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Using a RTL SDR Dongle to receive pictures from the ISS! | Software Defined Radio

Ham Radio DX

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Did you know the International Space Station (ISS) periodically sends SSTV (slow scan television) images over the air? You can decode them too using an RTL SDR software defined radio dongle which is around $30-$50. A simple antenna is all that is needed.

RTL SDR:
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Find out when the Space Station is sending SSTV pictures here:
http://ariss-sstv.blogspot.com/

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⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️
0:00 Receiving the images using an RTL-SDR
1:43 What you will need to receive the images
3:23 Attempt 1
5:32 Attempt 2 -
7:41 ISS passes directly overhead
9:00 Tips for receiving

Items I use in my shack:
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19 Comments

@morphshag 5 years ago

My 6 year old daughter loves it when the ISS is sending images. We set an alarm and both run in to the shack to see the images come down. I even sent away for the ARISS certificate for receiving images and put her name on it. She was SO pumped about it. Even took it to daycare to show the other kids.

@paulsnelgrove1517 4 years ago

I am a HAM in Canada, VE3SPP, hello. I have had fantastic success connecting to ISS. To get the station as it passes your best result is with a horizontal antenna. Better yet with 2 horizontal elements, one oriented north to south, and the other, east to west. This will cover your whole sky. I was told this by a ham and it works. My adaptation was to use a pair of trucker's CB whips into a Y to a single line into the station. The 1/4 wave CB whip is very close to a 5/8 wave of 2meter band where those pictures are transmitted. Loved this video, totally. 73s

@danvandertorre 2 years ago

a stacked tracking array would do the job perfectly.

@aaron3966 5 years ago

I got the same picture as you using a baofeng and a iPhone using the SSTV app, I tried on laptop and rtl-sdr but I think my bandwidth was wrong as it didn’t get much of a picture it was also a noolec retractable antenna, love the vids man good stuff! Going for my licence soon. Such an awesome hobby!

@daghanabi 3 years ago

The satellite sound is beautiful man I cant describe how much I like it. Also, the video is fantastic. Your microphone, The sdr and the obs setup are phenomenal.

@GraemeKoch 5 years ago

Sold, buying the RTL SDR, you have me hooked.

@dansummers2965 2 years ago

That was interesting, watching the effect as the station passes through the squashed-doughnut radiation pattern of your co-linear - the signal getting stronger as it approaches the horizon is unusual :D.

I've had some success with a horizontal dipole/SDR and the ISS before (elements perpendicular to the track of the station), but the radio environment around my house is pretty noisy (I live in a suburb, so there are microwaves and inverters and SMPSes all over the spectrum). When the next ARISS event occurs at a time when I can be mobile (i.e. not during a workday), I'll try taking a rig out into the farmland east of my QTH and see if I can get a clearer signal, I think.

@kishor_VU2MZT 1 year ago

NICE TO SEE THIS , CAN YOU PLZ MAKE VIDEO ON HOW TO SET UP SDR SHARP WITH SSTV IMAGE DECODER SOFTWARE SETTING ?

@Threedog1963 1 year ago

Reminds me of dial up internet on a 56k baud modem.

@norrinradd8952 5 years ago

My RTL-SDR was tied up, but I just used an audio cable and routed the audio from my radio to my laptop. Still worked great. Thanks for the great idea! :) I might buy another RTL-SDR, thanks Hayden!

@sbennettyt 4 years ago

I received voice from ISS a few month ago when they were scheduled to talk to students in Greenbank, WV. No SSTV yet.

@acestudioscouk-Ace-G0ACE 3 years ago

Good video, thanks! I was able to download pics from the ISS from an online SDR to my phone. There was some green banding like yours but I was lucky in that they sent the same pic of the Russian astronauts a few times and I was able to merge them together in Photoshop and have a really nice souvenir from the ISS.

@FEPLabsRadio 5 years ago

Very cool! There goes me actually getting anything done at work today. (I said that in a russian accent)

@paulgrindley8192 1 year ago

I was able to get eleven images last weekend using a J-pole antenna. A few of them were really good quality.

@andrewhamop6665 5 years ago

I've successfully received several images with several different devices.

I've used a baofeng and a phone recording the signal. I tried my upgraded HT antenna, to no avail. More recently, I've used a TYT and my tablet recording the signal. This along with a magmount antenna on a baking sheet netted me 3 almost perfect images from a single pass. I also managed to get a QSL card from this! I also now have an HT that can record directly from the RF, I have yet to try that.

I'm planning on trying the same thing here, I know it won't be as good as my mag Mount that I can change the angle and direction of, but it's worth a shot. Great video as always Hayden, 73 de W8IJC.