This one radio technique saved the day! ISS SSTV #2

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How to Receive SSTV Images from the International Space Station with a Walkie-Talkie

Amateur Radio • Space Exploration • Slow-Scan Television (SSTV)

Imagine pointing a small handheld radio toward the sky, listening to a signal coming from astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), and watching a picture from space appear on your phone or computer. You don't need an expensive radio station, a satellite dish, or a complicated setup to try it.

With a compatible walkie-talkie, a little patience, and free SSTV decoding software, you can receive images transmitted from the ISS when its crew and amateur-radio program schedule an SSTV event.

This guide walks you through the equipment, radio settings, satellite tracking, and image-decoding process.

1. What is SSTV?

SSTV stands for Slow-Scan Television. Rather than transmitting a conventional video stream, SSTV sends a still image as a series of audio tones. A receiving radio picks up those tones, and software converts them back into a picture.

The ISS has an amateur-radio program called ARISS — Amateur Radio on the International Space Station. During designated events, the station may transmit SSTV images that radio enthusiasts on the ground can receive.

The exciting part is that you can potentially capture these pictures with nothing more than a handheld radio and a phone or computer.

One important distinction: SSTV transmissions are not continuous. The ISS must be transmitting SSTV during the pass you are trying to receive. A normal ISS voice or repeater pass will not automatically produce pictures.

2. What equipment do you need?

You can get started with a basic setup. Better antennas and a good location can improve your results, but you do not need professional equipment.

Equipment	What to look for
Walkie-talkie	A handheld radio that receives the specific VHF or UHF frequency announced for the SSTV event
Antenna	The supplied antenna can work; a directional Yagi can improve reception
Smartphone	Runs an SSTV decoder app
Headphones or audio cable	Optional; useful for feeding clean radio audio into a decoder
Satellite tracker	Helps you know when the ISS will pass overhead

Important: An ordinary FRS/GMRS walkie-talkie generally cannot tune to the amateur-radio frequencies used for ISS SSTV. You need a radio with the appropriate receive-frequency coverage. You do not need an amateur-radio license merely to listen.

Which frequency should you use?

The correct frequency depends on the particular event. Two examples from ARISS activity are:

145.800 MHz — 2-meter VHF

Used for many traditional ISS SSTV events, commonly with the PD120 image mode.

437.550 MHz — 70-centimeter UHF

Used for some newer ARISS SSTV events, including the October 2026 event, with Robot 36 mode. Check event details

Do not assume either frequency is active. Check the event announcement before heading outside, and follow any frequency and mode changes.

ARISS+2

3. Find out when the ISS will pass overhead

Even if SSTV is transmitting, you can only receive the signal while the ISS is within radio range. A typical pass lasts several minutes, depending on the orbit and your location.

These websites help you plan:

• N2YO.com — live satellite tracking and pass predictions: track the ISS and explore upcoming passes.

• AMSAT — amateur satellite pass predictions: useful for amateur-radio satellite activity.

• NASA Spot the Station: find viewing opportunities and learn about ISS visibility.

• Heavens-Above: another option for satellite pass predictions.

How to plan a good pass

1. Set your location in N2YO or another pass-prediction service.

2. Find an upcoming ISS pass with a high maximum elevation. A pass reaching 45° or higher is a useful target.

3. Note the local start time, direction of approach, maximum elevation, and direction in which the station will disappear.

4. Set up your radio and SSTV app a few minutes before the predicted pass.

5. Stay listening throughout the pass. If an image transmission begins before you can hear the ISS, you may miss its first lines.

A high pass generally gives you a longer listening window and a better chance of receiving a complete image.

4. Set up your walkie-talkie

Once you have confirmed that an SSTV event is active, configure your radio as follows:

1. Enter the event's published downlink frequency.

2. Select FM receive mode, unless the event announcement specifies otherwise.

3. Turn the squelch down or fully open it. This helps you hear weak signals, although you may also hear background noise.

4. Disable unnecessary audio processing, noise reduction, or voice enhancement if your radio provides those options.

5. Use the supplied antenna initially, holding it clear of your body and away from nearby obstructions.

6. If possible, move outdoors to a location with a clear view of the sky.

Improving reception with an antenna

A handheld radio can receive ISS SSTV with its stock antenna, particularly on a high pass. For better results, try a small directional Yagi antenna designed for the band you are receiving.

Point the antenna toward the ISS as it moves across the sky. The ISS travels quickly, so you may need to adjust the antenna's direction during the pass.

If you use a UHF Yagi for a 437 MHz event, make sure it is designed for that frequency. A 2-meter antenna and a 70-centimeter antenna are not interchangeable without considering their design and performance.

A useful tip: Listen to the radio's speaker or headphones before connecting your phone. You should hear a distinctive sequence of electronic tones when SSTV is being transmitted, rather than ordinary speech.

5. Decode the picture with your smartphone

This is the fun part: converting the sound from the radio into a picture.

Option A: Use an Android phone

Robot36 - SSTV Image Decoder for Android - Download the APK from Uptodown

Robot36 — free SSTV decoder

Android

Get it from the Google Play Store or the F-Droid repository.

Robot36 decodes multiple SSTV formats, including Robot 36 and several PD modes.

Apps on Google Play+1

1. Install and open Robot36.

2. Allow microphone access.

3. Place the phone's microphone near the walkie-talkie's speaker.

4. Set the app to the mode announced for the event, if automatic detection does not select it.

5. Start listening before the next image transmission begins.

6. Keep the phone and radio steady and let the complete image transmission finish.

The image should gradually appear on the phone's display as the tones are decoded.

Option B: Use an iPhone or iPad

You can use an SSTV decoder such as SSTV Slow Scan TV by Black Cat Systems.

Place the iPhone microphone near the radio speaker and start the decoder. Check that the app supports the mode used in the current ISS event.

Option C: Use a Mac or computer

If you prefer a computer, you can feed the radio's audio into the computer using an appropriate audio connection and run SSTV decoding software.

Useful starting points include:

• MultiScan 3B SSTV for Mac — an older Mac SSTV software resource; check compatibility with your macOS version.

• AMSAT-UK's ISS SSTV guide — additional reception and decoding instructions.

• Goonhilly WebSDR — listen through a remote radio receiver if you cannot receive the ISS locally.

Audio quality matters. Start with a moderate speaker volume. Excessive volume can distort the tones, while very low volume can prevent the decoder from recognizing them. If your radio has a headphone jack, an appropriate audio cable may give better results than holding a phone near the speaker.

6. Follow ARISS for SSTV announcements

The most important step is knowing when SSTV is actually turned on. Events can be postponed, interrupted for school contacts, or changed because of station operations.

Bookmark these resources:

Forms and Resources - ARISS

ARISS-USA

Official US program information

ARISS-USA.org — news and information about amateur radio activities aboard the ISS.

ARISS - Amateur Radio on the ISS (@ARISS_Intl) on X

ARISS International on X

Follow @ARISS_Intl for program updates and announcements.

Getting Started with Satellite Communications By Anthony Guiller E. Urbano, DU1AU

ISS SSTV event announcements

Upcoming SSTV events — event dates, frequencies, modes, and transmission schedules.

SSTV-Bilder von der ISS – Förderverein Technikforum Backnang e.V.

ARISS SSTV image gallery

View received images and submit your own — see images received by other radio enthusiasts and check submission requirements.

You can also consult the ARISS SSTV FAQ for common questions, frequency guidance, and help with submitting images.

ariss-usa.org+1

7. What if you don't hear anything?

Don't assume your radio or decoder is broken. Check these common issues:

• No signal: Confirm that an SSTV event is active and that the ISS is above your horizon.

• You hear tones but see no image: Confirm microphone permission, app settings, and the SSTV mode.

• The picture is incomplete: The ISS may have risen into range partway through a transmission or passed out of range before it finished.

• The picture has lines, colors, or distortion: Try adjusting the volume, improving the antenna position, and moving away from electrical interference.

• The signal fades repeatedly: The ISS is moving rapidly, and its changing position can affect reception. A directional antenna may help.

• The frequency seems slightly off: Satellite motion causes Doppler shift, which can be especially noticeable on UHF. Follow the event's published tuning guidance.

SSTV pictures are transmitted in separate bursts, often with a pause between images. Keep listening through the gaps rather than giving up after the first burst.

8. Share your captured image

When you successfully decode an image, save it to your phone or computer. Record the date, time in UTC, frequency, SSTV mode, and approximate pass details. This information can help you compare reception quality and share your results with other enthusiasts.

You can submit qualifying captures through the ARISS SSTV gallery. Check the current event's submission rules and certificate deadlines before uploading. Some events offer electronic certificates for successful decodes.

ariss-usa.org+1

Remember to submit the original decoded image when required; don't digitally reconstruct a missing portion and represent it as an unedited radio capture.

Final checklist: Ready to receive pictures from space?

Your SSTV mission checklist

Check ARISS for an active SSTV event

Confirm the event frequency and SSTV mode

Find a high-elevation ISS pass using N2YO

Charge the radio and smartphone

Install and test an SSTV decoder

Go outside and start listening before the pass

Save your image and record the reception details

Receiving an image from the ISS is a rewarding introduction to satellite communications. Start with the radio you have, learn to recognize the SSTV tones, and work on improving your antenna and decoding setup one step at a time. With the right timing and a little patience, your walkie-talkie can become a window into space.

Clear skies and good reception!

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How to Tune a Homemade 70cm Yagi Antenna (Optimized for 437.800 MHz)

Building your own 70 cm Yagi antenna is one of the most rewarding projects in amateur radio—but at UHF, precision matters. Small measurement errors can shift your antenna off frequency, so starting with accurate dimensions and tuning correctly makes all the difference.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to tune your antenna and give you a refined, field-tested 3-element design centered on 437.800 MHz—ideal for satellite work, weak signals, and directional simplex.

---

Why Precision Matters on 70cm

At 437.800 MHz:

• Wavelength ≈ 68.5 cm (26.97 inches)
• A 1–2 mm change can noticeably shift resonance
• Feedline and mounting effects become more significant

This is not HF—you’re working in a range where millimeters matter.

---

📡 Optimized 3-Element Yagi Design (437.800 MHz)

These corrected dimensions will put you much closer to resonance right out of the gate.

Element Lengths

• Reflector: 33.9 cm (13.35 in)
• 
  Driven Element (total length): 32.5 cm (12.80 in)
• Director: 30.9 cm (12.17 in)

Element Spacing (Along the Boom)

• Reflector → Driven: 13.7 cm (5.39 in)
• Driven → Director: 10.3 cm (4.06 in)

Build Assumptions

• Thin عناصر (≈ 1/8" or 3 mm rods)
• Non-conductive boom (PVC recommended) or insulated mounting
• Center-fed dipole driven element

---

Step 1: Set Up for Testing

Before tuning:

• Mount the antenna in a clear, open space
• Keep it away from metal objects
• Use a short, good-quality coax feedline

For best results, use an analyzer like the NanoVNA to sweep the band and visualize resonance.

---

Step 2: Sweep for Resonance

Scan roughly 430–445 MHz and find:

• The lowest SWR point

Interpretation:

• Resonance below 437.800 MHz → antenna is too long
• Resonance above 437.800 MHz → antenna is too short

---

Step 3: Adjust the Driven Element

This is your primary tuning control.

• Too low in frequency → shorten slightly
• Too high → lengthen (if possible)

Make very small changes:

• 1–2 mm at a time
• Re-check after each adjustment

---

Step 4: Match It Properly

If you're using:

• Gamma match
• Hairpin match

Adjust for lowest SWR:

• Target ~1.2:1 at 437.800 MHz

This step often makes the biggest performance difference.

---

Step 5: Verify Reflector and Director

These shape your antenna’s pattern and gain:

• Reflector = longest
• Director = shortest

If performance seems off:

• Check spacing first
• Then make very small length tweaks

---

Step 6: Add a Choke Balun

At UHF, feedline radiation can distort tuning.

Add a choke at the feedpoint:

• Coil a few turns of coax
• Or use ferrite beads

This stabilizes SWR and improves pattern consistency.

---

Step 7: Final Targets

A well-tuned antenna should achieve:

• SWR ≤ 1.5:1 across your range
• Ideally ~1.2:1 at 437.800 MHz

---

Real-World Builder Tips

• Cut slightly long if you want room to trim
• Always tune outdoors at operating height
• Keep elements straight and aligned
• Double-check spacing before drilling

---

Troubleshooting

If tuning isn’t working:

• Re-measure all element lengths
• Check feedpoint connections
• Confirm choke balun is installed
• Move antenna away from nearby metal

---

What Changed from Typical Designs?

Many online designs run slightly long, which shifts resonance lower (around 430–434 MHz).

This corrected version:

• Centers resonance closer to 437.800 MHz
• Reduces the amount of trimming required
• Gets you on frequency faster

---

Final Thoughts

A properly tuned 70 cm Yagi can dramatically improve your signal—especially for satellite work and weak-signal contacts. With careful construction and a few small adjustments, you can turn a simple homebrew antenna into a high-performance directional tool.

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Comet C/2025 R3 PANSTARRS Pass by Earth

 A bright comet is making its way through our solar system, and you might be able to go out to see it in the night sky.

Discovered this past September, Comet C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS) has been steadily brightening throughout 2026, with predictions suggesting it will reach well within naked-eye visibility as it makes its closest passes to the Sun and Earth. To see it, head outside about an hour and a half before sunrise and face toward the east. It’s here that you’ll find Comet PANSTARRS as a faint, soft glow low on the horizon.

Try to spot it first with the naked eye, but you may need a pair of 10x50 binoculars to scan the sky until you come across it. If you own a telescope, switch to a low-powered eyepiece once you’ve found it to see the coma in more detail and possibly even a faint tail extending from it.

On the morning of April 19th, it will make its closest pass to the Sun and will appear near the star Alenib, somewhere around magnitude 2–3, putting it well within reach of naked-eye visibility. As it passes the Sun, PANSTARRS will get lower to the horizon each morning until it becomes too close to the rising Sun to safely view.

At this point, no one on Earth will be able to observe it for a few days because of how close it will be to the Sun. However, space-based telescopes, such as the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, will be able to image and capture it during this time.

As it begins to move away from the Sun, it will become an impressive target for observers in the Southern Hemisphere. On April 26th, Comet PANSTARRS will make its closest pass to Earth, and from that date on, it will begin to slowly rise night after night in the western sky as a naked-eye object, possibly reaching between magnitude 1 and 0.

Head outside about 30 to 45 minutes after sunset and scan the western sky until you find it. As April transitions into May, the comet will climb higher in the western sky, offering increasingly better views. Predictions suggest it will remain visible to the naked eye throughout the first half of May.

As Comet PANSTARRS travels through the constellation Orion, it will make a close pass to the Orion Nebula around May 10th, creating excellent opportunities for astrophotography.

If this comet holds together and you’re able to observe or image it, share where you saw it from and what your experience was like in the comments below. If you enjoyed this content, consider liking and subscribing to stay updated on what you can see in the night sky.

Thank you all so much for your continued support, now get out there and look for this thing!

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