS again since then. Did it using a Diamond X500 Vertical, too... didn't have any Satellite antennas yet!
Posted by N1IV on 2006-01-03

FYI

Owen Garriot's call was W5LFL I think ...

73 de WK2X
Posted by WK2X on 2006-01-03

Yep

I've worked the I.S.S. three times.

Mike KC2FTN
www.hamwave.com
Posted by KC2FTN on 2006-01-03

Sarex Mission

Heard STS-74 on 145.55 MHz

Space Shuttle Atlantis

November 16, 1995

Used nothing elaborate. Just a small Bearcat SC-150 sportcat handheld scanner, Radio Shack FM/TV amplifier (all chrome looking thing) and a homemade 19'2" rod antenna. I made a cable to connect the scanner's BNC connector to the amplifier's cable TV connection. I simply jammed the rod antenna I made into the "ANT" side of the receiving amplifier.

I was monitoring for a few hours and viola! I suddenly heard the space shuttle breaking the squelch on 145.55 !

Heard them for almost a good 5 minutes too! I will never forget that experience that day.

Of course this also meant that I could never part or sell my high tech space contact communication equipment.

:)

73 Charles - KC8VWM
Posted by KC8VWM on 2006-01-02

Finally In The Majority

Finally In The Majority On One Of These Polls. Yea!

Posted by N4CQR on 2006-01-01

Owen Garriot

Our club built a home brew 2 meter quad to work Owen Garriot aboard the Columbia space craft. I believe he was the first ham to talk from space and I remember his call as w5lfl I think --- he lived just due west of me in Enid Oklahoma-- they have a sign there to recognize him.Although we were not lucky enough to work him, we did indeed copy him 100% till the shuttle rotated on its axis-- he was transmitting from the pilots window. Happy New Year to all --- Bruce NU0R
Posted by NU0R on 2006-01-01

astro-knot

I've not worked astronauts; aren't they all no-coders?
Posted by KD5PSH on 2005-12-31

Space comms

Always wanted to- never found the time. There's always something else going on.
Posted by WY3X on 2005-12-31

RS-10/11

I did work the RS-10/11 robot years ago. 15 and 10 meters. Sure was fun. Not many idiots jamming like on 2 meters. Guess they stay away from CW.

Jim, N9ESH
Posted by N9ESH on 2005-12-30

RS-10/11

I did work the RS-10/11 robot years ago. 15 and 10 meters. Sure was fun. Not many idiots jamming like on 2 meters. Guess they stay away from CW.

Jim, N9ESH
Posted by N9ESH on 2005-12-30

Owen Garriott

He was one of the orignal astronauts in the Skylab. I think he also flew on the shuttel a couple of times. He was the first one to try voice in VHF from space.

Regards DE KA2UUP
Posted by KA2UUP on 2005-12-29

For the students...

I've always gotten the impression that the contacts were aimed more towards students than us Old Timers. So I've steered clear of the activity so as not to interrupt.

That's not to say we haven't tried space comms. I've worked SAT's and meteor scatter on VHF/UHF.

73, Bill - WA8MEA
http://HamRadioFun.com
Posted by WA8MEA on 2005-12-27

It's a big NEVER.

I heard Owen Garriott for about 30 seconds through the QRMing idiots in Los Angeles, but no contact even with 300 watts. I also got a "REJ" packet frame back from ISS once, and finally gave it all up when I saw someone make several packet contacts and then QRM the channel with his constant griping about APRS packets. These days it's way too much investment for one brief chance at a contact, and it sure looks like the rest of Amateur Radio doesn't support it either.
Posted by N3EG on 2005-12-27

I'm trying to remember

..., I think a W5 by
the name of Owen Garrett.
Many moons ago, like in the
1980s, maybe.

Does that ring any bells with anyone??

I could be wrong.

Happy Holidaze!

73 de Ronnie
Posted by WA4MJF on 2005-12-27

they dont do CW

They don't do CW.
Posted by N3JBH on 2005-12-27

sats in general

Never worked an astronot, but I was set up and worked AO 40 a couple times, just when I got the perfect setup, ...it broke.. oh well
Posted by N6AJR on 2005-12-27

Mir Space Station

I worked UA0IAE, CW, on 15 mtrs, 3/23/92. They had a 2 element quad on board. He sent me a QSL when they changed crews and came home.
Posted by AB6SV on 2005-12-27

Big Thrill...

I have to admit, talking to Andy Thomas as he orbited above my house aboard MIR is something I'll never forget.

Cheers!
Andy - VK5LA
Posted by VK5LA on 2005-12-26