ISS Fan Club

Yahoo groups have a lot of great help for ham, and radios in general there's usually specific groups im sure you could find one for Yaesu. I got a lot of help for programming my scanner and getting preconfigured files with channels and banks programmed for suffolk and nassau county.

Thanks for the help everyone, I'm going to add my email address to my signature as well, so if anybody wants to hit me up and offer help, I'm available. I'll be looking in to constructing an antenna, it seems like a good exercise to do.

Thanks again, 73,
KC2RGZ(@gmail.com if you need to email me)
Matt Krass
Common Nodes:
K2CC: Potsdam, NY 443.350/448.350/151.4Hz PL
LIMARC: Long Island, NY 147.375/147.975/136.5Hz PL

Hi Matt,

Try this site: http://ronhashiro.htohananet.com/am-radio/spacecomm/ for a couple articles on beginning ISS communications.

Welcome aboard.

Ron, AH6RH
Honolulu, HI

Hi Matt. Welcome to ham radio. I think you would do well for yourself if you put your email address up in QRZ. You might get some one on one help from someone. As one
of the fellas said, an Arrow antenna will do the trick nicely. Point and talk antenna. Build or buy one. There is a website for a home made Arrow. You might also give some thought
to an antenna called an Egg Beater.

Hello Matt,

I did my very first packet and voice contacts using a TH-77E and an home made 4 elements cubical quad.
All you need is a higher gain antenna. Look on the Internet how to build an arrow antenna for example, or buy one on ebay.
Its a hard time now with very little activity. You can spend this time looking for good deals on ham gear.
I'll see you somewhere around New York. I might be there by the end of the summer.
73's
Alain IZ6BYY - WW3WW
Iss Fan Club staff

A ISS QSO using a HT has been successfully done by several forum members in the past.Three factors to consider-firstly antenna gain!A higher gain than stock duckie whip is a given because of necessary uplink signal strength.You maybe able to hear them with the duckie whip,but your signal may very well be nil to the ISS.For portable use a ARROW Yagi or homebrew handheld yagi are excellent choices.Secondly,ISS tracking and ground obstacles for QTH.A accurate pass schedule is a must.Lastly one should consider is the ISS crew or equipment active.The forum is a excellent research tool so read past articles and posts.Also here is a link to Amateur Satellite beginner's articles on the AMSAT Websitehttp://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/information/faqs/.Feel free to post further questions on the ISS fan club website and good luck.73 de KI4JVK

Welcome to ham radio and chasing the I.S.S. I have heard plenty of stories of hams making conact with the I.S.S. using just a 5 watt handheld. I would say put up a good 2m antenna outside if that is an option. It seems to be a game of hit and miss..lol. I have been trying for years to make contact and have had no luck. I have heard them many times.