[RVRC] ISS frequencies/modes of operation

[Marvin Bronstein]

You can tune to 145.800 and listen for voice/packet or beacons



Frequencies in use

  The following frequencies are currently used for ARISS general QSO's
  Voice and Packet Downlink: 145.80 (Worldwide)
  Voice Uplink: 144.49 for Regions 2 and 3 (The Americas, and the Pacific) 
  Voice Uplink: 145.20 for Region 1 (Europe, Central Asia and Africa) 
  Packet Uplink: 145.99 (Worldwide)

  437.550 (70 cm packet)



  What kinds of radios does ARISS use on the ISS?

    The ISS Ham radios are Ericsson MP-X handheld radios, and a KenwoodD-700. More equipment for HF may be shipped to the station later next year.

    There is an orbit prediction capability on-board. It is called Worldmap. It is on the LAN-based computers in ISS. The laptop we are currently using is not hooked up to the LAN, so Worldmap is not used near the radio system. The Ham radio equipment is currently housed in the aft end of the FGB (Zarya). and, as described, is velcroed to the wall. 

  What are the voice frequencies used to contact the space station?

    We have programmed numerous channels in the radios. Two of these channels on the 2 meter radio support voice operations (145.80 down/144.49 for regions 2 &3 & 145.80 down/145.20 for region 1). It was necessary to use two uplinks due to region-to-region restrictions on uplink frequencies. 

  Does that mean that the crew have to change over freq when they are in range of a region 2/3 country, or does their little hand held allow reception on 2 freqs at the same time?

    We do not use a scanning capability on the radio. The crew switches between one freq to the other. If they begin a QSO over the US, they can track US stations until they hit the Atlantic and then they will quickly lose US stations. They can then switch over to the other freq and pick up Europe or Africa.

  What is the difference between regions 1, 2 and 3 ?

    ITU region 1 is Europe, Middle East, Africa, and North Asia.

    ITU region 2 is North and South America, Caribbean, Greenland.

    ITU region 3 is South Asia, Australia New Zealand, and Oceania.

    What does ARISS use for Packet Hardware control? 

      The computer that was being used for the packet system was an IBM Thinkpad A22P that Mark Shuttleworth left on-board the ISS after his flight. The power supply for this unit has failed and we are making preparations to have the computer replaced

      There are two primary ways to use the packet system---unproto operations and using the Packet Mailbox System (PMS). Given that only one person can use the Packet Mailbox System at a time, remember that unproto mode allows more to participate in the use of the packet system than the Mailbox System. I realize that many of you would like to get an e-mail from an astronaut. We understand that. But when you have thousands trying to connect up to the Mailbox and only one can connect and send their message, this can sometimes lead to frustrations by others on the ground. The most important thing to remember....if you use the PMS, keep your messages short and pre-developed. Other things to consider: Be surprised when the ISS crew responds to your message because they are quite busy up there. Please don't resend the same message to the crew if they haven't responded to your first message. Also, please don't put the crew in a bad position by asking them to set up a schedule with you. This would be unfair to all the hams and school children around the world. We want all to participate, not just a select few. Stick with unproto ops whenever possible to maximize the packet throughput and send short PMS messages only on occasion.