Larry wrote:
On 28 Jan 2006 06:12:03 -0800, K4YZ wrote:
Greetings All,

Are any of you equipped to work the ISS crossband repeater?

Actually, you don't need crossband capability to use the ISS repeater.

Actually you do when the input is on 70 centimeters and the output
is on 2 meters. That's what "crossband" means.

Have any of you made contacts through it, or directly with NA1SS?

Do any of you use NASA's www.science.nasa.gov site to determine the
footprint?

Why bother with old fashioned radio equipment when ISS is regularly on
both Echolink and IRLP?

Becasue I LIKE "old fashioned radio equipment".

I like Amateur Radio because I LIKE radios.

Anyone can turn the computer on and "chat" with someone on the far
side of the planet.

It takes a bit of skill to do it without wires.

While it's true that anyone with a 2M HT
pretty much has all the equipment needed for an on-the-air contact,
the time and footprint restrictions are too severe to make that a mode
which is even practical for more than one trial contact. Tried it
once and didn't particularly like it (144.49 MHz / 145.80 MHz).

I've worked MIR twice on that pair and had a blast.

I guess it's easy to "not like" if you don't have the requisite
skills or capable staion to do it with.

Nope, I say the VoIP Echolink or IRLP method is much more reliable.

Perhaps it is. And if that's what spins your propeller, mor power
to you. But making a "contact" via Echolink is no more challenging
that turning the light on when you enter a room.

See http://www.rac.ca/ariss/oindex.htm for info on Echolink conference
schedules. Apparently, the astronauts haven't gotten the message yet
that "Echolink isn't real ham radio."

Some can say that about FM, or SSB, or CW, or any other mode.
However anyone can turn the computer on and work Echolink. There's no
skill in that.

73

Steve, K4YZ