Are YOU READY for Suitsat?

As most of you know, Suitsat will be released on Friday 3 Feb. 2006. Look on NASA TV for the Space Walk. Suitsat should be deployed first. There is plenty of info on the internet. -Google search- Suitsat.

Suitsat will be transmitting on 145.990, which is the 'normal' input frequency for packet operations. RS0ISS-3 packet will be OFF during Suitsat operations. ARISS will be regularly updating the status of Suitsat and operations via the SAREX mailing list.

PLEASE DO NOT TRANSMIT ON 145.990 during Suitsat operations. RS0ISS-3 digipeater will NOT be operational!

Transmitting packets (accidentally), will kill other locals listening near by you. Leave your packet software and beacons OFF during Suitsat operations. I don't think you will make too many friends, and most will be recording.

Speaking of recording, that is the main reason for this article.....

Here is what "I" am going to do. It is proven, and works!
Assuming you have a computer and soundcard, appropriate cables, radios etc, it is easy. I use MMSSTV software for SSTV. http://mmhamsoft.ham-radio.ch/mmsstv/
I am also using at the SAME time, a VOX recorder. Analog/Tape recorders will NOT work.. well.
http://xoomer.virgilio.it/aporcino/VoxRecorder/ This works great! All are FREE!

Record and save your SSTV pictures. ie.. MMSSTV is running and saving the pictures. Meanwhile, the VOX recorder is "logging" EVERYTHING! You will get the voice messages from Suitsat, and the SSTV recorded too! You can replay the recording, and decode the SSTV IF you have "stereo mix" in recording properties checked.

The easiest and most common receive scenario is a decent receiver on 145.990 Mhz, and an outside antenna, low loss cable. A 5/8 wave ground plane or a "J" Pole works just fine.

These antennas will SUFFER on an overhead pass, BUT the MAJORITY of the passes are within the radiation pattern of a 1/2 wave antenna. A simple 1/2 wave wire dipole/inverted V will work wonders too! A 6 meter dipole or vertical also
works good! A 1/4 wave vertical can be used for overhead passes, but may be useless for all other passes unless you have a good low noise preamp.

IF you have Ham Radio Deluxe you can track, and adjust for Doppler. Doing that too, here! If you lack serial com ports, you can go to Radio Shack and get their USB/Serial cable adapter.

I will also be logging on to the APRS-IS. ALL packet racket on 145.990, will appear. If you show up, I will send you a friendly email, if I can, and explain Suitsat to you.

73, Scott WA6LIE
Salinas, Ca CM96eq
West Coast IGATE station

Hope you all HEAR Suitsat!

(All information expressed in this article is by the author only, and has no association with ARISS or AMSAT)

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