How to receive ISS SSTV - International Space Station Slow-Scan Tele-Vision



ISS SSTV 6th August 2021 picture I received above. There's seemingly a lot going on there. Possibly a meeting at Star City, Moscow. Judging by the face on the balloons I wonder if the meeting is celebrating Yuri Gagarin the first Russian cosmonaut to circle the earth in space 12 April 1961 achieving a major milestone in the Space Race in his capsule, Vostok 1. Also, the red graphic resembles Sputnik on 4th October 1957, the world's first satellite, also by the Russians. MAI = Moscow Aviation Institute.

Using a loft-mounted vertical folded dipole for the 144-146MHz band and a 2m FM receiver is sufficient for me to discern satellites.

Check out http://g4pvb.eu5.net/2m.htm for homebrew 2m aerial & below interface & free software information to receive and predict satellite passes.



I use a 1:1 600 Ohm audio isolating transformer about -20dB interface from Line Out or Headphone socket of receiver then a resistor pad as required e.g. one resistor 50k Ohm in series and 2k Ohm resistor in parallel after the transformer then 2 uF DC Blocking Capacitor for connection to Lap Top or PC. Source: eBay about ten pounds. Thank you to Norman G8ATO of Verulam ARC for technical advice.

I use free RX-SSTV (press 'Slant' correction at beginning and near end of reception) software from ON6MU and free SATPC32 satellite prediction software. Radio tuned 145.800 MHz +/- 3 kHz re Doppler shift, FM filter wide.

I record the signal for later replay investigation use. Typical pass for the bird is eleven minutes.

My shack computer is off line so I visit: http://amsat.org/amsat/ftp/keps/current/nasa.all then I right click on the web page then save it as nasa.all text file then copy it into the free unregistered SATPC32 (prediction of pass software) folder. Once a week is usually sufficient.

To know when the ISS SSTV pictures will be transmitted, usually with ten days notice, visit: https://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/

How to get email notifications for upcoming ISS SSTV events: http://sats.wikidot.com/how-to-get-email-notifications-for-upcoming-iss-sstv-events

BTW Not known by many is that during the Space Race the Americans invested oodles of resources developing a pen that could write in zero gravity. The Russians responded with... a pencil. HI.

p.s. A horizontal (picture 10/12) antenna may be slightly superior to vertical (picture 11/12) for reception as shown below:





p.p.s. Receiving ISS SSTV continued to fascinate me over the recent 2021 Christmas holidays. You don't need especially sophisticated equipment, homebrew aerials work fine and the software is all free. Free is a currency we all understand! ;-) HI. Also, it makes a good ice breaker for conversation with civillians. "What did you do over Christmas Bob?" Lunar Exploration photo attached below refers. At the time of receiving that image I was absent from the PC and therefore I left the radio at 145.800MHz for the entire pass of the bird and I was not able to press the slant correct button. It's a bit art school & grainy but of course that all adds to the excitement:






Similar to 2m option above is this 70cm method below:

I use a 1/4 wave ground plane antenna hoisted to the interior apex of the loft.

Free software KG-STV is required from http://amsat-nl.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/kgstv_ISS.zip

The ZIP file contains the KG-STV program, an installation and setup manual, some images and MP3 audio samples for your first tests as well as links for additional technical information about the KG-STV use.

Downlink frequency is 437.800 MHz FM.

More information available on the AMSAT-NL.org web page:
https://amsat-nl.org/?page_id=568

Sunday 20th February 2022 I received partial picture below on 437.800 MHz FM. I also heard faint indistinct voices.



09th June 2022 145.800MHz FM wide I received this picture:



BTW How to receive weather sats: Here.

73 de Bob G4PVB

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