Radio Club member communicates with International Space Station

by Rich Jackson

LW Contributor

Communicating with the International Space Station via amateur radio is achievable for all licensed operators, often requiring only a mobile handheld transceiver, a modest antenna and precise tracking of the station’s orbital position as it passes approximately 250 miles above the earth. Operators can engage in voice communication to the International Space Station during the 10-minute passes overhead. The International Space Station travels at 17,500 mph, completing 16 orbits daily. As the largest human-made object in space, it spans 357 feet, weighs over 900,000 pounds, and features a large solar array. The living and working space in the station is larger than a six-bedroom house (and has six sleeping quarters, two bathrooms, a gym, and a 360-degree view bay window).

I was able to communicate successfully to the International Space Station on Feb. 11, at approximately 5:52 a.m. on my second-ever try. The process is well documented and can easily be replicated by other licensed amateur radio operators. I used a low cost radio, the Baofeng UV-17 Pro GPS 5W Radio and a Nagoya NA-320A 17.7-inch flexible Tri-Band HT antenna (total cost was about $60). The radio must be able to communicate on these two frequencies (145.990 MHz up/437.800 MHz down). I have been a member of the LW Radio Club for about two years and I only looked into communicating to the International Space Station five days prior to my successful radio transmission. Messages must be under 10 seconds due to fast-moving, short passes of the International Space Station. A typical call is: “NA1SS, [your call sign], [your name], [grid square location], over.” (NA1SS is the primary U.S.-licensed amateur radio call sign for the ISS.)

Ham, General Mobile Radio System (GMRS) and Family Radio System (FRS) radios play a vital role in emergency communication, they can work without relying on any existing infrastructure making them ideal in disasters like earthquakes, wildfires, flooding etc. Beyond protecting a person and their family in a disaster, peope can help others—even from their own home—during a communication outage. To learn more about communicating to the ISS with a Ham radio, or to learn more about helping during emergency situations using HAM,GMRS, and FRS, the LW Radio Club members have a wealth of knowledge and are happy to share it with you and with others.

For more information on HAM, GMRS or FRS radios call the Radio Room at 562-431-6586, ext. 2409, visit www.lwsb.com/ amateur-radio-service-club or come to the monthly Radio Club meetings held on the first Wednesday of each month in Clubhouse 3, Room 9, at 9:45 a.m.