ARISS QSL Card

Back in November 2008, I worked Mike Finke, the commander of the International Space Station Crew on 2-Meters. I promptly sent off a QSL card and today it arrived in the mail! This ranks amongst my favorite contacts, especially because it happened by chance; I had no idea that there was a pass that day, I just had the ISS frequency frequency pair programmed in to scan in the FT-8800.

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT

kf4lmt@comcast.net

Early Morning QSO With the International Space Station

This morning on the way to work, I worked the International Space Station! I was on I-516 WB just past I-16 when just after 6:00 AM I started hearing NA1SS (one of the ISS callsigns) on 145.800. The first station I heard him work was in Louisiana. A couple of CQs later Mike Fincke, the ISS Expedition 18 commander answered my reply and I was able to make the contact just as I started to lose the signal!

My equipment was a Yaesu FT-8800 and a Comet CHL-62S mobile antenna.

I've heard the ISS before while mobile but I was never able to make the contact. I'll chalk this successful attempt up to not having much competition at that early hour.

Mac McCormick III, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net

ARISS Activity

On Wednesday afternoon, 17 January 2007, I caught some ARISS activity from the International Space Station on the usual downlink frequency 145.800 and using the callsign R0ISS. Astronaut Sunita Williams was in QSO with students conducting a Q&A session about life on the ISS. The signal was excellent and I was able to listen to 10 minutes of the session. The pass continued longer, but I had just arrived at work and had to turn off the radio and go in. T

Mac McCormick, KF4LMT
kf4lmt@comcast.net