What did the Experiment entail?
Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio.
Many FM rigs
can be switched to wide and narrow deviation FM filters. For best
results you should select the filter for wider deviation FM. Handhelds
generally have a single wide filter fitted as standard.
Reports are requested: please send ARISS uploading your decoded pictures in the official ARISS SSTV gallery: https://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_SSTV/
Useful information to receive the pictures can be found here: https://amsat-uk.org/beginners/iss-sstv/
Follow ARISS on X for official updates during the event https://x.com/ARISS_Intl
I am pleased to announce that there was plenty of interest and participation in the Southern Cape and South Africa in the SSTV Experiment - ARISS Series 27.
Why download SSTV images from the ISS?
Every
radio amateur that participated set his/her own goals and has a reason
for participating in the experiment. Unfortunately I do not have all
the information on hand why some radio amateurs download images. During
this event the "modus operandi" differ substantially from Series 23.
The current TX cycle 2 min on, 2min break and 2min on as well as the
fact that all passes took place at night time and the trajectory of the
passes differed was challenging especially for inexperienced operators.
This time around two radio amateurs participated for the first time
ever. I am sure they learned from this experience and that they will
download good clean images in the future.
Herewith some images (Click on images to enlarge) of the radio amateurs that participated in the ARISS SSTV Experiment:
Johan ZS1I - Mossel Bay
Christi ZS4CGR - Luckhoff
Francois ZS1Q - George
Rulhof ZS4RM - Bloemfontein
Gerrit ZS1KLO - Mossel Bay
Johnny ZS3JDL - Kimberley
Bernie ZR1ACP - Agulhas
Jacobus ZS1JDJ - Mossel Bay
The ISS SSTV Series 27 Experiment has ended on the 12 May 2025. 8 Radio Amateurs participated as the Southern Cape ISS SSTV Group and contributed to Africa's participation in the event. I know that there were other radio amateurs taking part in South Africa and would like to thank each one of them for contributing to the Africa rate.
In appreciation to the Southern Cape ISS SSTV Group I have decided to provide the above overview of the group participants Awards and Images and area of operation in South Africa. The reasons for participating in the ARISS Experiment differ from radio amateur to radio amateur.
Here are a few reasons:
Finally - A article will soon appear on this Blog on how Jacobus ZS1JDJ received the SSTV images from the ISS. This is surely a first for the Southern Cape if not South Africa. Do not miss this article. As far as can be ascertained every one that participated enjoyed the event immensely. To those who did not participated this time around, wait for the next event and join in the fun!!
