Files, Advice, and Information
From Experience with Mir
Mir is one of the most unusual DX sites you can
reach from earth, and one of the hardest, though it is not
usually necessary. The dificulty is created by Hams trying
desperately to connect to Mir, and in the process making it harder
for each other to connect or to send messages to Mir. The
resulting QRM (noise) results in the cosmonauts being unable and often unwilling
to try to get through as it is very difficult for them with all
the noise created by Hams calling them.I have posted messages to
packet about this and J. Miles Mann(WF1F) has posted articles to
magazines and Spacenews about this and how to avoid being part of
the problem. If you can raise a cosmonauts interest and get into
a radio relationship with him or her, it can indeed be very
rewarding.
I have received many messages from the
cosmonauts and convinced them to make some sheduled conversations with
several schools here in the Northeast. Dave Larson
(N6JLH-Sateside Mir QSL Manager) has been doing such activities
on the West coast for Years also. Dave has given me some Mail to include here.
Amateur Radio opened the door to the stars for
me and for many other people who have been able to get through to
Mir, allowing me to see how human the cosmonauts really are and
reawakening dreams for Mankind's future. The internet has been
integral in making communication possible between stations around
the country and the world, making it possible to coordinate our
efforts to keep the tnc running and the Hams aboard the station
interested in talking to us.
My Equipment
I am using a Yeasu FT-2200 mobile radio and a
KPC-3 tnc, and a homemade azimuth elevation Rotor consisting of a Channel
Master azimuth rotor (TV variety) and an Alliance U-100 Elevation rotor
(TV Variety), welded togeather by myself, which I manually aim to
follow the sattelite with a 13B2 mounted vertically, I was using
a homemade 9 element beam, but have replaced that with a 18 element
440 cross polarized antenna in hopes of being able to do
something in the future with the 440 equipment up there.I have
about $700 in equipment and use the system for terrestrial packet
as well. I have a 486dx2-66 computer with 8 meg ram, and two
harddrives, and run Logsat tracking software and Paket 6.0. It works
fairly well, but luck and persistance are the most important
factors in my opinion. 
If you would like to connect to Mir and get a QSL Card here are
some suggestions and advice from me and some of my experiences.
My first connects to Mir were with a 3-element beam which was
given to me by a friend, and I had on a rotor, I soon found that
I could do well on the lower elevation passes but if it went high
in the sky I would 'lose it'. I learned I could aim the beam up a
little and increase my range some. I wasn't very succesful, but
got enough messages to get a QSL card, and several times got to
talk to one of the cosmonauts. As I got to know Alex, I dared ask
him if he would be wiling to make a school contact and he was
thrilled at the idea. Though it was unofficial and spontaneous it
went very well and many more followed.
I have been talking with cosmonauts since then,
and always get a thrill. The lastest crew Mir-20 has been no
exception with Thomas Reiter leading the Ham radio activity and
Serge and Yuri staying right up with it. This has been an
exciting period. If you want to connect to Mir there are several
things I would suggest. First, read WF1F's excellent article
and follow it explicitly. Second, get a good beam, and a
rotor and stick to passes which are within the 10-20 degree
elevation range (you will be able to hear Mir well, and it will
hear you fine), and third, stick to it until you get your chance,
the R0MIR-CQ frame just for you and then be ready to send your message
and listen for replies, they don't answer 5% of the messages they
get so don't be put out if you don't get a response. Put yourself
in their shoes, stuck up in space with not much to do except work
and see if you can inspire them to return a comment to you. Many
times the signal just disapears, the antenna apparently rotates
behind part of the station and the signal is lost or it fades
into a horozontal polarization or something else affects it, so
be prepared to send and receive quickly get what you want done.
and log off if at all possible leaving it open for someone else
to send a message. There are important messages which go up via
Amateur Radio as well as a bunch of nonsense (which I am in
charge of). And above all else have fun, don't let the
competitive atmosphere get you irate, roll with the punches and
keep trying until you succeed.
73 DAVE N1PPP
Keplerian elements
Places to find this important information
The Air
Force Keps Site
Amateur Radio
These links are places I go for information I
need in ham radio activities.
Best
starting Amateur Radio site I have found
Another
Fine Site
Buckmaster
QRZ great!!
Ham Radio Outlet for
Prices and info
ARRL
AMSAT
Spacenews
Please send any comments to David Hendrick 