[amsat-bb] Any current 2 meter usage by ISS?

[Philip Jenkins]

Thanks Dan. I just wasn't sure if the equipment used for 2 meter voice was
also out of commission since VHF packet is down...and you have answered my
question!

Philip N4HF

On Wed, Feb 15, 2017 at 10:05 AM, Daniel Cussen <dan at post.com> wrote:

> >But is the 2 meter voice frequency of 145.800 being used, either for
> >random contacts by the astronauts, or for school contacts?
>
> 145.800 is being used for most/all USA direct or USA ARISS telebridge
> contacts.
> Very strong voice signal as it is using a powerful radio.
>
> E.g.:
> John Glenn Middle School, Maplewood MN, direct  via KØJDD
> The ISS callsign is presently scheduled to be NA1SS
> The  scheduled astronaut is Shane Kimbrough KE5HOD
> Contact is a go for: Wed  2017-02-22 18:47:59 UTC 25 deg (***)
>
> 145.800 is the default unless a UHF frequency is specified
>
> On 15/02/2017, Philip Jenkins <n4hf.philip at gmail.com> wrote:
> > I'm one of the instructors for a Technician class course; I'll be
> teaching
> > the specialized communication section (e.g. satellites, EME, APRS,
> > fox-hunting) among other topics.
> >
> > I'd like to give those students who are already interested sat comms
> enough
> > info so that they can start listening to ISS and the FM sats NOW; the
> > specialized comms topic doesn't come up until a little more than midway
> > through the course.
> >
> > As a teaser, I plan to give them the downlink frequencies from ISS and FM
> > sats, explain tuning for doppler a little, and show them how to use the
> > Pass Predictions page on AMSAT.ORG.
> >
> > I know that ISS packet is  currently only on UHF (not VHF), but is the 2
> > meter voice frequency of 145.800 being used, either for random contacts
> by
> > the astronauts, or for school contacts?
> >
> > None of them currently have packet/APRS gear,  so I'm focusing only on
> > voice contacts at least until the class ends (but I'll mention both of
> > those when I do my more lengthy presentation in about a month).
> >
> > So, in short, my question is - is 2 meters being used at all right now
> for
> > voice from ISS? If not, are random contacts being made on a UHF
> frequency?
> > (I don't see a UHF voice downlink frequency listed in the 2016 "Getting
> > Started with Amateur Satellites" book.)
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Philip N4HF
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