For the first time in a long time, I grabbed my Arrow Antenna and Kenwood D-72 portable antenna and headed outside for a satellite pass. Tonight’s pass wasn’t going to be great, not overhead or anything, but I wanted to see and hear what the ISS was sounding like now that there was new equipment onboard. I was not disappointed.

AOS was a ten degrees above the horizon and was strong. As soon as the bird came above the tree line I could immediately tell a difference in signal strength as well. First station heard was N8GU (EL96cq) at a distance of 879 miles. Messages to that station were not responded to, however. N8GU was also the furthest station from me while I also heard stations from Arlington (W3NCL).

QSOs were had with WE4B, K4KDR, and W3NCL-6. Position reports were received from N1YZO-1, N1NCB-1, AL0A-7, AE2TT, VE9LEG-6, AC2KU-1, KC2IEB, NA1SS, NA3FCX-4, K3YES-2, W4IIA-6, W4JHM-6, W3NCL-6, W4TBD-6, and N8GU.

Overall, I’m fairly happy with this pass. The next pass, in about an hour and fifteen minutes, will be to my west with a maximum elevation of 28-degrees so I’m not sure this one will be as good.