EASY! ISS Crossband Repeater Ham Radio Contacts!

How hard is it to make contacts over the ISS Crossband repeater? Thanks to Robert W5ITR www.qrz.com/db/W5ITR for demonstrating his very nice radio kit for making FM ISS and Satellite contacts.
Links from video:
Intro to satellite contacts with Sean Kutzko:
Part 1 • How to Talk to Satelli...
Part 2 • How to Talk to Satelli...
ICOM IC-2730: amzn.to/3OHK5o1
Moonraker Yagi: www.dxengineering.com/parts/m...
Working the ISS Crossband Repeater: mikestechblog.com/programming....
Want the best HT antenna? Signal Stuff Signal Stick signalstuff.com/?ref=622 (This is an affliate link)
You can find some of my radios at GigaParts: The DigiRig can be found here: www.gigaparts.com/nsearch/?lp...
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[@digital.rancher]

Thanks Vern, but my part was easy! Josh, great descriptions and explanations! I am glad to be a part of what, I think, will be helpful to others!

[@mikew5skk137]

Robert, great job! It's cool to put a face to the voice also, catch you on the birds soon. Mike W5SKK

[@digital.rancher]

@@mikew5skk137 that was a tough location for a low angle pass but it worked out fine. I see we have a couple contacts in the books already. I will keep an ear out for you!

[@ChipEckardt]

I still remember the first time I heard ISS using a homemade tape measure yagi…talk about excitement, I thought I would need a plastic surgeon to get the smile off my face!

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Oh yeah. Amazing to hear it!

[@b4ux1t3-tech]

So, I did an ISS contact attempt about a week after I got licensed. It was passing almost directly overhead, so I knew I had to give it a try. I went out with my ft70d and my qrz1. The ft70d had a signal stick (yes, just a signal stick) set up to the uplink, and the qrz1 had its _rubber duck_ and was tuned to the downlink. I only heard the first two characters of my transmission back. But _wow_. Up until that point I had had trouble finding contacts from home. I'm just outside of a few repeater ranges with my limited gear. Pinging the ISS was probably the most emotional moment I've ever had as a ham (sure, not a long time, I only got licensed in October). It was a life-changing experience for me, a 30-something-year-old grown-ass adult. Imagine how to exciting this would be to kids. "Hey kids, were going to talk to astronauts". Even my wife, who is pretty ambivalent about radio, thought is was "really, really cool". Long story short, guys, gals, try this. You don't need a lot of gear, and it's _exciting_.

[@jeanknecht4098]

Wow really cool. thx for the story

[@Pseudoswede]

Very cool. Definitely getting some gear and a license now. So glad I didn’t do so back when licensing was free (sarcasm).

[@aa3konthego]

So easy, even a ham radio operator can do it! Something I've been meaning to try.

[@mikew5skk137]

I use a 2730 myself, great radio for FM sats. Josh, you were spot on about technicians taking advantage of satellites. Satellites are a great way to make some DX contacts.

[@askenyon4]

This video is great! I got my tech a month ago. On Thanksgiving I tuned into a local net and they mentioned that the ISS was passing overhead in about 20 minutes. So I grabbed the family and went outside listen on my HT. It was really neat. Making that contact is a goal. Thanks Josh!

[@n9go]

Very cool! Myself and Thomas Gaines KB5FHK (prolific satellite operator) were operating some satellites from the parking lot of HH this year back in August. Satellites are a really neat and my favorite part of the hobby. Wish more people would get into it.

[@KO4VNX]

This is way cool!!! I'm going to be teaching a school summer camp next year, and you just gave me a great goal to setup a rig to help inspire them as they study for their technician!!! GLORIOUS!!!

[@A-a-ron480]

Please more, program, build, contact. All you and the iss, I have been very unsuccessful at this, but when I see you do, and I follow along I win, that's how I got my license. Thank you and your amazing content.

[@miroslavmajer5155]

I never thought it's possible to talk over the ISS! That's awsome! :)

[@Zach-K7FC]

I was looking forward to this video when you posted pictures. Thanks for sharing.

[@therealinak]

Thanks for all the content! Your videos got me pointed to HamStudy, and I went from being only casually interested to getting my Technician in about a week. Studying for my General now, since VHF/UHF is extremely limited in my area. With how effective the study mode is, I figure I’ll be ready for my General in 2-3 weeks even on a busy schedule.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Wooo hoo! Congrats!

[@gallonsofhairspray5451]

Great video! It’s easy to forget all the different ways we can enjoy ham radio.

[@ariella4063]

Great Video, I have an ICOM 2730 and I am going to try this too.

[@WhatsUpWithSix]

Very nice Robert!

[@SteelWolf13]

Passing over head frequencies. M1 437.810 start M2 437.805 M3 437.800 Center M4 437.795 M5 437.790 End

[@MrBracey1970]

You a mind reader Josh,I've just bought a ,"display modle" 2730 at a nice price to work satellites with (2 HT's was settling my anxiety off-too many cables 😆)

[@PineBarrens75]

Don’t forget the ISS APRS digipeater at 145.825

[@Absynthexx1]

I was listening on my SDR for some passes. Heard a contact from Colorado reaching out to Indiana. Very cool. Doppler shift is a pain though.

[@3dPrint_and_chill]

I was on the front page of Reddit yesterday with a map of my QSOs. I sent a lot of people in your direction who wanted to know more about Han radio. I hope it translates into more subscribers for you. A lot were asking about the ISS.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Thanks!

[@3dPrint_and_chill]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse no worries, it had something like 3m views so hopefully that will translate into a few hams. 😄

[@mattstosh6960]

Great Video. Always good to see an "expert" do this. A skill-set built from experience - for sure... I also love Sean's tutorials (KZbin and DXEngineering}. Hitting the ISS from here in Interior Alaska and locations further north is close to impossible, I have a 90 second window every once in a while. The ISS (best) high elevation point is +5 degrees. I use GoSat watch. Thus far I've managed 1-2 QSO over the last year but LOVE the challenge.. That''s the fun. BP64 if interested.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Alaska is a tough haul!!

[@MaryBrownForFreedom]

Always one satellite you can work form AK! The moon! With the new digital modes guys are making contacts on 1296mhz with low power and a 2 meter dish antenna! My 2 meter eme array is four m2 2m12 20' long antennas and I have no trouble working all but the smallest stations! Smallest I worked was 2 similar antennas and the guy was running 160 watts!

[@MarkPentler]

I really like the vertical way of holding the Yagi. Holding the boom isn't always comfortable and I am thinking of getting a wrist brace to use with my Arrow.

[@coolbeanzs]

Excellent video!

[@bruschi8148]

Very cool stuff!!

[@codybooth]

That was pretty neat, i can magine all the Hams trying to get that contact!

[@janiceemery2008]

Excellent, love it. Just need to be creative and know what you are hunting for. Thank you.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Thank you!

[@9A4GEMilan]

It may be also very useful to try moving antenna up and down - to adjust multipath interferences. It is amazing how much ground reflects signal, even at 5.8 GHz (for UAV video link). At one point, signal doubling, and at another halving due to nature of sum or difference of multipath reflections.

[@Littrell1966]

Don't forget the old Yaesu FT-1d is full duplex and easy to use!! Never getting rid of my FT-1xdr!

[@YLRaisa]

TNX for the video, Josh, a QSO with ISS is my dream, but it is difficult in my QTH.. 73&88, YL Raisa

[@boppinlee7190]

Thanks for sharing and well done.greetings from pa3gsy.

[@Pseudoswede]

1:52 “Ducking,” eh? I love using sidechain/key inputs on compressors for fun stuff like that. Or house/EDM music;) it’s pretty much ALWAYS the 2mix buss compressor keyed to the kick.

[@PhinAI]

Thank you!

[@HamAround23]

I think there needs to be more awareness about satellite etiquette. Last night on an iss pass I heard a kid maby 5-7yrs old trying to make a contact and everyone was just stomping ontop of his signal or just blasting there call out over and over without listening or responding to anyone that came back to them. I think he should have been given priority on that pass and give the kid a memorable experience in ham radio. Instead, he got a bunch of geriatrics shouting over him because they need their 6857th qso or hear how Tim's prostate is doing 3 states over on a satellite pass. Ok, rant over. Satellites have been very fun but also frustrating by poor operator practice

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

They don’t rag chew on satellites. Did that story actually happen? Prostate? Really?

[@mikew5skk137]

I concur 100% about the etiquette. I've heard passes very similar to what you've described. Younger ops trying to make a contact for the first time or a new op clearing stating he/she is attempting their first contact and getting stepped on, over and over with blind calls or the lid pushing 100 watts. Like you said, give them priority so they can make a few contacts. I would like to see more videos available on KZbin for hams looking to get into satellites that show them the proper way to operate. Sean's videos over at DX are great but maybe we should have more? Anyway LOL

[@HamAround23]

@Ham Radio Crash Course they wherent talking about there prostate but on one pass I had 2 guys rag chewing about there morning and there plans for the weekend and just went back and forth for the majority of the pass. It's not the norm most passes are pretty civil, but the iss in particular seems to be the most popular and has had alot of unproductive passes with multiple operators just stepping on each other most of the pass. It's gotten to the point where I don't even bother with daytime passes here on the east coast and just work the evening and late night passes

[@kd2kvz]

WR3V and AC2KU are friends of mine. They're fellow club members.

[@pasjeihobby]

Very interesting.

[@sidevalve45]

I watched this video and thought just for the hell of it I would monitor 437.800 on my Baofeng UV-5R and ten minutes later I started hearing some radio chatter and it only lasted a few minutes. I thought it had to be something else but I checked where the ISS was and sure enough it had been almost directly overhead at that time! Must have been people using the repeater.

[@ve2zzz]

Thanks a lot !!!! I already receive the ISS UHF link with..... ...an indoor VHF folded dipole !!!!! Now, i need a portable dual-band double-Yagi to improve my signal. Question: Does NA1SS need a CTCSS / CDCSS to open ?

[@aj2isotadxing]

Fm birds and the iss are jammed most of the time, it’s nice to sometimes get on the linear birds and get some breathing room.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Indeed!

[@Mandelbrot_Set]

The prospect of satellite operation is what got me into the hobby. Imagine my disappointment when I discovered that communication is impossible due to every FM satellite becoming a traffic jam of more powerful transmitters the instant that they rise above the horizon.

[@aj2isotadxing]

@@Mandelbrot_Set invest in (2) yaesu 817 radios or a 817 and a d74. Move to linear (ssb) birds. You won’t have this problem and it’s much easier to make contacts and even have conversations! FM birds can be a major turnoff, especially when it’s the same 5 guys giving each other the same grids

[@the1spyderryder]

As the satellite approaches you the frequency goes UP WHEN IT IS ABOVE YOU OR IS NEITHER APPROACHING NOR GOING AWAY FROM YOU LIKE DIRECTLY OVER HEAD. THERE IS NO DOPPLER SHIFT SO IT IS THE ACTUAL FREQUENCY. AS IT STARTS GOING AWAY THEN THE FREQUENCY IS SHIFTING DOWN OR LOWERING IN FREQUENCY. Also the same goes for your VHF up link frequency suffers from Doppler effect as well.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

What’s with the caps lock bro?

[@Th3Mafia]

this uplink vs downlink... seems like something i wouldnt be able to do with an rtl-sdr b/c of the dual frequencies? unless there is a plugin for one of the radio apps?

[@TheAcidheat]

thanks👍🇱🇹❤️🙂

[@CharlieForbes524]

Could someone do a video on a home brew egg beater antenna? Albeit less gain, but no aiming! Just set up on a tripod in park, A bit of LMR coax and on the air. Issue is the the ones for sale are not cheap.

[@rbryanhull]

How large is the radio footprint of the ISS? Wondering if I can make.contacts to the mainland from Hawai'i?

[@sondrayork6317]

What is the roving word at the end of each transmission.

[@christophersmith1155]

im looking forward to trying this. I will use a tripod for my antenna. I dont have three arms.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

You’ll still need to do a lot of adjusting.

[@christophersmith1155]

tripods swivel

[@sondrayork6317]

That is how I use to run my x band system, I used vhf as the uplink frequency and uhf as the downlink frequency. I no longer run that system though.

[@ericgulseth74]

Once. Just once, I heard someone comeback to my callsign when I had a rubberduck on my FT-3DR. Couldn't complete the QSO though...

[@markdoyle8713]

Can two different radio achieve full duplex mimic. I got it to work once by putting another handheld 20 ft away . But had another ham running it. I had a tyt 9800 hit the driveway like your 72 on anther try so it’s A lot of moving parts when chasing a pass.he did make that look easy

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Yea absolutely. And that is what a lot of people do.

[@christophersmith1155]

can i do this with the TYT 9800 quad band radio. I dont know if it will duplex. Im looking to make the purchase

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Do some more research on that radio. Idk if it’s full duplex.

[@jrmcdonald963]

What are good options for full duplex HT’s now?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

There aren’t really any *good* options.

[@mikemcqueen1870]

Need help! Has testing stopped? I've been looking for a test site for over a year now. I'm in the Florida panhandle.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Test online. HamStudy.org/sessions

[@larrytaylor7753]

How do you manage Doppler for the uplink?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

You don’t. 2 meters is wide enough not to worry about it.

[@mattjames9755]

Is the EM ## a location identifier??

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

It’s a grid square. Satellite operators often hunt contacts in rare grids.

[@wino4340]

Another reason why I will never get rid of my Kenwwod TH-D72A. However, only good for FM Sats

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Good call. Might want to buy a few batteries too.

[@expert244]

Roving?

[@king24km]

I can receive signal from iss to my Chinese ham radio,

[@Szwagier90]

I wonder why he uses antenna with not crossed polarizations. ISS has antennas crossed, so when UHF is vertical, VHF is horizontal and vice versa.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

It doesn't really matter, you're not really going to just be able to keep them aligned. Adjustment is always going to be needed.

[@digital.rancher]

It is also an antenna I had, just like the extra length of PVC. For me the point is you often see purpose build antennas and unobtainable radios used for satellite work, there are other simple and cheap ways to get it done.

[@DARTHDANSAN]

I need to try this . Ugh means I need to buy a full duplex radio $$$

[@derek3376]

Don't *need* to, it definitely makes it simpler, but you can use two cheap radios, one for transmit and one for recieving

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

💸💸💸

[@HamAround23]

I use an arrow 2 antenna with the diplexer and a ft-60 and make plenty of contacts. Sure 2 radios help but I wouldn't say mandatory.

[@Siskiyous6]

Joss, do you actually nee the Yagi? Won't an omni directional, like a moxon pointed up, or the spiral antennas, do this too. I mean a lot of the radios that could do this are 50 Watts or more. That whole circus act of juggling is off putting for anyone trying this as a beginner.

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

*could* an Omni work? Yes. It’s a Yagi antenna much more effective? Also yes. Many omnis have a null. So you’d still have to point them at some point or accept the losses.

[@Shkd64]

He doesn’t mention which headset he is using.

[@madcapmagician6018]

why are they just sending out call sing only and not talking ?

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Because it’s a 7-10 minute pass so they just exchange callsign and grid square.

[@covert0overt_810]

happens in stars too... red-shift... blue-shift --- doppler... you crazeh

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Very true!

[@covert0overt_810]

@@HamRadioCrashCourse thanks for all your work. Im new too ham (only about 2 years). learned quite a bit from your videos. thank you!

[@robertsmith2199]

He is either a very large man or the guy walking around him is a mini.

[@MaryBrownForFreedom]

Automated is big bucks! Yaesu G-5500 + computer interface is ~$1400, a Spid RAS az/el rotor is $2200 but capable of a very heavy load(The Big RAS even heavier, I use it on 2m EME with four 20 foot long antennas but it is $3051!!!). Advantage here is full computer control. Some people homebrew a controller, use a TV antenna rotor and an absolute encoder grafted on to read az, and a satellite dish actuator for elevation with another encoder grafted on. MUCH cheaper but a lot of work! Been there done that! No computer control as is but there are some outboard controllers that will work with this setup. The EA4TX ARS-USB at $312 and Green Heron RT-21 azel at $899 can read these encoders. I went Spid rotors to handle the winds I get... 60mph for 3 days in winter happens and it beats the crap out of rotors. I have a trashed Ham IV on my bench that the wind sheared the spur gear teeth off! I prefr stuff to stay in the air and not be broken!

[@DonzLockz]

Thats is very cool, very impressive. The ISS is hauling ASS.😆 Thanks for sharing👍🍻🤠🛰

[@ashtoshsingh463]

its nice to see this...ZL3XT

[@n5yiz]

Excellent video!

[@HamRadioCrashCourse]

Thank you!

[@sondrayork6317]

That is how I use to run my x band system, I used vhf as the uplink frequency and uhf as the downlink frequency. I no longer run that system though.