📡 SSTV from Space
To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Amateur Radio in Space I attempt to capture and decode SSTV images that are being transmitted from the ISS - here is what and how I did!
Quick Summary
Main Topic: Sharing the SSTV images I was able to decode from the ISS.
Key Features: Share some tips, tricks, and lessons learned.
Outcome: It’s pictures… from space!
🖼
Celebrating the Positive Impact of Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight
Source: ARISS Official Website
🛠Setup
A local area ham shared the anniversary and exercise on a Facebook group, and it caught my interest. Recently, I had experimented with satellite operations, specifically attempting to use the ISS as a digipeater to transmit my APRS beacon.
I already had the knowledge and experience of tracking the ISS and other Satellites. Now, I just needed to learn how to receive and decode SSTV images.
The idea that I can get images from space with just an RF signal and some decode software that can potentially run on portable power intrigued me. This anniversary exercise takes place over a week, with the ISS transmitting several different images from space.
Here’s the setup I used for this project:
My Portable SSTV Setup: Handy Talky, Laptop, MMSSTV
Portable Setup:
- VHF Handy Talky: Tuned to 145.800 MHz
- Audio Cable: Connects radio to laptop
- USB Audio Device: Might not be neeed, but I had it and used it
- Windows Laptop: Running MMSSTV software
- Antennas: 10-element 2-meter yagi & roll-up j-pole
📈 Results
Captured Images:
Here are the SSTV images I decoded during the exercise. These were received from both my QTH shop and a portable location at Lake Whitney State Park.
🖼 SSTV Images
*Rough Decode of Sergey and Owen, prior to Richard's flight to ISS*
*Owen, W5LFL, and the STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia Crew*
*Rough copy of Owen, W5LFL, Performing Radio Simulation Training*
*Sergey Samaburov, RV3DR and Owen, W5LFL prior to Richard Garriott's flight to ISS*
*Rough copy of Owen operating ham station from Space Shuttle Columbia*
*STS-9 Landing Dec 8, 1983: First Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight Mission Ends*
*Owen, W5LFL, Operates Ham Station from the Sapce Shuttle Columbia*
*Both Owen Garriott, WA5LFL and his song Richard, W5KWQ, made amateur radio contacts from space*
🌟 Highlights and Challenges
- Highlights:
- Successfully decoded 8 images from two locations.
- Portable setup worked using a simple j-pole antenna.
- Yagi antenna recieved lower angle passes much better
- Challenges:
- Required precise timing and aiming for optimal ISS passes.
- Decoding accuracy varied based on environmental noise and signal strength.
🧠Conclusion and Next Steps
This was an incredibly rewarding experience. Capturing SSTV images from space using a modest setup highlighted the power of amateur radio and the joy of experimentation.
For my next steps, I plan to:
- Enhance my portable setup with a lightweight tripod for better antenna aiming, and for use with working Satellites using other modes.
- Experiment with different SSTV decoding software and hardware to improve quality and attempt to transmit SSTV.
73 de W5AWW