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| Chelmsford Amateur David Barber G8OQW chats
with ISS Commander Bill McArthur KC5ACR |
Trans-Atlantic co-operation gives Chelmsford amateur an ISS contact
Chelmsford Amateur David Barber G8OQW made a 70cm QSO with International
Space Station Commander Bill McArthur KC5ACR on Sunday 15th January
thanks to help
from Chelmsford Amateur Radio Society (CARS) member David Worboys
M0ZLB/KG4ZLB who is currently in Florida.
David M0ZLB/KG4ZLB heard Bill calling CQ from the Space Station
using the call sign NA1SS on 437.550 MHz as it flew past Florida.
He immediately sent an email out on the Essex Amateur Radio Yahoo
Reflector to alert people that the Space Station was active. David
G8OQW saw the email and started calling NA1SS from the outset of
visibility (prior to hearing it). The fact that all previous ISS
passes that day were packet on 145.800 MHz meant that no one else
knew he would be on 437.550 MHz so for a few vital seconds nobody
else was calling the Space Station and David's call had a chance
of being heard.
When NA1SS replied to David G8OQW's call Bill said that he had
heard his first call in the clear it was then swamped by all the
other stations.
This was David G8OQW's second QSO with the International Space
Station. His first was last November on 2 metres. David has now
worked the Space Station on all the Amateur Bands that it is equipped
for.
The Essex Amateur Radio Email reflector is open to all not just
Essex Amateurs. To join just send a blank email to
EssexAmateurRadio-subscribe@yahoogroups.co.uk
73 Trevor M5AKA
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