HamTV Status
In principle, the HamVideo DATV transmitter is permanently transmitting from Columbus, the European ISS module. The camera is not activated. These so-called “blank transmissions” are used by ground stations for fine tuning their setup. The transmit frequency is 2395 MHz.
- For different reasons, blank transmissions must be interrupted now and then.
- Scheduled “power downs” are published here.
- Since mid April 2018, the HamVideo transmitter has ceased to operate. Presently, the failure is being investigated.
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February 11, 2016
Ham TV Bulletin
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Past Chairman
HamTV School Contact – A World First!
Thursday 11 February 2016, at 18:11 UTC, an educational ARISS radio contact took place at the. Royal Masonic School for Girls, Rickmansworth, United Kingdom. The school contact was operated by Tim Peake, KG5BVI in the frame of the Principia mission.
It was a historic event: the radio contact was enhanced with video! Tim Peake activated the Ham Video transmitter on board Columbus.
As far back as the year 2000, a proposal for an ATV system on the International Space Station was submitted to the ARISS Project Selection and Use Committee by Graham Shirville G3VZV.
November 2002, a request for amateur radio facilities on the then under construction Columbus module was submitted by Gaston Bertels, ON4WF to Mr Jörg Feustel-Büechl, Director of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity Directorate of the European Space Agency (ESA). The request was to install wideband amateur radio antennas on the nadir of Columbus, facing the earth. With such antennas, the on board amateur radio facilities could be extended to amateur TV.
In 2003 the request was examined in detail and finally accepted. ARISS would pay for the development, manufacturing and qualification of the antennas. ESA would support the installation cost. ARISS-Europe started a funding campaign, all donations being published on the website.
In 2004 coaxial feed throughs were installed on the port cone of Columbus. This was needed for accessing the antennas with feedlines from inside the module.
In 2005, the Royal Belgian Amateur Radio Society (UBA) signed a contract with the Wroclaw University of Technology, Poland for the development and manufacturing of the antennas. Whereas initial plans were for UHF, L-band and S-band antennas, only L- and S-band antennas could be ordered by lack of funding. The cost of the project was 47.000 Euro.
Early 2006 the antennas were delivered to ESA. Meanwhile main Columbus contractor EADS and subcontractor Alenia Spazio had reviewed mechanical and thermal constraints. Wroclaw University proceeded to qualifications tests (cost 3.000 Euro) and the antennas failed.
In 2007 an additional contract was signed with the Wroclaw University for the development of modified antennas. This amounted to 36.000 Euro. These antennas were accepted and installed on Columbus, October 2007.The cost of the antennas finally amounted to 86.000 Euro and was covered by a wordwide funding campaign.ESA supported the total installation cost of the antennas, including feed throughs and coaxial cables.
After the successful launch of Columbus and its integration into the International Space Station complex, an ARISS-Europe working group started a study for the development of an amateur television transmitter on Columbus, using one of the the S-band antennas. A debate started between the supporters of analog television (ATV) and the proponents of digital television (DATV). The working group, which met monthly per teleconference, made progress, but was stuck by the lack of funding.
As time went by, the debate on ATV versus DATV evolved at the advantage of the latter, but no funding was in sight… Then, suddenly, supported by the enthusiasm of Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZ0JPA, who had performed many ARISS school contacts during his 2010-2011 expedition aboard the Space Station, at the initiative of AMSAT Italia, an Italian manufacturer, Kayser Italia, presented a project for an amateur radio DATV transmitter to ESA’s educational services. In 2012, this proposal was accepted and ESA signed a contract with Kayser Italia for the development and the manufacturing of a DATV transmitter on S-band. This transmitter, dubbed “Ham Video, was installed on Columbus and ESA transferred the custodianship of this equipment to ARISS.
It was a long way, spanning sixteen years, from the initial proposal to the first ever HamTV school contact. A new era opens for ground station operators, interested in receiving digital amateur television from the International Space Station. A technical challenge already met by a few ground stations in Europe, USA and Australia. Long life to HamTV and success to the pioneering ground stations, worldwide!
Ham TV Bulletin
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Past Chairman
HamTV School Contact – A World First!
Thursday 11 February 2016, at 18:11 UTC, an educational ARISS radio contact took place at the. Royal Masonic School for Girls, Rickmansworth, United Kingdom. The school contact was operated by Tim Peake, KG5BVI in the frame of the Principia mission.
It was a historic event: the radio contact was enhanced with video! Tim Peake activated the Ham Video transmitter on board Columbus.
As far back as the year 2000, a proposal for an ATV system on the International Space Station was submitted to the ARISS Project Selection and Use Committee by Graham Shirville G3VZV.
November 2002, a request for amateur radio facilities on the then under construction Columbus module was submitted by Gaston Bertels, ON4WF to Mr Jörg Feustel-Büechl, Director of Manned Spaceflight and Microgravity Directorate of the European Space Agency (ESA). The request was to install wideband amateur radio antennas on the nadir of Columbus, facing the earth. With such antennas, the on board amateur radio facilities could be extended to amateur TV.
In 2003 the request was examined in detail and finally accepted. ARISS would pay for the development, manufacturing and qualification of the antennas. ESA would support the installation cost. ARISS-Europe started a funding campaign, all donations being published on the website.
In 2004 coaxial feed throughs were installed on the port cone of Columbus. This was needed for accessing the antennas with feedlines from inside the module.
In 2005, the Royal Belgian Amateur Radio Society (UBA) signed a contract with the Wroclaw University of Technology, Poland for the development and manufacturing of the antennas. Whereas initial plans were for UHF, L-band and S-band antennas, only L- and S-band antennas could be ordered by lack of funding. The cost of the project was 47.000 Euro.
Early 2006 the antennas were delivered to ESA. Meanwhile main Columbus contractor EADS and subcontractor Alenia Spazio had reviewed mechanical and thermal constraints. Wroclaw University proceeded to qualifications tests (cost 3.000 Euro) and the antennas failed.
In 2007 an additional contract was signed with the Wroclaw University for the development of modified antennas. This amounted to 36.000 Euro. These antennas were accepted and installed on Columbus, October 2007.The cost of the antennas finally amounted to 86.000 Euro and was covered by a wordwide funding campaign.ESA supported the total installation cost of the antennas, including feed throughs and coaxial cables.
After the successful launch of Columbus and its integration into the International Space Station complex, an ARISS-Europe working group started a study for the development of an amateur television transmitter on Columbus, using one of the the S-band antennas. A debate started between the supporters of analog television (ATV) and the proponents of digital television (DATV). The working group, which met monthly per teleconference, made progress, but was stuck by the lack of funding.
As time went by, the debate on ATV versus DATV evolved at the advantage of the latter, but no funding was in sight… Then, suddenly, supported by the enthusiasm of Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli IZ0JPA, who had performed many ARISS school contacts during his 2010-2011 expedition aboard the Space Station, at the initiative of AMSAT Italia, an Italian manufacturer, Kayser Italia, presented a project for an amateur radio DATV transmitter to ESA’s educational services. In 2012, this proposal was accepted and ESA signed a contract with Kayser Italia for the development and the manufacturing of a DATV transmitter on S-band. This transmitter, dubbed “Ham Video, was installed on Columbus and ESA transferred the custodianship of this equipment to ARISS.
It was a long way, spanning sixteen years, from the initial proposal to the first ever HamTV school contact. A new era opens for ground station operators, interested in receiving digital amateur television from the International Space Station. A technical challenge already met by a few ground stations in Europe, USA and Australia. Long life to HamTV and success to the pioneering ground stations, worldwide!
May 4, 2015
HamTV Bulletin
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe Chariman
Ham Video Transmitter Now Transmitting
On Friday May 1, 2015, the Ham Video transmitter on board the Columbus module of the International Space Station was powered on and started transmitting in “Blank Transmission” (BT) mode. In this mode, the transmitter is operated without a camera. The digital TV signal is fully formatted, but the content of the video is black and the content of the audio is at zero level. From a technical perspective, the BT signal is all that was is needed for testing and fine-tuning ground stations.
The European network of chained ground stations is presently nearly complete. Six ground stations span the continent in “X” formation. For each ascending pass over Europe, four stations provide about 10 minutes of solid copy and the same is true for descending passes:
- Ascending passes: Lisbon (Portugal è Poitiers (France) è Casale Monferrato (North Italy è Kolo (Poland)
- Descending passes : Cork (Ireland) è Poitiers (France) è Casale Monferrato (North Italy è Matera (South Italy
The chained ground stations are streaming the digital video to the BATC server (British Amateur Television Club). BATC set up a multiviewer page, accessible at http://www.batc.tv/iss/. The page shows all six streams from the chained ground stations. Each view can be maximized to full screen and the audio of each stream can be set to level or muted.
Presently, active stations stream technical data provided by the software developed by Jean Pierre Courjaud, F6DZP. Several data are most interesting to observe:
- the “constellations,” which visualize the QPSK (quaternary PSK) modulated signal
- the digital Signal/Noise ratio = MER (dB) (Modulation Error Ratio)
- the control LEDs that change from red to green on decoding the digital signal
The Ham Video transmitter frequency is 2395 MHz and the symbol rate is 2.0 Ms/sec. More information is available at: http://www.ariss-eu.org/columbus/ham-video
The Ham Video transmitter will stay on as long as on-board operations permit.
When the ground stations are determined to operate reliably, the Ham Video transmitter will be used to enhance ARISS school contacts. Uplink will remain VHF audio only. This operational mode is dubbed ARISS Ham TV.
HamTV Bulletin
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe Chariman
Ham Video Transmitter Now Transmitting
On Friday May 1, 2015, the Ham Video transmitter on board the Columbus module of the International Space Station was powered on and started transmitting in “Blank Transmission” (BT) mode. In this mode, the transmitter is operated without a camera. The digital TV signal is fully formatted, but the content of the video is black and the content of the audio is at zero level. From a technical perspective, the BT signal is all that was is needed for testing and fine-tuning ground stations.
The European network of chained ground stations is presently nearly complete. Six ground stations span the continent in “X” formation. For each ascending pass over Europe, four stations provide about 10 minutes of solid copy and the same is true for descending passes:
- Ascending passes: Lisbon (Portugal è Poitiers (France) è Casale Monferrato (North Italy è Kolo (Poland)
- Descending passes : Cork (Ireland) è Poitiers (France) è Casale Monferrato (North Italy è Matera (South Italy
The chained ground stations are streaming the digital video to the BATC server (British Amateur Television Club). BATC set up a multiviewer page, accessible at http://www.batc.tv/iss/. The page shows all six streams from the chained ground stations. Each view can be maximized to full screen and the audio of each stream can be set to level or muted.
Presently, active stations stream technical data provided by the software developed by Jean Pierre Courjaud, F6DZP. Several data are most interesting to observe:
- the “constellations,” which visualize the QPSK (quaternary PSK) modulated signal
- the digital Signal/Noise ratio = MER (dB) (Modulation Error Ratio)
- the control LEDs that change from red to green on decoding the digital signal
The Ham Video transmitter frequency is 2395 MHz and the symbol rate is 2.0 Ms/sec. More information is available at: http://www.ariss-eu.org/columbus/ham-video
The Ham Video transmitter will stay on as long as on-board operations permit.
When the ground stations are determined to operate reliably, the Ham Video transmitter will be used to enhance ARISS school contacts. Uplink will remain VHF audio only. This operational mode is dubbed ARISS Ham TV.
October 17, 2014
HamTV Bulletin #15
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe Chariman
Tonino Giagnacovo, IZ8YRR Reports on Ham Video Reception with Low Gain Antenna
Throughout the period in which the HAMTV transmitter remained in operation after commissioning, many amateur radio operators, equipped with high gain antennas and with tracking systems, put in place their reception systems with the goal of maximizing the duration and quality of the video connection (to reach at the end over six minutes of uninterrupted video reception per station). But Tonino Giagnacovo IZ8YRR wanted to test the ability to receive signals using a minimum configuration, using a low gain antenna and operating in marginal conditions, without tracking. The purpose of these tests was also the evaluation of the intensity, and the quality of the received signal.
Giagnacovo's article about this experiment was published in Radio Rivista, the magazine of ARI, Associazione Radioamatori Italiani, the Italian IARU society. An English translation of the article is available at: http://www.ariss-eu.org/HAMTV_IZ8YRR_1.pdf
HamTV Bulletin #15
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe Chariman
Tonino Giagnacovo, IZ8YRR Reports on Ham Video Reception with Low Gain Antenna
Throughout the period in which the HAMTV transmitter remained in operation after commissioning, many amateur radio operators, equipped with high gain antennas and with tracking systems, put in place their reception systems with the goal of maximizing the duration and quality of the video connection (to reach at the end over six minutes of uninterrupted video reception per station). But Tonino Giagnacovo IZ8YRR wanted to test the ability to receive signals using a minimum configuration, using a low gain antenna and operating in marginal conditions, without tracking. The purpose of these tests was also the evaluation of the intensity, and the quality of the received signal.
Giagnacovo's article about this experiment was published in Radio Rivista, the magazine of ARI, Associazione Radioamatori Italiani, the Italian IARU society. An English translation of the article is available at: http://www.ariss-eu.org/HAMTV_IZ8YRR_1.pdf
July 21, 2014
The Ham Video transmitter on board Columbus will be activated Tuesday July 22 at 9:55 UTC in Blank Transmission mode, without camera connected.
The transmitter will run permanently until August 6, 2014 in configuration 4:
The Ham Video transmitter on board Columbus will be activated Tuesday July 22 at 9:55 UTC in Blank Transmission mode, without camera connected.
The transmitter will run permanently until August 6, 2014 in configuration 4:
- - 2.395GHz
- - 2.0 MSym/sec.
May 7, 2014
HamTV Bulletin #14
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF,
ARISS Europe Chariman
ESA Presents Ham Video Commissioning
ESA published an article on their website, presenting the initial Ham Video transmitter commissioning by Mike Hopkins.
Please see: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Education/Ham_video_premiers_on_Space_Station
The commissioning procedure was documented in Ham TV Bulletins #8 and #9 (below).
HamTV Bulletin #14
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF,
ARISS Europe Chariman
ESA Presents Ham Video Commissioning
ESA published an article on their website, presenting the initial Ham Video transmitter commissioning by Mike Hopkins.
Please see: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Education/Ham_video_premiers_on_Space_Station
The commissioning procedure was documented in Ham TV Bulletins #8 and #9 (below).
April 14, 2014
HamTV Bulletin #13
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF,
ARISS Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning Completed
The final Ham Video Commissioning Pass was performed flawlessly Sunday April 13 at 18.23 UTC.
ISS Commander Koichi Wakata operated OR4ISS while ground stations G4KLB, F6DZP, IK1SLD and KI (Livorno) received the signals and streamed the video over the BATC server. The DATV signal was received for about 6 minutes.
Commander Wakata congratulated ARISS for this achievement and answered a series of questions, prepared in the manner of a school contact. He also proceeded to a microgravity experiment.
The recorded video of this historical transmission is available at: http://www.vivadatv.org/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=317 and also on YouTube at http://youtu.be/EpFzbKvK1pk.
Congratulations to the Ham Video team for this outstanding performance.
Next step should be a video enhanced ARISS school contact.
We will keep you informed on any progress.
HamTV Bulletin #13
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF,
ARISS Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning Completed
The final Ham Video Commissioning Pass was performed flawlessly Sunday April 13 at 18.23 UTC.
ISS Commander Koichi Wakata operated OR4ISS while ground stations G4KLB, F6DZP, IK1SLD and KI (Livorno) received the signals and streamed the video over the BATC server. The DATV signal was received for about 6 minutes.
Commander Wakata congratulated ARISS for this achievement and answered a series of questions, prepared in the manner of a school contact. He also proceeded to a microgravity experiment.
The recorded video of this historical transmission is available at: http://www.vivadatv.org/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=317 and also on YouTube at http://youtu.be/EpFzbKvK1pk.
Congratulations to the Ham Video team for this outstanding performance.
Next step should be a video enhanced ARISS school contact.
We will keep you informed on any progress.
April 12, 2014
HamTV Bulletin #12
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, ARISS Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning – final
The final Ham Video Commissioning Pass 4 is planned Sunday April 13 at 18.23 UTC.
Configuration 4 will be used:
Ground stations F6DZP and IK1SLD will receive the signals and stream the video over the BATC server.
The video is expected to be received during 5 minutes.
This will mark the end of the Blank Transmissions.
We thank the operators who filed reception reports of blank transmissions. Your participation to the Ham Video testing campaign has been invaluable.
No decision has been taken yet on the future use of Ham Video. We will keep you informed on any progress.
HamTV Bulletin #12
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF, ARISS Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning – final
The final Ham Video Commissioning Pass 4 is planned Sunday April 13 at 18.23 UTC.
Configuration 4 will be used:
- ARISS antenna 43
- Frequency 2395 MHz
- Symbol rate 2.0 MS/s
Ground stations F6DZP and IK1SLD will receive the signals and stream the video over the BATC server.
The video is expected to be received during 5 minutes.
This will mark the end of the Blank Transmissions.
We thank the operators who filed reception reports of blank transmissions. Your participation to the Ham Video testing campaign has been invaluable.
No decision has been taken yet on the future use of Ham Video. We will keep you informed on any progress.
April 6, 2014
HamTV Bulletin #11
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe chairman
Ham Video Blank Transmissions
Presently, Ham Video is transmitting permanently a "blank" image and no audio in configuration 5:
Participants using the Tutioune receiving software can record as well as stream detailed parameters of the received signal. Please see: http://www.vivadatv.org/
Reports are available at
http://www.vivadatv.org/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=294&p=785#p785
Thank you for your participation to the Ham Video testing campaign.
HamTV Bulletin #11
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe chairman
Ham Video Blank Transmissions
Presently, Ham Video is transmitting permanently a "blank" image and no audio in configuration 5:
- ARISS antenna 43
- Frequency 2369 MHz
- Symbol rate 1.3 Ms/s
Participants using the Tutioune receiving software can record as well as stream detailed parameters of the received signal. Please see: http://www.vivadatv.org/
Reports are available at
http://www.vivadatv.org/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=294&p=785#p785
Thank you for your participation to the Ham Video testing campaign.
March 21, 2014
HamTV Bulletin #10
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe Chairman
Ham Video Blank Transmissions Planning
Presently, Ham Video is transmitting permanently a "blank" image and no audio in configuration 3:
Sunday March 23, Ham Video will start transmitting in configuration 4, i.e. 2395MHz and 2.0 Ms/s.
Due to SpaceX docking and related operations, Ham Video blank transmissions will come to an end March 31.
The last commissioning step will be planned in April or in May 2014. We will keep you informed on the precise date and time.
Reports on reception of blank transmissions are very welcome.
Reports can be filed via this webpage:
http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_FSTV/submit.php
Participants using the Tutioune receiving software can record as well as stream detailed parameters of the received signal.
Please see: http://www.vivadatv.org/
Thursday March 20, three ground stations tested chained reception of Ham Video signals.
Jean Pierre Courjaud reported on this experiment on his website. The report is available at
http://www.vivadatv.org/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=294&p=785#p785
Thank you for your participation to the Ham Video testing campaign.
HamTV Bulletin #10
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe Chairman
Ham Video Blank Transmissions Planning
Presently, Ham Video is transmitting permanently a "blank" image and no audio in configuration 3:
- ARISS antenna 43
- Frequency 2395 MHz
- Symbol rate 1.3 Ms/s
Sunday March 23, Ham Video will start transmitting in configuration 4, i.e. 2395MHz and 2.0 Ms/s.
Due to SpaceX docking and related operations, Ham Video blank transmissions will come to an end March 31.
The last commissioning step will be planned in April or in May 2014. We will keep you informed on the precise date and time.
Reports on reception of blank transmissions are very welcome.
Reports can be filed via this webpage:
http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_FSTV/submit.php
Participants using the Tutioune receiving software can record as well as stream detailed parameters of the received signal.
Please see: http://www.vivadatv.org/
Thursday March 20, three ground stations tested chained reception of Ham Video signals.
Jean Pierre Courjaud reported on this experiment on his website. The report is available at
http://www.vivadatv.org/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=294&p=785#p785
Thank you for your participation to the Ham Video testing campaign.
March 12, 2014
HamTV Bulletin #9
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning Steps 1 and 2 Successful
The Ham Video transmitter commissioning steps 1 and 2 were performed as planned. Working together with ESA / B.USOC, the ARISS team in Matera did an excellent job.
Saturday March 8, 4 configurations were tested with antenna 41.
Sunday March 9, 6 configurations were tested with antenna 43.
Both ARISS L/S-band antennas are operational in S-band. Reports from ground stations during blank transmissions will allow further analysis of their performance and radiation characteristics in space.
Recordings of signals received during commissioning steps at Matera ground station will be made available on the BATC server.
In Livorno, Ham Video manufacturer Kayser Italia received excellent signals with a 1.2m dish. In Casale Monferrato, the ARISS telebridge station also received good signals with the same type of antenna.
Recordings can be viewed with VLC software. Please select 16/9 image format.
Presently, Ham Video is transmitting permanently a “blank” image and no audio in configuration 1:
Next week blank transmission is planned with antenna 43 on 2395 MHz and 1.3 Ms/s. The frequency changeover will be done Saturday 15 or Sunday 16 March.
All Ham Video frequencies have been notified to ITU as ISS – ARISS.
Reports on reception of blank transmissions are very welcome. Reports can be filed via this webpage: http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_FSTV/submit.php
Participants using the Tutioune receiving software can record as well as stream detailed parameters of the received signal. Please see: http://www.vivadatv.org/
Blank transmissions will continue till the next commissioning step, which is planned April 12, 2014. We will announce configurations in due time.
Thank you for your participation to the Ham Video testing campaign.
HamTV Bulletin #9
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning Steps 1 and 2 Successful
The Ham Video transmitter commissioning steps 1 and 2 were performed as planned. Working together with ESA / B.USOC, the ARISS team in Matera did an excellent job.
Saturday March 8, 4 configurations were tested with antenna 41.
Sunday March 9, 6 configurations were tested with antenna 43.
Both ARISS L/S-band antennas are operational in S-band. Reports from ground stations during blank transmissions will allow further analysis of their performance and radiation characteristics in space.
Recordings of signals received during commissioning steps at Matera ground station will be made available on the BATC server.
In Livorno, Ham Video manufacturer Kayser Italia received excellent signals with a 1.2m dish. In Casale Monferrato, the ARISS telebridge station also received good signals with the same type of antenna.
Recordings can be viewed with VLC software. Please select 16/9 image format.
Presently, Ham Video is transmitting permanently a “blank” image and no audio in configuration 1:
- ARISS antenna 43
- Frequency 2422 MHz
- Symbol rate 1.3 Ms/s
Next week blank transmission is planned with antenna 43 on 2395 MHz and 1.3 Ms/s. The frequency changeover will be done Saturday 15 or Sunday 16 March.
All Ham Video frequencies have been notified to ITU as ISS – ARISS.
Reports on reception of blank transmissions are very welcome. Reports can be filed via this webpage: http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_FSTV/submit.php
Participants using the Tutioune receiving software can record as well as stream detailed parameters of the received signal. Please see: http://www.vivadatv.org/
Blank transmissions will continue till the next commissioning step, which is planned April 12, 2014. We will announce configurations in due time.
Thank you for your participation to the Ham Video testing campaign.
March 7, 2014
HamTV Bulletin #8
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe Chairman
Ham Video Now Installed and Ready for Commissioning
The Ham Video transmitter has been installed in the Columbus module of the International Space Station March 6, 2014 at approximately 10.00 UTC.
The transmitter was powered on briefly and all control LEDs were nominal. Ham Video is declared ready for Commissioning.
The first Commissioning step is planned March 8, 2014. Using call sign OR4ISS, crew will power on the Ham Video transmitter in configuration 1:
Acquisition of signal (AOS) at Matera ground station in south Italy will be at approximately 13.29 UTC.
Matera will receive the Ham Video signals with 3 different receivers. The output of each receiver will be web streamed over BATC channels ISS1, ISS2 and ISS3. The ARISS ground station IK1SLD, located in Northern Italy, will also receive the Ham Video signals and stream the video over BATC channel ISS4. The BATC server is available at http://www.batc.tv/
On BATC you can do the following:
- select ISS
- click on one of the ISS channels
- click on Multi screen selector
- select the channels you wish to watch
- click on Watch.
When multiscreen appears, volume is turned down by default. Turn the volume up using the volume control slider below the image.
During the pass, different configurations will be tested with ARISS antenna 41.
After the pass, the Ham Video transmitter will stay powered on in configuration 1 (see above) till the following Commissioning step, which is planned Sunday March 9, 2014 at approximately 12.40 UTC.
For about 24 hours, the DATV signal will be transmitted permanently, but the camera will be powered off. The reason is, that the camera is battery powered and no provisions are made for frequent battery replacement. This mode is called "blank" transmission.
Sunday March 9, the transmission will start shortly before the pass of the ISS over Western Europe at approximately 12.39 UTC.
During Commissioning step 2, different configurations will again be tested, this time with ARISS antenna 43. The Matera ground station and IK1SLD will stream the video over the BATC server.The plan is to resume blank transmission immediately after the pass over Matera and to continue permanent transmission for one week, till Sunday March 16, 2014. The frequency will remain 2.422 GHz, but antenna ARISS 43 will be used.
Reports on reception of blank transmissions are very welcome. Reports can be filed via this webpage: http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_FSTV/submit.php
Participants using the Tutioune receiving software, developed by Jean Pierre Courjaud F6DZP, can record as well as stream detailed parameters of the received signal. Please see: http://www.vivadatv.org/
Thank you for your participation.
HamTV Bulletin #8
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe Chairman
Ham Video Now Installed and Ready for Commissioning
The Ham Video transmitter has been installed in the Columbus module of the International Space Station March 6, 2014 at approximately 10.00 UTC.
The transmitter was powered on briefly and all control LEDs were nominal. Ham Video is declared ready for Commissioning.
The first Commissioning step is planned March 8, 2014. Using call sign OR4ISS, crew will power on the Ham Video transmitter in configuration 1:
- ARISS antenna 41
- Frequency 2.422 GHz
- Symbol rate 1.3 Ms/s
Acquisition of signal (AOS) at Matera ground station in south Italy will be at approximately 13.29 UTC.
Matera will receive the Ham Video signals with 3 different receivers. The output of each receiver will be web streamed over BATC channels ISS1, ISS2 and ISS3. The ARISS ground station IK1SLD, located in Northern Italy, will also receive the Ham Video signals and stream the video over BATC channel ISS4. The BATC server is available at http://www.batc.tv/
On BATC you can do the following:
- select ISS
- click on one of the ISS channels
- click on Multi screen selector
- select the channels you wish to watch
- click on Watch.
When multiscreen appears, volume is turned down by default. Turn the volume up using the volume control slider below the image.
During the pass, different configurations will be tested with ARISS antenna 41.
After the pass, the Ham Video transmitter will stay powered on in configuration 1 (see above) till the following Commissioning step, which is planned Sunday March 9, 2014 at approximately 12.40 UTC.
For about 24 hours, the DATV signal will be transmitted permanently, but the camera will be powered off. The reason is, that the camera is battery powered and no provisions are made for frequent battery replacement. This mode is called "blank" transmission.
Sunday March 9, the transmission will start shortly before the pass of the ISS over Western Europe at approximately 12.39 UTC.
During Commissioning step 2, different configurations will again be tested, this time with ARISS antenna 43. The Matera ground station and IK1SLD will stream the video over the BATC server.The plan is to resume blank transmission immediately after the pass over Matera and to continue permanent transmission for one week, till Sunday March 16, 2014. The frequency will remain 2.422 GHz, but antenna ARISS 43 will be used.
Reports on reception of blank transmissions are very welcome. Reports can be filed via this webpage: http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_FSTV/submit.php
Participants using the Tutioune receiving software, developed by Jean Pierre Courjaud F6DZP, can record as well as stream detailed parameters of the received signal. Please see: http://www.vivadatv.org/
Thank you for your participation.
March 2, 2014
HamTV Bulletin #7
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning Now Scheduled
The Ham Video transmitter, which is stored in the Columbus module of the International Space Station, will be installed March 6, 2014. The transmitter will be powered on briefly, just the time needed to check that the connection cables to the antenna, to the power supply and to the camera are installed properly. All control LEDs nominal, the transmitter will be considered ready for Commissioning and will be unpowered.
The first Commissioning step is planned March 8. Michael S. Hopkins KF5LJG will power on the Ham Video transmitter in configuration 1:
The ground station will stream the video over the BATC server http://www.batc.tv/ .Please select Member Streams and ISS.
During the pass, different configurations will be tested with ARISS antenna 41.
After the pass, the Ham Video transmitter will stay powered on in configuration 1 till the following Commissioning step, which is planned Sunday March 9, 2014 at approximately 12.40 UTC.
For about 24 hours, the DATV signal will be transmitted permanently, but the camera will be powered off. The reason is, that the camera is battery powered and no provisions are made for frequent battery replacement. This mode is called "blank" transmission.
During Commissioning step 2, different configurations will again be tested, this time with ARISS antenna 43. The Matera ground station will stream the video over the BATC server.
Possibly, blank transmissions will occur in the period between Commissioning step 2 and the following step, which is not yet planned.
We will circulate Ham TV Bulletins to inform on blank transmissions.
Reports on reception of blank transmissions are very welcome. Reports can be filed via this webpage: http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_FSTV/submit.php
Participants using the Tutioune receiving software, developed by Jean Pierre Courjaud F6DZP, can record as well as stream detailed parameters of the received signal. Please see: http://www.vivadatv.org/.
Thank you for your participation!
HamTV Bulletin #7
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning Now Scheduled
The Ham Video transmitter, which is stored in the Columbus module of the International Space Station, will be installed March 6, 2014. The transmitter will be powered on briefly, just the time needed to check that the connection cables to the antenna, to the power supply and to the camera are installed properly. All control LEDs nominal, the transmitter will be considered ready for Commissioning and will be unpowered.
The first Commissioning step is planned March 8. Michael S. Hopkins KF5LJG will power on the Ham Video transmitter in configuration 1:
- ARISS antenna 41
- Frequency 2.422 GHz
- Symbol rate 1.3 Ms/s
The ground station will stream the video over the BATC server http://www.batc.tv/ .Please select Member Streams and ISS.
During the pass, different configurations will be tested with ARISS antenna 41.
After the pass, the Ham Video transmitter will stay powered on in configuration 1 till the following Commissioning step, which is planned Sunday March 9, 2014 at approximately 12.40 UTC.
For about 24 hours, the DATV signal will be transmitted permanently, but the camera will be powered off. The reason is, that the camera is battery powered and no provisions are made for frequent battery replacement. This mode is called "blank" transmission.
During Commissioning step 2, different configurations will again be tested, this time with ARISS antenna 43. The Matera ground station will stream the video over the BATC server.
Possibly, blank transmissions will occur in the period between Commissioning step 2 and the following step, which is not yet planned.
We will circulate Ham TV Bulletins to inform on blank transmissions.
Reports on reception of blank transmissions are very welcome. Reports can be filed via this webpage: http://www.spaceflightsoftware.com/ARISS_FSTV/submit.php
Participants using the Tutioune receiving software, developed by Jean Pierre Courjaud F6DZP, can record as well as stream detailed parameters of the received signal. Please see: http://www.vivadatv.org/.
Thank you for your participation!
February 7, 2014
HamTV Bulletin 6
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning Postponed
ESA postponed the Ham Video Commissioning to March 8.
Possible dates for the four Commissioning steps are March 8 (step 1), March 9 (step 2), and March 16 (step 3).
Step 3 could be turned into step 4. These dates are all on the weekend.
With this agenda, we have just 1 week of blank transmissions.
The agenda is still to be finalized.
HamTV Bulletin 6
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning Postponed
ESA postponed the Ham Video Commissioning to March 8.
Possible dates for the four Commissioning steps are March 8 (step 1), March 9 (step 2), and March 16 (step 3).
Step 3 could be turned into step 4. These dates are all on the weekend.
With this agenda, we have just 1 week of blank transmissions.
The agenda is still to be finalized.
January 26, 2014
HamTV Bulletin 5
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning – Blank Transmissions
As announced December 22, 2013 the Ham Video transmitter is onboard the International Space Station and stored in the Columbus module. It is slated to be installed February 5, 2014 by Michael Hopkins KF5LJG. Hopkins will also install the camera and the supporting Bogen arm.
The Ham Video transmitter will be connected to the ARISS 41 antenna and to the KuPS power supply. The installation procedure comprizes a check of the electrical connections. The transmitter will be powered on and will transmit a signal on 2.422 GHz. This check will be very limited in time, just enough to verify that the control LEDs are nominal. Then Ham Video will be powered off, ready for the first Commissioning Step.
January 23 and 24, Commissioning Simulations were again performed by ESA, in collaboration with ARISS. The ARISS Team, in charge of receiving the signals during the Commissioning, worked with B.USOC, simulating the four scheduled Commissioning Steps. The procedure was an update of the Simulations performed 5-6 September 2013, as reported in HamTV Bulletin #2. (All HamTV Bulletins are archived at www.ariss-eu.org ).
The four Commissioning steps are scheduled February 8, 15 and 16 and March 5. These dates are still to be confirmed and this depends on the signature of the Flight Rules relative to Ham Video (see HamTV Bulletin #4).
Blank Transmissions will start immediately at the conclusion of Commissioning Step 1 and will continue till Commissioning Step 4. This means that the Ham Video transmitter will operate continuously during 25 days.
The DATV signal parameters will be:
Blank Transmissions
A « blank » DVB-S signal contains all the data of normal DVB-S. The information tables describing the content and the content itself, i.e. the video (black) and the audio (silence), are the same as for the image and the sound produced by a camera.
Receiving a black image and silent sound may seem uninteresting but, from a technical perspective, the digital signal offers an important source of information.
The decoded signal provides many data :
Even without decoding, several measurements of the received signal provide valuable information:
Reception Reports
Ground stations with S-band capability can provide valuable information, which will be much appreciated.
Basic data such as:
ARISS is preparing a Ham Video Internet Reporting Program for collecting reception data from volunteering ground stations.
These most needed reception reports will be gratefully accepted.
Basic DATV receiver
A “Set Top Box” or a Television receiver with satellite tuner can be used for receiving Ham Video signals during a pass of the ISS.
When scanning the 2.395 GHz frequency, the DVB stream can be decoded. When this is successful, the channel name « HAMTV » will appear on the TV screen.
Windows computer with TechnoTrend TT S2-1600 card and Tutioune software
A Windows computer with TT S2-1600 receiver card can be used for Ham Video reception. See appended Block Diagram of N6IZW Station.
The Tutioune software, developed by Jean Pierre Courjaud F6DZP, measures and records the Ham Video signals second per second:
The recorded file can be examined and forwarded to ARISS.
Better even, the data can be forwarded during an ISS pass to the TiouneMonitor on the www.vivadatv.org website. In other words, the data can be observed worldwide, real time.
Tutioune also shows the constellations during signal reception (see HamTV Bulletin #4). The TS stream can be recorded, but this is less interesting since richer information is already available.
Tutioune also decodes the DVB tables and provides the PIDs and the channel name (« HAMTV ») recovered from the SDT table.
Annex: www.ariss-eu.org/N6IZW_Station.pdf
HamTV Bulletin 5
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning – Blank Transmissions
As announced December 22, 2013 the Ham Video transmitter is onboard the International Space Station and stored in the Columbus module. It is slated to be installed February 5, 2014 by Michael Hopkins KF5LJG. Hopkins will also install the camera and the supporting Bogen arm.
The Ham Video transmitter will be connected to the ARISS 41 antenna and to the KuPS power supply. The installation procedure comprizes a check of the electrical connections. The transmitter will be powered on and will transmit a signal on 2.422 GHz. This check will be very limited in time, just enough to verify that the control LEDs are nominal. Then Ham Video will be powered off, ready for the first Commissioning Step.
January 23 and 24, Commissioning Simulations were again performed by ESA, in collaboration with ARISS. The ARISS Team, in charge of receiving the signals during the Commissioning, worked with B.USOC, simulating the four scheduled Commissioning Steps. The procedure was an update of the Simulations performed 5-6 September 2013, as reported in HamTV Bulletin #2. (All HamTV Bulletins are archived at www.ariss-eu.org ).
The four Commissioning steps are scheduled February 8, 15 and 16 and March 5. These dates are still to be confirmed and this depends on the signature of the Flight Rules relative to Ham Video (see HamTV Bulletin #4).
Blank Transmissions will start immediately at the conclusion of Commissioning Step 1 and will continue till Commissioning Step 4. This means that the Ham Video transmitter will operate continuously during 25 days.
The DATV signal parameters will be:
- Downlink frequency: 2.395 GHz
- DVB-S standard (QPSK modulation)
- Symbol rate: 1.3 Ms/s
- FEC : ½
- Video PID = 256
- Audio PID = 257
- RF radiated power : approximately 10 W EIRP
Blank Transmissions
A « blank » DVB-S signal contains all the data of normal DVB-S. The information tables describing the content and the content itself, i.e. the video (black) and the audio (silence), are the same as for the image and the sound produced by a camera.
Receiving a black image and silent sound may seem uninteresting but, from a technical perspective, the digital signal offers an important source of information.
The decoded signal provides many data :
- the video stream can be measured (Tutioune + TS reader)
- the audio stream can be measured (Tutioune + TS reader)
- the DVB tables can be decoded (satellite receiver (Set Top Box) or Tutioune or TS reader or VLC …)
Even without decoding, several measurements of the received signal provide valuable information:
- analogic HF signal strength (dBm)
- analogic Signal/Noise ratio (dB)
- digital Signal/Noise ratio = MER (dB)
- error/correction ratio = Vber, Cber …
- validation of the received transport stream = TS
Reception Reports
Ground stations with S-band capability can provide valuable information, which will be much appreciated.
Basic data such as:
- noise level without signal
- AOS time (UTC)
- maximum signal level during pass
ARISS is preparing a Ham Video Internet Reporting Program for collecting reception data from volunteering ground stations.
These most needed reception reports will be gratefully accepted.
Basic DATV receiver
A “Set Top Box” or a Television receiver with satellite tuner can be used for receiving Ham Video signals during a pass of the ISS.
When scanning the 2.395 GHz frequency, the DVB stream can be decoded. When this is successful, the channel name « HAMTV » will appear on the TV screen.
Windows computer with TechnoTrend TT S2-1600 card and Tutioune software
A Windows computer with TT S2-1600 receiver card can be used for Ham Video reception. See appended Block Diagram of N6IZW Station.
The Tutioune software, developed by Jean Pierre Courjaud F6DZP, measures and records the Ham Video signals second per second:
- HF signal level
- digital Signal/Noise level = MER (dB)
- error/correction = Vber
The recorded file can be examined and forwarded to ARISS.
Better even, the data can be forwarded during an ISS pass to the TiouneMonitor on the www.vivadatv.org website. In other words, the data can be observed worldwide, real time.
Tutioune also shows the constellations during signal reception (see HamTV Bulletin #4). The TS stream can be recorded, but this is less interesting since richer information is already available.
Tutioune also decodes the DVB tables and provides the PIDs and the channel name (« HAMTV ») recovered from the SDT table.
Annex: www.ariss-eu.org/N6IZW_Station.pdf
December 22, 2013
HamTV Bulletin 4
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning
As announced August 21, 2013 the Ham Video transmitter is onboard the International Space Station and stored in the Columbus module.
September 10, 2013 we informed about the Experiment Sequences Test (EST) and the Simulations performed by the European Space Agency in collaboration with ARISS.
September 20, 2013 we announced the Ham Video Launch Campaign and described a simple station for Ham Video reception.
The Commissioning of the Ham Video transmitter needs to cover different configurations involving 2 antennas, 4 frequencies and 2 symbol rates. As announced earlier, the signals transmitted during the Commissioning steps will be received by the Matera ground station, located in south Italy (see HamTV Bulletin #2).
Moreover, during the Commissioning period, the Ham Video transmitter will transmit permanently for several days (weeks). This will allow ground stations to test their equipment and to provide useful information concerning the efficiency of the transmitter.
For these transmissions, no camera will be used. The so-called "blank" transmissions will nevertheless provide a complete DVB-S signal, as described hereafter.
We hoped that the Commissioning of the Ham Video transmitter would be planned October 2013. It appeared that the "Flight Rules" regarding ARISS activities, which cover VHF and UHF transmissions, needed to be updated for S-band. Writing Flight Rules and having them verified, accepted and signed by all parties involved is a process that takes time. ARISS matters have low priority among the countless activities that populate the International Space Station. Unforeseen events, such as the recent failing of a cooling system, evidently cause further delay.
Finally, the January - February 2014 time frame seems a reasonable guess for the Ham Video Commissioning.
HamTV Bulletin 4
Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Chairman
Ham Video Commissioning
As announced August 21, 2013 the Ham Video transmitter is onboard the International Space Station and stored in the Columbus module.
September 10, 2013 we informed about the Experiment Sequences Test (EST) and the Simulations performed by the European Space Agency in collaboration with ARISS.
September 20, 2013 we announced the Ham Video Launch Campaign and described a simple station for Ham Video reception.
The Commissioning of the Ham Video transmitter needs to cover different configurations involving 2 antennas, 4 frequencies and 2 symbol rates. As announced earlier, the signals transmitted during the Commissioning steps will be received by the Matera ground station, located in south Italy (see HamTV Bulletin #2).
Moreover, during the Commissioning period, the Ham Video transmitter will transmit permanently for several days (weeks). This will allow ground stations to test their equipment and to provide useful information concerning the efficiency of the transmitter.
For these transmissions, no camera will be used. The so-called "blank" transmissions will nevertheless provide a complete DVB-S signal, as described hereafter.
We hoped that the Commissioning of the Ham Video transmitter would be planned October 2013. It appeared that the "Flight Rules" regarding ARISS activities, which cover VHF and UHF transmissions, needed to be updated for S-band. Writing Flight Rules and having them verified, accepted and signed by all parties involved is a process that takes time. ARISS matters have low priority among the countless activities that populate the International Space Station. Unforeseen events, such as the recent failing of a cooling system, evidently cause further delay.
Finally, the January - February 2014 time frame seems a reasonable guess for the Ham Video Commissioning.
September 20, 2013
HamTV Bulletin 3
Gaston Bertels – ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Chairman
Ham Video Campaign 2013
The ARISS DATV transmitter, dubbed « Ham Video », already onboard the International Space Station, will soon be installed in the Columbus module and commissioned.
Commissioning will be done in several steps, each during a full pass of the ISS over the Matera ground station (see Bulletin 2). It is not yet known if these passes will be chosen in close succession, or if they will cover several weeks. ARISS proposes ESA to operate so called “blank” transmissions during the commissioning period. If this is accepted, it means that Ham Video will transmit permanently without camera. The camera will not be used because it is fed on batteries and servicing it would need prohibitive crew time. Transmitting recordings is part of a future project, but not available presently.
Although ground stations will receive a black image without audio, “blank” transmissions contain all information needed for the setting up and the fine tuning of the station. Moreover, collected data will be used for a performance study of the ARISS L/S-band antennas as well as for an evaluation of the global system.
For this launch campaign, ARISS addresses a call for collaboration to the amateur radio community, especially to the operators interested in space communications. Several satellite operators have shown interest.
Ham Video technical characteristics are available at www.ariss-eu.org . Look for the “Ham Video” link in the left sidebar. Suggestions and useful addresses for the setting up of a Ham Video ground station are also provided.
Among the components of a satellite ground station, the antenna system is the most expensive. High gain antennas are needed, moved by azimuth and elevation motors and driven by an appropriate computer program. For Ham Video reception, a 1.2m dish with precision tracking is recommended. A station compliant with the recommendations provided in the aforementioned reference text should be capable of 3 to 4 minutes of DATV reception during a pass of the ISS. AO-40 operators who still have an S-band dish can now use it for Ham Video.
On the other hand, interesting data can be gathered by stations with a much simpler setup. A dish with a self made helix feed could be used without motors. This antenna could be positioned in a fixed direction, determined before a pass of the ISS, pointing to the position of the ISS at closest approach, which corresponds to the maximum elevation of the space station during the pass. With the setup as described hereunder, 1 to 2 minutes of solid reception of the Ham Video signal should be possible.
Call for participation to the Ham Video launch campaign
ARISS addresses a call to amateur radio experimenters who would like to participate to the Ham Video launch campaign.
Data gathering during the initial “blank” transmissions is important and the help of volunteering operators will be most appreciated. More details to follow.
It is to be noted that builders of the hereunder proposed “Simple Station” could later update their equipment and add tracking motors. Chained stations will be needed for ARISS Ham TV school contacts. Video and audio from the ISS will be web streamed to the schools over the Internet.
We will keep you informed of these developments. For the time being, as a starter, let us concentrate on receiving “blank” transmissions.
September 10, 2013
HamTV Bulletin 2
Gaston Bertels – ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Chairman
Ham Video - EST and Simulations
Ham Video Commissioning preparation is progressing. An EST (Experiment Sequence Test) has been performed 28-29 August and Simulations tests were done 5-6 September 2013.
The EST consisted of a series of tests, mainly of the ground segment. For the Commissioning, the VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) station of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), located near Matera, southern Italy, will be used for receiving the DATV signals from the ISS. For the EST, the IK1SLD ground station, situated at Casale Monferrato, northern Italy was used. IK1SLD is one of the ARISS telebridge stations, fully equiped for VHF and UHF. It was recently upgraded for S-band with a 1.2m dish, feed, downconverter and precision tracking motors.
For the EST, a very low power transmitter, installed in the shack, generated signals on the Ham Video frequencies, transmitting a DATV recording at 1.3 and 2.0 MS/s and FEC ½. The DATV signal was received and decoded by the IK1SLD station and webstreamed to the BATC server.
B.USOC (Belgian User Support and Operations Center – ESA) conducted operations. B.USOC and EAC (European Astronaut Center – Cologne, Germany) specialists operated from Livorno at Kayser Itallia's laboratory, where a Ham Video unit, the so-called EBB (Elegant BreadBox), is operational. Parties involved were interconnected per teleconference. At Casale Monferrato, Claudio Ariotti IK1SLD and Piero Tognolatti I0KPT produced, received and webstreamed the signals in the different configurations as requested by B.USOC. ESA and ARISS observers participated to the EST teleconference. After debriefing, the EST was declared successful.
Simulations were done differently. B.USOC supervised from their offices in Brussels and ARISS responsibles Piero Tognolatti I0KPT and Jean Pierre Courjaud F6DZP operated from home. The simulations were done in the Columbus mockup at EAC, where a non operational Ham Video model is installed. This box is used for astronaut training on Ham Video. A KuPS power supply was also used, as well as a camera similar to the one onboard Columbus in space. Ham Video transmissions were simulated in the different configurations (frequencies and symbol rates). A view of operations in the Columbus mockup was webstreamed to the participants. ARISS operators simulated reception as if thery were at the Matera ground station, taking into account expected timing between AOS and LOS. They signaled AOS and requested “crew“ at EAC to transmit in different configurations, according a pre-determined scenario. At LOS, the test stopped and results were commented.
Four “passes” were simulated this way, using both ARISS antennas. An important goal of the simulations was to check the efficiency of communications between ground and “crew”. Commands were initiated by ARISS operators (supposedly from Matera), received at B.USOC, relayed to the Columbus Control Center at Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich and uplinked to “crew” by EUROCOM. The European ISS Control Center is called Col-CC and its spacecraft communicator's call sign is EUROCOM. The Simulations were conducted successfully and lessons were learned for gaining time on transmitting commands. This is important considering the limited 8 minutes contact time during real Commissioning.
ARISS proposed to use our VHF uplink capabilities to “crew” for the Commissioning. This was not acceptable with regard to ESA's commissioning protocol.
Presently, ISS pass predictions for Matera are computed for several weeks starting mid October, The Matera VLBI activities are to be taken into account for determining usable passes. Four passes will be needed to fullfil the Commissioning requirements.
Ham Video Commissioning activities will be decided by ESA and NASA ISS Operations. Hopefully the Commissioning will be planned during Expedition 37. We will keep you informed.
HamTV Bulletin 3
Gaston Bertels – ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Chairman
Ham Video Campaign 2013
The ARISS DATV transmitter, dubbed « Ham Video », already onboard the International Space Station, will soon be installed in the Columbus module and commissioned.
Commissioning will be done in several steps, each during a full pass of the ISS over the Matera ground station (see Bulletin 2). It is not yet known if these passes will be chosen in close succession, or if they will cover several weeks. ARISS proposes ESA to operate so called “blank” transmissions during the commissioning period. If this is accepted, it means that Ham Video will transmit permanently without camera. The camera will not be used because it is fed on batteries and servicing it would need prohibitive crew time. Transmitting recordings is part of a future project, but not available presently.
Although ground stations will receive a black image without audio, “blank” transmissions contain all information needed for the setting up and the fine tuning of the station. Moreover, collected data will be used for a performance study of the ARISS L/S-band antennas as well as for an evaluation of the global system.
For this launch campaign, ARISS addresses a call for collaboration to the amateur radio community, especially to the operators interested in space communications. Several satellite operators have shown interest.
Ham Video technical characteristics are available at www.ariss-eu.org . Look for the “Ham Video” link in the left sidebar. Suggestions and useful addresses for the setting up of a Ham Video ground station are also provided.
Among the components of a satellite ground station, the antenna system is the most expensive. High gain antennas are needed, moved by azimuth and elevation motors and driven by an appropriate computer program. For Ham Video reception, a 1.2m dish with precision tracking is recommended. A station compliant with the recommendations provided in the aforementioned reference text should be capable of 3 to 4 minutes of DATV reception during a pass of the ISS. AO-40 operators who still have an S-band dish can now use it for Ham Video.
On the other hand, interesting data can be gathered by stations with a much simpler setup. A dish with a self made helix feed could be used without motors. This antenna could be positioned in a fixed direction, determined before a pass of the ISS, pointing to the position of the ISS at closest approach, which corresponds to the maximum elevation of the space station during the pass. With the setup as described hereunder, 1 to 2 minutes of solid reception of the Ham Video signal should be possible.
Call for participation to the Ham Video launch campaign
ARISS addresses a call to amateur radio experimenters who would like to participate to the Ham Video launch campaign.
Data gathering during the initial “blank” transmissions is important and the help of volunteering operators will be most appreciated. More details to follow.
It is to be noted that builders of the hereunder proposed “Simple Station” could later update their equipment and add tracking motors. Chained stations will be needed for ARISS Ham TV school contacts. Video and audio from the ISS will be web streamed to the schools over the Internet.
We will keep you informed of these developments. For the time being, as a starter, let us concentrate on receiving “blank” transmissions.
September 10, 2013
HamTV Bulletin 2
Gaston Bertels – ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Chairman
Ham Video - EST and Simulations
Ham Video Commissioning preparation is progressing. An EST (Experiment Sequence Test) has been performed 28-29 August and Simulations tests were done 5-6 September 2013.
The EST consisted of a series of tests, mainly of the ground segment. For the Commissioning, the VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) station of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), located near Matera, southern Italy, will be used for receiving the DATV signals from the ISS. For the EST, the IK1SLD ground station, situated at Casale Monferrato, northern Italy was used. IK1SLD is one of the ARISS telebridge stations, fully equiped for VHF and UHF. It was recently upgraded for S-band with a 1.2m dish, feed, downconverter and precision tracking motors.
For the EST, a very low power transmitter, installed in the shack, generated signals on the Ham Video frequencies, transmitting a DATV recording at 1.3 and 2.0 MS/s and FEC ½. The DATV signal was received and decoded by the IK1SLD station and webstreamed to the BATC server.
B.USOC (Belgian User Support and Operations Center – ESA) conducted operations. B.USOC and EAC (European Astronaut Center – Cologne, Germany) specialists operated from Livorno at Kayser Itallia's laboratory, where a Ham Video unit, the so-called EBB (Elegant BreadBox), is operational. Parties involved were interconnected per teleconference. At Casale Monferrato, Claudio Ariotti IK1SLD and Piero Tognolatti I0KPT produced, received and webstreamed the signals in the different configurations as requested by B.USOC. ESA and ARISS observers participated to the EST teleconference. After debriefing, the EST was declared successful.
Simulations were done differently. B.USOC supervised from their offices in Brussels and ARISS responsibles Piero Tognolatti I0KPT and Jean Pierre Courjaud F6DZP operated from home. The simulations were done in the Columbus mockup at EAC, where a non operational Ham Video model is installed. This box is used for astronaut training on Ham Video. A KuPS power supply was also used, as well as a camera similar to the one onboard Columbus in space. Ham Video transmissions were simulated in the different configurations (frequencies and symbol rates). A view of operations in the Columbus mockup was webstreamed to the participants. ARISS operators simulated reception as if thery were at the Matera ground station, taking into account expected timing between AOS and LOS. They signaled AOS and requested “crew“ at EAC to transmit in different configurations, according a pre-determined scenario. At LOS, the test stopped and results were commented.
Four “passes” were simulated this way, using both ARISS antennas. An important goal of the simulations was to check the efficiency of communications between ground and “crew”. Commands were initiated by ARISS operators (supposedly from Matera), received at B.USOC, relayed to the Columbus Control Center at Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich and uplinked to “crew” by EUROCOM. The European ISS Control Center is called Col-CC and its spacecraft communicator's call sign is EUROCOM. The Simulations were conducted successfully and lessons were learned for gaining time on transmitting commands. This is important considering the limited 8 minutes contact time during real Commissioning.
ARISS proposed to use our VHF uplink capabilities to “crew” for the Commissioning. This was not acceptable with regard to ESA's commissioning protocol.
Presently, ISS pass predictions for Matera are computed for several weeks starting mid October, The Matera VLBI activities are to be taken into account for determining usable passes. Four passes will be needed to fullfil the Commissioning requirements.
Ham Video Commissioning activities will be decided by ESA and NASA ISS Operations. Hopefully the Commissioning will be planned during Expedition 37. We will keep you informed.
August 21, 2013
HamTV Bulletin 1
Gaston Bertels – ON4WF
ARISS-Europe Chairman
Ham Video Transmitter On Board Columbus
How a DATV transmitter on S-band is being added to the ARISS equipment onboard the International Space Station has been related in an announcement recently circulated and available at www.ariss-eu.org/HamVideo.pdf.
The ARISS Ham Video transmitter is presently onboard Columbus. The transmitter was delivered by Japanese cargo spacecraft HTV-4, which launched August 4 and docked 5 days later.
ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano IR0ISS reported that the bags are stored in Columbus. There are two bags: one for the transmitter, the other for the power, camera and antenna cables.
Installation will be done by US astronaut Michael Hopkins KF5LJG who has been trained for the commissioning of the Ham Video equipment.The commissioning is planned later in the year, possibly end October when there are favourable passes over Italy. Indeed, the tests transmissions for the commissioning of the onboard equipment will be received by the ground station of the “Centro di Geodesia Spaziale” of the Italian Space Agency, located in Matera, Southern Italy.
We will report in due time on the commissioning procedure which will involve a series of tests to be performed during 3 or 4 ISS passes. Possibly, the Ham Video transmitter will transmit continuously between the commissioning steps offering amateur ground stations the opportunity to test and tune their receiving equipment. The transmissions will be performed in automatic mode, without requiring crew time. The camera, which runs on a battery, will not be used and the ground stations will receive a black image.
Meanwhile, commissioning is being prepared steadily. The kick-off meeting took place November 2012 at ESTEC, the European Space Research and Technology Centre, located in Noordwijk the Netherlands. Detailed procedures are examined and finalized during weekly ESA/ARISS teleconferences. A preliminary EST (Experiment Sequence Test) is planned 28-29 August. The test will involve the ARISS ground station IK1SLD, located in Casale Monferrato in Northern Italy.
IK1SLD, which is an ARISS telebridge station often used for educational ARISS school contacts on VHF, has been upgraded for S-band reception. Ham Video manufacturer Kayser Italia has delivered a 1.2 meter dish, a down converter and precision tracking motors, which are part of the ESA funded equipment. For the EST, the station will receive a DATV signal from a local low power S-band test transmitter. The decoded signal will be webstreamed to the BATC server. The British Amateur Television Club offers ARISS free access to their server. ESA examiners will connect to the BATC server and evaluate the reception. Test transmissions at IK1SLD will cover the different frequencies and symbol rates available on the Ham Video transmitter.
Web streaming will take advantage of the special software developed by Jean Pierre Courjaud, F6DZP. References are available in the HamVideo.pdf.
When the Ham Video transmitter will become operational, it will be used for ARISS educational school contacts. Video will be for downlink only. Uplink will be VHF FM audio. The Ericsson transceiver onboard Columbus will be used for reception onboard. This cross band and double mode operation is called Ham TV. Ham Video is the name of the DATV transmitter.
