Above is a sample SSTV image received during a pass in April 2006 from KC4ALE on ISS Fan Club

An early Christmas gift for space enthusiasts around the world is coming again this year with Slow-Scan TV images from the International Space Station. Reception varies wide;y from location to location, but there are usually at least several passes which will yield good results.

Here is the announcement with pertinent details:

SB SPACE @ ARL $ARLS011

ARLS011 Slow-Scan Television Transmissions Scheduled from ISS

ZCZC AS11

QST de W1AW

Space Bulletin 011  ARLS011

From ARRL Headquarters

Newington, CT  December 6, 2016

To all radio amateurs

SB SPACE ARL ARLS011

ARLS011 Slow-Scan Television Transmissions Scheduled from ISS

Slow-scan television (SSTV) transmissions from the International Space Station (ISS) are scheduled for December 8-9. The SSTV images will be transmitted from RS0ISS on 145.800 MHz FM as part of the Moscow Aviation Institute MAI-75 Experiment, using the Kenwood

TM-D710 transceiver in the ISS Service Module.

MAI-75 activities have been scheduled on December 8, 1235-1800 UTC, and December 9, 1240-1740 UTC. These times correspond to passes over Moscow, Russia. ISS transmissions on 145.800 MHz FM use 5-kHz deviation, and SSTV transmissions have used the PD120 and PD180 formats.

The ISS Fan Club website at http://www.issfanclub.com/ can show when the space station is within range of your station. On Windows PCs the free application MMSSTV can decode the signal. On Apple iOS devices, use the SSTV app available through iTunes.

There are a number of software program available for SSTV reception in addition to the ones mentioned above. It would be interesting to hear from folks who have used SSTV programs with their impressions. Good hunting!

Robert Gulley, AK3Q, is the author of this post and a regular contributor to the SWLing Post. Robert also blogs at All Things Radio.