[amsat-bb] 145.800 - missed a golden chance for live

[tjschuessler at verizon.net]

Technically over region 2, Americas, and region 3, Asia, we are supposed to
use 144.49 up for general voice QSOs with ISS and 145.800 is the downlink
frequency.  They work split.  There is a different uplink frequency for the
Region 1 space, 145.200.  This is printed on the handy dandy AMSAT frequency
chart.  Unless they have gone to a non-programmed (VFO) mode of their radio
and just winged it, but I doubt that.  Thus they would never hear someone
calling on 145.800.

Tom Schuessler, N5HYP
EM12ms

Message: 12
Date: Sat, 6 Oct 2018 18:09:28 -0400
From: Scott <mailto:scott23192 at gmail.com>
To: mailto:amsat-bb at amsat.org
Subject: [amsat-bb] 145.800 - missed a golden chance for live
	astronaut QSO
Message-ID:
	
<mailto:CAJCSnOZxUEQ5aCpiY9qfMtjQFzAADhgfPcK-ZLiD6YOwbVtbTg at mail.gmail.com>
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Of course not everyone would have seen my tweet on this subject today, so I
thought I'd share to the mailing list as well.

During most passes of the ISS where I'm working with the packet digipeater
on 145.825, I also monitor 145.800 just in case there is any activity on
that frequency.

For the first time in my personal experience, today one of the astronauts
was randomly calling to see if anybody was listening.   Of course I tried
to reply on 145.800 simplex, but there are a number of possible uplinks and
none of them were programmed into my radio.  THEY ARE NOW!

FYI, here is a list of uplink/downlink combinations that I found online:
https://issfanclub.com/frequencies

... and here is the downlink audio from today with the gaps removed:

https://www.qsl.net/k/k4kdr//files/2018-10-06--1858--ISS-voice.mp3

It was a real thrill and like so much of this hobby, a learning opportunity.

73

-Scott,  K4KDR