My First Foray Into the World of Slow Scan TV

Over this past weekend the Russian crew-members of the international space station (ISS) were broadcasting images.  I was intrigued by this; but had no previous experience with anything having to do with slow scan television (SSTV).

There are various different packages that will handle the sending and receiving of SSTV images.  The one I like is called MMSSTV.  It's a freeware package that you can download here.  I just went with the default settings.  You don't even need an interface between your radio and computer.  You can get by with the old-school method of placing a microphone connected to your computer right next to your radio speaker to receive and keying your radio mic next to your computer speaker to transmit.

From February 22nd to 24th twelve different images were broadcast by the ISS.  There was a three minute break in between each transmission.  The transmission mode was PD180.  I leave my MMSSTV set to "Auto Mode" so I don't have to worry about trying to guess which mode the incoming signal is in.

Here are the three images I was able to pick up just by leaving my radio tuned to 145.800 MHz and the MMSSTV software running on my laptop. 

Depend the strength of the signal and how close the ISS is to being directly overhead, you can get some pretty good quality images. 

There are a couple different websites available to track the ISS and other satellites.  I like ISSFanClub.com the best.  It allows you to enter your location and get times on when and how close the next few passes will be.

I'm not sure how often they transmit SSTV images; but I plan to keep and an ear to the ground for them while I play with MMSSTV on some of the HF bands.

Here are some of the HF frequencies used for SSTV:

70 cm: (FM)
430.950 MHz SSB SSTV Call Freq.

1.25 meters: (FM)
223.850 MHz 1.25m Band SSTV Call Freq.

2 meters: (FM)
145.500 MHz 2m Band SSTV Call Freq.
145.600 MHz 2m Band SSTV Call Freq.
144.550 MHz SSB SSTV Call Freq.

6 meters: (FM)
50.680 MHz 6m Band SSTV Call Freq.
50.950 MHz SSB SSTV Call Freq.

10 meters: (USB)
28.680 MHz 10m Band SSTV Call Freq.

11 meters: (USB) Outside US Only
27.700 MHz France, Australia
27.420 MHz Australia
27.235 MHz Northern Ireland

12 meters: (USB)
Every day 24.975 MHz

15 meters: (USB)
21.340 MHz 15m Band SSTV Call Freq.

17 meters: (USB)

20 meters: (USB)
14.230 MHz 20m Band SSTV Call Freq.
14.233 MHz 20m Band SSTV Call Freq.
14.240 MHz Europe SSTV Call Freq.

30 meters: (USB)
10.132 MHz - Use narrow mode MP73N

40 meters: (LSB)
7.033 MHz 40m Band SSTV Call freq.
7.171 MHz 40m Band SSTV Call Freq.
7.171 MHz Europe DIGITAL SSTV Call Freq.
7.040 MHz Europe SSTV Call Freq. (7043)

80 meters: (LSB)
3.845 MHz 80m Band SSTV Call Freq.
3.730 MHz Europe Call Freq.
3.733 MHz Europe DIGITAL SSTV Call Freq.

160 meters: (LSB)
1.890 MHz 160m Band SSTV Call Freq.
*Source:  Amateur Radio Wiki