[amsat-bb] Re: Making ISS voice contacts, best practice

[Alexander Sack]

On Fri, Jun 3, 2011 at 7:39 PM, Alexander Sack <pisymbol at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi AMSAT-BB:
>
> Is it bad form to call the NA1SS during a pass in a vain attempt to
> make a contact?  I am not trying to stalk them (well actually...) but
> this has always been a dream of mine since I got my Amateur Radio
> golden ticket.
>
> But I am trying to wake up early in the morning when presumably the
> ISS crew is active and call CQ.
>
> Do folks call CQ NA1SS?  Its this bad form?
>
> I also don't know how to tell if the FM repeater is on (I have read
> several links on how to make contacts but they are vague, its more or
> less monitor 145.800Mhz and go from there).
>

I feel stupid after Googling some more.  So to verify, when the
repeater is in APRS mode, its not in FM mode?

So if I AX.25 frames aren't flying by me, it means someone is
potentially operating the radio (minus technical difficulties)?

Is all of above correct?

73

-aps