ISS Packet Antenna Query
Hi all
I am curious to know which way the packet radio antenna on the ISS is aligned relative to its plane of motion. In other words is one draws a tangential line along the path the ISS is travelling is the antenna parralel to that plane (ie does the antenna point towards where the ISS is going) or is it at right angles to its plane of motion?
Another way of saying this would be do I align my antenna parrallel to the ISS's orbit or perpendicular to it?
This would be handy to know when aligning one's antenna or beam.
Regards
Peter VK3PB
vk3pb – Sat, 2009 – 09 – 26 10:00
Linear polarity
The amateur radio antenna on the ISS is just a whip and points mostly nadir (towards Earth) The relative polarity of the antenna to any single ground station is constantly changing due to the motion and orientation of the ISS. Circular polarity provides the best continous compensation for the changes but many just use a vertical and deal with the occassional fades.
Kenneth - N5VHO
http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/station/reference/radio/
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