How many times have you watched an object moving through the day or night sky and wondered what it was. Could it be an airliner or a space satellite?...Is the Space Shuttle orbiting?... The International Space Station?...perhaps a even a UFO? Usually we never really know for sure...unless you are in communication with the object.. For one Weaverville resident that "communication" happens all the time.
. The orbiting International Space Station and the recently de-orbited MIR both were equipt with small simple low-power low cost VHF Ham Radio Stations. They are onboard to provide a much needed morale boost by providing a connection to family and some new friends. The second reason is that it is the "back-up" on the "back-up" radio communications to Earth. During the many years that MIR orbited, the off-the shelf Japanese 2 meter FM VHF transceiver proved to be a life-saver more than one time. Today, while less dramatic, conversations from ISS "Alpha" are not uncommon during the small amount of "personal time" that some of the licensed Amateur Radio Operator- Astronauts have.
The Space Station travels roughly East to West in it's constantly varying orbits. When it is at a high elevation, and not behind the local mountains the Space Station's signals are audible for about 5 minutes in Trinity County on a good pass. When the Station approaches the West Coast of North America "Ham" Radio Operators from Alaska to Mexico check their tracking programs to see if "Alpha" is going to be in range, and will anyone be calling from above for a contact.
Last June 23rd, was the annual "Field Day" where Amateur Radio Operators simulate Emergency Communications conditions by communicating with eachother, some with emergency power and temporary antennas. Some members of theTrinity County Amateur Radio Club were in Hayfork on that day providing safety and logistical communications for the locally sponsored California Trail Riders Association event at Indian Valley, near the "Old Forest Service Guard Station".
Another TCARC member was in Weaverville, participating in another emergency communications activity, when he heard a strong signal, a woman's voice from the speaker behind him..."Space Station Alpha, NA1SS, QRZ"...these were words that he had hoped to hear for quite some time.. The push-to-talk button on the hand held microphone was squeezed and with 35 years of experience he slowly and clearly repeated his callsign twice and released the button.. A burst of static then Astronaut Air Force Col. Susan Helms parroted back his callsign, recognizing him to go ahead and transmit. The next words were brief and simple, a thank you for all that she was doing for Amateur Radio, and his best wishes. She replied with a "Thank you" and mentioned she was also involved with the "Field Day" exercise using her hand held, battery operated, 2 watt 2 meter VHF FM tranciever. The contact was brief, because the local radio operator knew that there were many more stations waiting in the "footprint" of the space station antenna as it passed Easterly 250 miles above.
June 23rd , 2001 Payload Specialist Susan Helms on ISS to Weaverville on Field Day QSO
Smiling from ear to ear, he turned off the small tape recorder that he instinctively turned on to capture the event to save and share with other local radio enthusiasts. There was little doubt that this voice communication could be made from this local radio station. Regularly this same "Ham" communicates digitally by "packet" radio using the his computer keyboard via the same ISS Ham Radio set as it sits velcroed to the wall of the space station It is left turned "on" as a 2 watt (low power) "digipeater station", repeating all the signals it clearly hears for all to "see" on their computer screens on earth within the "footprint" of ISS. The ISS "space relay". has exchanged signals from Trinity County to Texas, Alaska, BC, Mexico, Nevada, Montana, Northern California, and many other locations.
Susan Helms on ISS operating Ham Radio Station, on July 16, 2001
As you can see, Amateur (Ham) Radio is not just morse code, vacuum tubes and shortwave anymore.. There are satellites to relay from, portable battery sets you can build youself to take hiking, slow scan television, voice, data, packet, morse code, radios for your purse, pocket, mobile or table top can help you to communicate across town or the other side of the world. You can do this too!
The members of the Trinity County Amateur Radio Club invite you to their meetings in Weaverville and other locations throughout the year.They may be contacted through PO Box 2283 in Weaverville,CA 96093
. They would be happy to help you obtain a license. Now, in recent years you nolonger need to be a part-time rocket scientist with lots of pens in your pocket, and calculator on your belt to be licensed... just the desire to communicate and serve your community. Simple self-study books are availiable for less than $20.00 through the club or your favorite bookstore.
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Last Updated: December 4, 2003