Brady Thompson
by Brady Thompson
2 min read

Categories

  • Amateur Radio

Tags

  • ISS
  • SSTV
  • Satellite

📡 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!


🖼

ARISS 40th Anniversary

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:

Portable SSTV Setup

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

SSTV Image 1

*Rough Decode of Sergey and Owen, prior to Richard's flight to ISS*

SSTV Image 2

*Owen, W5LFL, and the STS-9 Space Shuttle Columbia Crew*

SSTV Image 3

*Rough copy of Owen, W5LFL, Performing Radio Simulation Training*

SSTV Image 4

*Sergey Samaburov, RV3DR and Owen, W5LFL prior to Richard Garriott's flight to ISS*

SSTV Image 5

*Rough copy of Owen operating ham station from Space Shuttle Columbia*

SSTV Image 6

*STS-9 Landing Dec 8, 1983: First Amateur Radio on Human Spaceflight Mission Ends*

SSTV Image 7

*Owen, W5LFL, Operates Ham Station from the Sapce Shuttle Columbia*

SSTV Image 8

*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