Satellites & SSTV
Tracking passes, following Doppler shift, and receiving images from space. Decoding ISS SSTV images has been one of my favorite station experiments.
Amateur radio · Mesa, Arizona
KM7ADM
A little curiosity.
A world of signals.
I'm Mike. Welcome to my corner of amateur radio—satellites, digital modes, antennas, and the satisfaction of getting a signal through.
N / 000°
STATION GRIDDM43MESA · ARIZONA
SATELLITES / TERRESTRIAL / DIGITALOPERATORMike / KM7ADM
UTC / ZULU— UTC
STATION INTERESTSVHF · UHF · Satellites
01 / The station
Built to experiment.
From the shack to the field.
My station centers on an Icom IC-706MKIIG, with a DigiRig interface for computer-based radio work. I enjoy trying different modes, working through the setup, and learning what makes a station perform better.
My Kenwood TM-D710A handles mobile VHF/UHF and APRS. A directional antenna, a handheld, or a portable battery takes the hobby from the shack into the field.
- Transceiver
- Icom IC-706MKIIGMy main station radio
- Mobile
- Kenwood TM-D710AMy mobile VHF/UHF radio for voice and APRS
- Interface
- DigiRig MobileComputer audio and radio control
- Antennas
- Dual-band Yagi & verticalHorizontal weak-signal work and local VHF/UHF
- Portable
- Elk dual-band YagiA portable directional antenna for satellite work
- Receive
- RTL-SDR v3 & disconeExploring signals beyond the usual channels
02 / On the air
Follow the signal.
Some of the parts of the hobby that keep me coming back to the radio.
APRS & digital
Working with packet radio, position reporting, and computer interfaces. My experiments include Dire Wolf, PinPoint, and a BTECH UV Pro.
Weak-signal work
Horizontal polarization, careful listening, and a directional antenna. Two-meter SSB and digital modes offer plenty of room to experiment.
Received from orbit
ISS SSTV image gallery.
Three captures from October 25, 2026, decoded in Nexus using Robot 36.
Receiving Pictures from Space
Slow Scan Television (SSTV) sends still pictures over radio using audio tones. During scheduled amateur-radio SSTV events, the International Space Station transmits images that listeners on Earth can receive and decode with a radio and software. You don’t need an amateur-radio license to receive these images in the United States—just suitable receiving equipment and decoding software.
The images below were received at my station, KM7ADM in Mesa, Arizona, as the ISS passed overhead. Noise or missing lines reflect changing reception conditions during the pass—part of the challenge of receiving pictures from space.
Click any image to open the original 320 × 240 capture. Times are taken from the saved filenames; Arizona MST is UTC−7.
From the receiver
Signals worth listening to.
SDR captures and interesting recordings from my radio experiments.
The audio collection
Recordings coming soon.
A place to share the sounds behind the hobby—from unusual signals to memorable moments on the air. As recordings are added, you’ll be able to listen right here.
03 / Around the shack
Always something to work on.
Antenna experiments
Exploring a six-meter dipole for FT8, portable Yagi setups, and the practical differences between vertical and horizontal antennas. Small changes in placement and setup can make for useful experiments.
Portable station power
My portable setup includes a 30 Ah LiFePO4 battery and folding solar panel. The goal is a station I can take into the field without depending on an outlet.
Digital-mode setup
Audio levels, radio control, and PTT all have to work together. I use my Icom and DigiRig setup to explore APRS, SSTV, FT8, and other computer-assisted modes.
04 / Useful destinations
From the operating desk.
Quick links for station lookup, packet activity, satellite information, and space weather.
Thanks for stopping by
See you on the air.
Personal amateur radio website of Mike · KM7ADM