[amsat-bb] Help decoding/understanding terrestrial packet heard on ISS freq 145.825 MHz

Fri May 1 22:17:26 UTC 2015

John,
	Almost forgot... those are basically APRS packets you are hearing..
so to test your setup prior to waiting for the ISS to fly over tune your
radio to 144.39 to listen a test the software...

Then when it's working to your satisfaction tune back over to the ISS data
and listen away...  

Thanks

David

-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of David L
Warnberg
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2015 5:45 PM
To: 'John Brier'; 'AMSAT BB'
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Help decoding/understanding terrestrial packet heard
on ISS freq 145.825 MHz

For the packet data take a look at UISS software... also for those SSTV
transmissions from the ISS look at RX-SSTV..

You will also need a packet engine...

Here is what I use

Packet Engine Pro  web site = http://www.sv2agw.com/ UISS and RX-SSTV  web
site = http://users.belgacom.net/hamradio/

Hope this helps

73's
David
KK4QOE

-----Original Message-----
From: AMSAT-BB [mailto:amsat-bb-bounces at amsat.org] On Behalf Of John Brier
Sent: Friday, May 01, 2015 5:18 PM
To: AMSAT BB
Subject: [amsat-bb] Help decoding/understanding terrestrial packet heard on
ISS freq 145.825 MHz

Thanks for all the responses on SO-50 preamps and portable setups. I'm still
digesting the info.

TL;DR: I heard automated packet transmissions on the ISS packet frequency
when the ISS wasn't in sight and recorded them to try and figure out
who/what they are, but my software isn't decoding anything.
Can you help me understand what they were, or even better, decode them
yourself?

http://cupcakecarnival.net/sites/default/files/New_Jersey_Terrestrial_Packet
_145825_2015-04-30-1540_UTC_one.wav

http://cupcakecarnival.net/sites/default/files/New_Jersey_Terrestrial_Packet
_145825_2015-04-30-1540_UTC_two.wav

Here's another question that has me excited:

Yesterday after having visited with family in Maplewood, New Jersey for
several days, I drove home to North Carolina. I knew there was an ISS pass
at 10:26 AM/1426 UTC, right when I started my trip, so I tuned to 145.825
MHz and heard its digipeater easily.

Then I left the radio on.

I'm not sure where I was in NJ, but about one hour later, around 11:33 AM
local/1533 UTC, I heard packet on the frequency again but I was confused
because there weren't supposed to be any more passes for a while. I
confirmed on my phone that the ISS was over some far away ocean at the time
I was hearing these new transmissions, so I knew they must be terrestrial.
Still, it seemed odd that someone or something was transmitting when the ISS
wasn't in sight...

Maybe it's an internet gateway I thought. Or do people leave their stations
on the ISS frequency 24/7 so they can "work" any pass that happens?

I tried recording videos of the transmissions for later decoding to figure
out who or what it was. Eventually I realized it was transmitting every 2
minutes. It was almost certainly an automated setup, adding credence to the
idea that this was an internet gateway.
Unfortunately, before I realized that, and after recording one video of it,
the best reception I received during my drive by "pass," I wasn't recording.
As I drove further away it only got weaker and weaker. I did manage to get
two half way decent recordings of it, but I have tried decoding them with
Soundmodem on Windows and it's not printing out anything like it normally
does. I am very new to packet, only becoming interested in it because the
ISS uses it, so I thought maybe someone else might be more equipped to
decode it. Or certainly someone could shed some light on what I heard, maybe
the operator in NJ is on this list.

I used Audacity to record the audio off the videos I made as well trim and
amplify the audio, but I haven't done anything else, though if someone wants
the unedited videos I can put them up too.

http://cupcakecarnival.net/sites/default/files/New_Jersey_Terrestrial_Packet
_145825_2015-04-30-1540_UTC_one.wav

http://cupcakecarnival.net/sites/default/files/New_Jersey_Terrestrial_Packet
_145825_2015-04-30-1540_UTC_two.wav

John Brier, KG4AKV, Raleigh, NC, FM05
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_______________________________________________
Sent via AMSAT-BB at amsat.org. AMSAT-NA makes this open forum available to all
interested persons worldwide without requiring membership. Opinions
expressed are solely those of the author, and do not reflect the official
views of AMSAT-NA.
Not an AMSAT-NA member? Join now to support the amateur satellite program!
Subscription settings: http://www.amsat.org/mailman/listinfo/amsat-bb