HAM-Video from the ISS

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G3VZV
Posts: 36
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:38 am

HAM-Video from the ISS

Post by G3VZV » Mon May 20, 2013 9:39 pm

Hi All,

Almost a decade ago someone came up with a madcap scheme for putting an ATV transmitter on the International Space Station to supplement the various amateur radio voice and data rigs that it carries. Then the reality of a link budget for FMATV on 2.4GHz was pointed out to him and the thought of having a lot of 3 metre dishes tracking the iSS as it goes across the sky at up to 1 degree per second hit him and he dropped the idea.

Since then we have had the advent of DATV and the link budget becomes possible - at least for for 1 or 1.2metre dishes. Amazingly it has proven possible to get agreement to have such a transmitter delivered to the ISS and this is planned to take place within the next couple of months.

Full details have not yet been formally released by ESA and ARISS but some details are available here. http://www.amsat.org.uk/iaru/

It is not yet certain that it will, at least intially, be transmitting video on a 24/7 basis but we expect to learn more precise scheduling details over the next few weeks.

I will endeavour to keep this topic up to date with further information as it becomes available.

73
Graham
G3VZV

AKA
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue May 28, 2013 2:08 pm

Re: HAM-Video from the ISS

Post by AKA » Tue May 28, 2013 2:10 pm

Additional information is on the AMSAT-UK website at http://amsat-uk.org/2013/05/12/hamtv-from-the-iss/

G8XZD-TV
Posts: 109
Joined: Fri Feb 22, 2013 6:41 pm

Re: HAM-Video from the ISS

Post by G8XZD-TV » Sun Aug 04, 2013 10:36 am

I see from the Amsat site the kit has been sent into space.

Will keep watching for any test dates.

http://amsat-uk.org/2013/08/03/hamtv-tr ... ed-to-iss/


On Saturday, August 3 at 1948 UT the Japanese HTV-4 cargo vessel was successfully launched to the International Space Station (ISS). On-board was the HamTV transmitter and a number of CubeSats carrying amateur radio payloads.

The Japanese space agency JAXA has announced details of four CubeSats on the launch. They will be deployed from the ISS by the JEM Small Satellite Orbital Deployer (J-SSOD) between October 2013 and March 2014.

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G8ADM
Posts: 121
Joined: Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:14 pm

Re: HAM-Video from the ISS

Post by G8ADM » Thu Sep 12, 2013 12:34 pm

AMSAT have a report of simulating receiving DATV from the ATV transmitter on the ISS.
You can read this here:

http://amsat-uk.org/2013/09/11/hamtv-bu ... simulation

Dave.

G3VZV
Posts: 36
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 12:38 am

Re: HAM-Video from the ISS

Post by G3VZV » Mon Oct 28, 2013 10:21 pm

Hi All,

The slides from my presentation at CAT13 about the HAMtv system can be downloaded here https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/209 ... _hamtv.ppt

It includes some details of the equipment and settings needed for reception of the test transmissions.

As soon as more details, and importantly the dates, of the test transmissions are known we will post the information here.

In the meantime it would be great to use this forum to exchange ideas and experiences.

From discussions at CAT13 it would seem that there are at least three UK stations getting set up to receive the signals...it would be great if we could use this forum to stay in touch with others doing the same around the world - please introduce yourselves!

73
Graham
G3VZV
...

G4KLB
Posts: 244
Joined: Wed May 28, 2008 10:46 am

Re: HAM-Video from the ISS

Post by G4KLB » Tue Oct 29, 2013 3:30 am

Thanks Graham
Far easer to read than the few photos I took from the live stream!
The suggested frequency for the initial tests at 2395MHz was news to me, I was only aware of 2422MHz and 2437MHz also knowing it will most likely be 1.3M/S is useful.
Thank you for making the slides available, will watch this space for updates.
Can't believe I'm getting so exited about attempting to receive a blank screen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

Colin
G4KLB

M0DTS
Posts: 652
Joined: Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:03 pm

Re: HAM-Video from the ISS

Post by M0DTS » Tue Oct 29, 2013 10:04 pm

Dont worry Colin, i'm looking forward to receiving the same thing ;-)

I will be hoping to see good signals with the 3m dish here when i get it back into service... Repairs have been done but still needs a coat of paint, i must get a move on with that.
Lots of gain here (!) and clear path across fields for southern aquisition of signal.

Need to look at a narrow filter, will post if i find anything suitable.
I do have a box of 2.4GHz diplexers which in series maybe useful when used at opposite band edges....


73
Rob

g8gtz
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Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:26 pm

Re: HAM-Video from the ISS

Post by g8gtz » Wed Dec 18, 2013 7:09 pm

Quick update from ARISS:

Due to other ISS maintenance priorities for the ESA and NASA flight directors, the Hamvideo commissioning is not now expected to start before the end of January 2014.

Gives you all more time to get the tracking and rx systems working :D

73

Noel - G8GTZ

g8gtz
Posts: 1732
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:26 pm

Re: HAM-Video from the ISS

Post by g8gtz » Sun Dec 22, 2013 12:56 pm

HamTV Bulletin #4
December 22, 2013

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.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !

73

Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS-Europe chairman

g8gtz
Posts: 1732
Joined: Wed Apr 07, 2010 6:26 pm

HamTV Bulletin #5

Post by g8gtz » Mon Jan 27, 2014 1:39 pm

HamTV Bulletin #5
January 26, 2014


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 <http://www.ariss-eu.org/>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
Ham Video will operate with a Canon XF-305
camera, but the camera will be turned off during the Blank Transmissions.

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 …)
The DVB tables mention the PIDs (content
identification numbers) as well as the SDT
(Service Description Table) with the TV channel name, which will be « HAMTV »
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
· LOS time (UTC)
can be reported by ground stations without the
need of special DATV hard- and software.
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
· validation of the received transport stream = TS

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 <http://www.vivadatv.org/>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.

73,

Gaston Bertels, ON4WF
ARISS-Europe chairman

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