ARISS APRS website showing K0SWE

I had a chance this weekend to install new antennas: an NMO mount for my truck (in addition to the car I did a few months ago) and a VHF/UHF J-pole in the attic. The NMO install went a little smoother in the truck than it did in the car, I suppose due to experience, but also because the larger cab and larger headliner meant I didn’t feel the need to take both B and C pillar trim panels off, just one side of the truck. The attic antenna went well enough, although my attic has a shorter peak than I remembered, only about 5 feet. The Arrow OSJ 146/440 I bought barely fit. However, it’s performing really well: hooked up to my new Kenwood TM-D710G, I’m getting APRS packets from up to 110 miles away! I’m not even in that advantageous of a location. (I neglected to check if those were via digipeater, but regardless, I’m happy!)

I tested out the new D710/attic antenna combo by trying to work the ISS APRS digipeater. It was a little challenging to figure out the different configuration options for PATH and such, but it was worth it. I was able to get packets through the ISS digipeater!

20200114051152 : RS0ISS]CQ,qAR,KC5ILO-12:]ARISS - International Space Station
20200114050936 : <b>K0SWE-9]SYUTVQ,RS0ISS*,WIDE2-1,qAR,W0ARP-15</b>:`q[El ]/]"E^}Greetings from Denver CO, DM79=
20200114050752 : RS0ISS]CQ,qAR,W0ARP-15:]ARISS - International Space Station
20200114050752 : <b>K0SWE-9]SYUTVQ,RS0ISS*,WIDE2-1,qAR,AD7FC</b>:`q[El ]/]"E_}Greetings from Denver CO, DM79=
20200114050551 : RS0ISS]CQ,qAR,N6DAN-1:]ARISS - International Space Station
20200114050542 : N6UTC-9]SSURVR,RS0ISS*,qAR,N6DAN-1:`.'pl!bS\]=
20200114050526 : N6UTC-9]SSURVR,RS0ISS*,qAR,N6DAN-1:`.'pl JS\]Resistance is Futile.=

I’m pleased as punch! AD7FC is over in Yakima, Washington. There’s definitely room for improvement on the performance of this system for ISS APRS, maybe with the Arrow hand-held Yagi and actually tracking instead of relying on raw power and a vertical antenna. But not bad for a first attempt!