[sarex] Best ISS SSTV Image from july 30

[MM]

ISS Amateur Radio Status: August 7, 2006

Slow Scan TV on ISS update

By Miles Mann WF1F,

MAREX-MG News	www.marexmg.org

Manned Amateur Radio Experiment

Hi everyone. 

On July 30 ISS Expedition 13 Commander Pavel
Vinogradov activated the SSTV project for few orbits
from the International Space Station.  Pavel sent
several manual test images from ISS to Earth.  The
testing proved that he had the entire basic
configuration set up correctly.  

Our thanks to the many stations who received and
decode the test images.  SSTV Images from ISS were
received in many countries, including Russia, United
Kingdom, Brazil and many more.  Below is a link to one
of the best images we received.

Ted--G6HMS
United Kingdom
receiver--Yaesu FT-480R
Antenna--10XY 2 Metre With Polarphaser
Software--MMSSTV ver.1.11G
Elevation --12.Degrees  AZ=220 Degrees
 
www.marexmg.org   Best Image

During the testing phase the ISS Slow Scan TV system
may be intermittingly transmitting somewhere in the
ITU approved 2-meter satellite band (144.000 – 146.000
MHz FM). After testing is completed the system will
eventually be moved to a permanent frequency in the
2-meter ITU Satellite band.  One of the quirks we
discovered during testing was that the desired public
frequency pair for SSTV was not accessible from the
SSTV mode.  A new procedure will need to be developed
to program in a new frequency pair into the Kenwood
D700 transceiver for the SSTV mode.

The SSTV system was then shut down until he can spend
more time to finalize the cables connections and
configure the system for Slide Show mode.  Due to crew
work loads and a recent space walk we are not sure
when Pavel will have time for additional testing.

Over the next few weeks we maybe receiving images from
the International Space station via Slow Scan TV
(SSTV).  The Marex team will be collecting these
images from the amateur Radio and SWL community and we
will post the best.

We would like to collect all images received. However
in order to properly catalog the images we request you
use the following image naming format.

After you receive you images, please rename the images
using the following format, All Lower case letters.

Year 2006, Month 07, Day31, z, (UTC time), Call sign,
Short text description, .JPG

Example

20060731z1905wf1fwindowshot.jpg

If we break this down 
Year =2006
Month = 07
Day = 31
Z = spacer to help find time
Time = 1905 UTC
Call sign = wf1f
Description = Windows shot
Image format = jpg


Image Quality
Please do not put a lot of text over lays on the
images, Example, do not put web page or advertisements
in the image. Your own call sign and date are
acceptable.

Send all images directly to Marex at
Marexmg at comcast.net

We would also like to know the following information
in your email.

Name or Call sign
Country / State
Receiver
Software decoding tool
Elevation or range of ISS when you decoded the image.

Slide Show Mode:
The Marex SpaceCam1 software contains a feature called
“Slide Show” mode.  It allows the crew to preload a
directory full of images that will be automatically
transmitted to Earth.  The crew will not need to keep
pushing a button to send images.    In theory the
system can run for weeks at a time without crew
involvement.

The next phase of testing may use the frequency
145.800 MHz FM for the SSTV down link.  You should
also check 144.490 just in chase.  The Slide Show mode
will only be testing the Down link.  The uplink
frequency will not be published.

SpaceCam1:
The SpaceCam project will be able to transmit over 400
SSTV images per day (Robot 36 format).

How to Decode SSTV from Space:
http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/howtouseiss.html
All SSTV transmissions will be in FM mode and will
most likely be on the 2-meter band.
This means that the Doppler frequency drift will not
be much of a problem and you will be able to use your
existing 2-meter station or a police scanner to hear
and decode the signals from ISS.

If you have already have been successful in working
the Packet station or talked to the ISS crew on
2-meter voice, than you already have most of what you
need.
What’s left is to connect your computer to the speaker
of your radio and some SSTV decoding software, such as
ChromaPix or similar software.
http://www.barberdsp.com/ 


There are many choices in SSTV software, some Free,
others with more features cost a few bucks.  
http://www.marexmg.org/fileshtml/sstvlinkpage.html

So have fun, find your best setup and start practicing
how to decode SSTV on 2-meters.

Marexmg Web page
http://www.marexmg.org

73 Miles WF1F MAREX-MG


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